American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-12-03
Gambling In Washington--Death Of a
Notorious "SpOrtsman."

The Washington correspondent of
the Boston Post, t,noticos the death there
few days since of one of the most
famous ''sportsmen," in this or any
other country, and adds:
He had been resident of Washing
ton some fifteen or twenty years,
during which period he amassed great
wealth by gambling; or, to use the
mild and honest language of the avenue,
che realized an ample fortune out of
the successful operations of his house !"
Ellis house being the most ele-
giant, and his bank the most wealthy
and substantial in the country, it has
been for years the fashionable and
fascinating resort of the wealthy plant
ers ard fast congressman, aspiring dip
lomats, and ambitious sportsmen, from
every part of the world. For many
years past he has lived in the most
luxuriant style, having, like certain
other rich man, "been clothed in purple
and fine linen and faring sumptuously
every day" In person he was above
the medium size, fat and sleek, of pleas
ing address, and a generous disposition;
exhibiting in his general department
to strangers the characteristics of a
we'll fed, ,good-natured clergyman rather
than these of hcartless, unrelenting
gambler.
His reputation for generosity was
widely. established If q college was
to be endowed, church built, or private
charities to be dispensed, his was sure
to be among the munifcent of the
donations. His wife, now a widow,
was of good parentage, woman' of
rare beauty and accomplishments, pos
sessing social qualities which combined
with the dazzling allurements of wealth,
insured her troops of admirers. Roll
ing along the avenue in her magnificent
equipage, which far exceeds in richness
and style that of the President of the
United States, or that of any other
gentlemen in Washington, she looked
like a very queen-being undisturbed
by any thought that her presence sent
a dagger to scores of hearts, whose
patrimony, unlawfully obtained, had
contributed to her enjoyment, in the
same proportion that its loss had added
to the woes and wretchedness of the
beholder.
His establishment" was upon Penn
sylvania avenue, between the National
Hotel and the Capitol. Letus approach
and look at it.
You enter by door of variegated
stained glass, which, by gas light, re-
fleets all the colors of the rainbow
Ascending fight of stairs, you reach
door, pull the bell. aad instantly a
small aperture opens, ,and you are greet
ed with pair of red eyes and double
row of ivory set in black which nominal.
ly belonged to Sambo, but which, in
fact, are the property of the proprietor.
A glance sufices. You have filled
Sambo's eyes and are deemed passable.
The door is at once opened and ushcred
into the ante-room--the vestibule of
hell. This room is not large, but
elegantly appointed-thc chief attrac-
tion being the side.board, which is of
solid marble and as white as Diana's
breast. Here are arranged in long
and glistening columns decanters Of
cut-glass, sparkling like brilliants, filed
with the choicest nectar, and blushing
to the very necks with the glowing
vintage of the olden time. If you pass
this rubicon without tasting its spark
ling but dangerous waters, it is not
from any dearth Of hospitality on the
part of tho host. The spacious
sporting hall" is now visible. The
floor is covered with carpeting from
the Orient,of immense cost and marvel
Gus beauty. The walls are adorned
with superb paintings of the old masters
and the new, while pendant from the
windows hang curtains of embroidered
lace, covered with golden tapestry of
Oriental magni6cence; with mirrors
of mammoth size rejecting your form
and features from score of cleaning
embrasuros. Along the hall, at COM
venient distances, are arranged circular
tables Of polished rosewood, around
which are seated numbers of thought
ful, anxious dark visaged men, who
heed you not--their eyes have another
and stronger attraction. One would
naturally suppose this to be theatre
for jests, drollery and songs, or bacpha.
nalian reyelings, or pugiistic encount.
ers. Far from it. On the contrary
all is hushod, silent, sepulchral.