Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-11-24
DEATH OF A CELEBRATED
SPORTSMAN
DESCRIPTION OF THE MAN AND
HIS ESTABLISHMENT.
WASHINGTON Oct. 25.

i WASHINGTON Oct. 25.
One Of the most celebrated and success.
ful spOTtsmen Of this or any other counlr
was buried in this city on Sabbath las
The occasion Of bis death affords me aD op
portunity Of giving your readers a Skelc
Of The mao aDi description Of his gamib
house. Let it serve as a warning, not
an example:
He bad been 9 resident Of Washington
some fifteen or twenty years, during whict
period be amassed great wealth by sporting
or, 10 use the mild and honest language 8
the Avenue, "he realized an ample forum
out Of The successful operations Of hi
house." His house being the most ele
giant, and bis bank the most weichly aut
substantial in the country, it has been 70
years the fashionable and fascinating resor
Of wealthy planters, fast Congressneu. as
piriDg diplomats, and ambitious spohsmer
from every part Of the world. For man,
years past be has lived in fhe most luxu
rant style, having, like a CERTAIN other ricl
man, "been clothed ia purple and fine linel
and faring sumptuousy every day" Il
person be was above the medium size, o
pleasing address, and generous disp stiou
exhibiting in his general department t
strangers the character Of a we'll fed, cooc
nstUred clergyman, rather than that Of
heartless. unrelenting sportsman.
His reputation for generosity was wide.
y established. IT college was to be en
lowed, church built, or private charities
to be dispensed, his was sure to be among
the most magnificent of the Donations
His wife, new widow, was of good, pa
reutage; a woman Of rare beauty and &C.
comPlishmentS, possessing social qualitie,
which combined with the dazzling allure
ments of wealth, insured her troops of ad.
mirers and courtiers Rolling along The
avenue in her magnificent equipage, which
far exceeds in richness and style that o.
the President ofth United States, or any
other gentleman 10 Washington, she look.
ed very queen-beiDg quite undisturbed
BY any thought that her presence sent a
dagger to scores Of hearts, whose patrimo.
ny. unlawfu!ly obtained, had contributed
to her enjoyment, in the same proportion
that its loss had adced to the woes and
wretehednes Of the beholders.
His establishment was upon Pennsyl.
vania avenue, between the National Hotel
and the capital. Let us approach and
look in.
You enter by door of variegated stain.
ed glass which, by gass light, reflects all
the Colors Of rainbow. Ascending a
flight of stairs, you reach door, pull the
bell, and instantly small aperture opens,
and you are greeted with pair of red
eyes, and double row Of ivory, set 10
black, which nominaly belongs to sambo
but which, in fact, are the property of the
proprietor. A glance sufices. You have
filled SsmbOi eye, and are deemed passa.
Bile. The door is at once opened, and you
are ushered into the ante. .room-the vest
bule Of This room is not large,
but elegantly appointed the chief attrac,
tion being the sidsboard, which is of solid
marble, and white as Diana's bleast,-
Here are arranged, in long and gIistening
columns, decanters Of cut glass, sparkling
like brilliants, filed with the choicest nec>
tar, and blushing to the very necks with
the glowing vintage of the oldeu time
If you pass this rubicon without tasting
its sparkling but dangerous waters, it is
not from aDyldearth Of hospitality on the
part Of your persuasive host. The spa
cious Sporting Hall is now visible
The floor is covered with carpeting from
the Orient Of immense cost and marvel
Gus beauty. Ths walls and adorned with
superb paintings Of the old master and the
new, while pendant from the windows
hang curtains Of embroidered lace, cover
ed with golden tapestry of Oriental mag
nifcence; with mirrors of mammoth size
refecting yocr form and features from a
score of cleaning embrasures. Along
the hall, at convenient distances, are
ranged circular tables of polished rose.
wood, and srouud which are seated nun.
bers Ofthoughtfnl, anxious, dark visaged
men, who need you not-their eyes bav-
ing another aud stronger attraction. One
wonld naturally suppose this to be a thea
tire for jests, drOllery, and song, or bachan-
allan revellings, or pugilistic encounters.-
Far from it. On the contrary, all is hush.
ed, silent, sepulchral.
No real voice or sound
Within these eheerIsss walls are 70 und.
You are oppressed with the fearful slill-
ness and awful silence which peTva'les the
place. A laugh, q joke, or even a curse
would be sensible relief. But you hear
bothing of this. An occasional long breath
Or half subGued sigh is al that tells the
sar that these mad devotees are possessed
Of lungs and life.
An hours inspection satisfies your curl.
osity, and you are about taking your de-
parture, when a soft band taps you on the
and low voice says:
"Please don't leave, sir, supper will be
'eady in few minutes"
At precisely half past ten O'Clock, the
lOos Of the dining ball are thrown open,
md supper ready proclaims immediate
lrmisLice between the combatants, and, ,in>
rites to more healthy and rational duty.
rhe long tables grOan beneath their burden
II gold and silver plate, and the heaps Of
lelicacies which surmount and adorn them.
Here are veDison from the brown forests of
daine, turkeys from the broad saVannas
. l.. L. G.o... tko ,,l.asl