Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-09
Gambling on the Mississippi.

We are told that gambling prevails to fearful eX
tent on board the steamboats, that pass up and down
the Mississippi river. All sorts of games are prac-
iced there and among those who travel are some of
the most finished and plausible rogues A short
time SINCE party Of blackegs induced several re-
turned CalifoTnans TO yenurea few hundred dollars
upou the chances of the cards or the dice, and at
the end of the game the CalisOrnisns discovered
that three counterfeit bills fer $50 EACH had been
passed of upon them. They.immediately demanded
good money in exchange, This refused for
time, as the blaklegs pretended that they had none
They were then given to understand that unless they
rectifed the fraud Immediately, they would be fore
ed to take their chances for the night at the very
next uninhabied island that the boat should reach
Finding the alternative rather serious they reluc
family made the exchange demanded and endeavor-
ed to conciliate the CalfOrnians by inviting them
to drink. The same knaves, day or two before,
contrived to win $1,000 from a young merchant of
Louisiana, who was on his way North to buy goods
Gambling on the MISSISSIPPI is profession which
is followed by hundreds old as well as Young. All
sorts of combinations are formed by these gentry.
They will come on board a boat from different
points, and apparent strangers and after getting
acquainted with the various parties, two or three
will set down at the gambling table, with the OBJ
jeot Of merely killing time. Gradually, however,
they will tempt the inexperienced, by drink and
excitement, and then proceed to cheat and plumber
them, as cooly asifthey we're engsgedin credi-
table employment. On one occasion a noted coun-
terfeiter was discovered to be on boat, when he
was Immediately put ashore, and at a point where
the prejudice against counterfeitsrs was so great
that they often hung them up without judge or jury
Life on the Mississippi is characterized by extraor-
binary scenes and incidents.
L, is stated that on a recent occasion a clergyman
was earnestly engaged in preaching to a cOnsdera-
bic audience at one end of the steamer, while in
the middle gambling was in busy progress, and at
the other end of the saloon we're music and dancing
Many Of the boats are fitted up in the most magni-
hcent style, and amount in fact TO floating palaces
II often that they occupied by 500 souls
and upward. The cost of a cabin passage from
New Orleans TO St. Louis is about 500 That of deck
passage is, of course, much lower. All the leading
towns and cities are stopped at, and thus constant
changes take place in the inmates of the boat In
some cases large profits are realized. Thus, few
weeks since, a steamer that sailed from New Or
leans to St. Louis had freight list that amounted
to $4,000 in addition to the receipts of the pass
senger money and the bar
The quantity of wood that is consumed is inns
mense: ranges sometimes as high as 200 cords day.
The scenes of ''Woodng" especially at night, are
full of excitement. ltsOmetimes happens that near
" every nation the face Of the globe has its rep
resenstives on board of these steamers. The trav-
ell up and down the river amounts to tens of thOu>
sands per annum while the freight that passes in
ward and outward may be estimated in value at
millions A friend from whom we gather these facts
informs US that a short time since he had occasion
to travel from New Orleans TO st. Louis, and day
or two after he was on board the boat he became
acquainted with modest and unassuming young
gentleman, whose manners were so mild, and con-
versatlon so intellectual, that he supposed he was
young lawyer, physician, or perhaps student Of
divinity. The next day he discovered that he was
Of the most accomplished gamblers of his age in
the Western country. Chicago Journal.