Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-09-16
3Mllisteuaneolts 3Mlli Reab11g.
c.Mn11Ne ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

GAMBLlNG YIN InS m1oSISS111 -
We are told that gambling prevails to a
fearful extent on board the steamboats, that
pass up aud down the Mississippi River
All sorts of games are practiced there, and
among these who travel are some Of the most
iuisbed aud plausible rogues. A short time
since, party of blacklegs induced several
returned Californians to venture few hun
dred dollars upon the chances of the cards
or the dice, and at the end Of the game the
Californians discovered that three counter:
felt bills, for $50 each, had been passed OF
upon them. They Immediately demanded
good money in exchange. This was refused
for time, as the blacklegs pretended that
they had none. They were then given to
understand that, unless they rectifed the
fraud Immediately, they would be forced to
take their chances for the night at the very
next uninhabited island that the boat should
reach. Finding the alternative rather serl-
ous, they reluctantly made the change de-
manded, and endeavored to conc'liate the
Califoruiaus by inviting them to drink The
same knaves, day or two before, contrived
to win $1,000 from very young merchant
of Louisiana, who was on his way North to
buy goods.
Gambling on the Mississippi is profess
sion which is followed BY hundreds, old as
we'll as young. All sorts Of combination are
70, med by these gentry. They will come on
board a boat from different points, and as ap'
parent strangers, aud after getting acquaint-
ed with the various parties, two or three will
set dowo to gaming table, with the object
Of merely killing time. Gradually. however,
they will tempt the inexperienced, by drink
and excitement, and then proceed to cheat
aud plunder them, as coolly as if they were
engaged in some creditable employment On
one occasion, noted counterfeiter was dis
covered to be on boat, when he was imme-
diately put ashore, and at point where the
prejudice against conterfeiters was so great
that they often hung them up without judge
or jury. Life on the Mississippi is oharac-
terized by extraordinary scenes and Incl
dents.
It is stated that on q recent occasion, a
clergyman was earnestly engaged in preach
ing to a considerable 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 fttedup in the most magulh'
cent style, and amount, in fact, to floating
palaces 1t often occurs that they are oceu'
pied by 5000 souls and upward. The cost
Of cabin passage from New Orleans to St.
Louis is about $50. 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, steam
er that sailed from New Orleans to St. Louis
had freight list that amounted to s4o,ooo'
in addition to the receipts of the passenger
money and the bars.
The quantity of wood that is consumed is
immense; it ranges sometimes as high as
two hundred cords day. The scenes of
"woodiug," especially at night, are full of
excitement It sometimes happens that
nearly every nation on the face of the globe
has its representatives on board of one of
these steamers The travel up and down the
river amounts to tens of thousands per an.
mum, while the freight that passes inward
and outward may be estimated in value at
millions. A friend from whom we gather
these facts informs US that 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 unassumiug young gen.
tlemau, whose manners were so mild and
conversation so intellectual, that he supposed
he was young lawyer, physician, or per-
haps student of divinity. The next day
be discovered that he was one of the most
accomplished gamblers of his age in the
Western country. Chicago Journal.
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