The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-07
GAMBLING ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

We are told that gambling prevails to fearful
extent on board the steamboats, that pass up and
down the Mississippi River. All sorts of games
are practiced there, and among those who travel
are some of the most finished and plausible rogues.
! A short time since, party Of blacklegs induced
several returned Caitornians to venture few hun
dred dollars upon the chances of the cards the
dice, and at the end of the game the Californians
discovered that three counterfeit bills for $50 each
had been passed off upon them. They immediate
ly demanded good money in exchange This was
refused for time the blacklegs pretended that
they had none. They were then given to under
stand that unless they rectifed the fraud mmedi-
ately, they would be forced to take their chances
for the night at the very next uninhabited island
that the boat should reach. Finding the alterna-
tive rather serious they reluctantly made the ex-
change demanded, and endeavored to conciliate
the Californians by inviting them to drink. The
same knaves, day or two before, contrived to win
$500 from very young merchant of Louisiana,
who was ON his way North to buy goods
Gambling on the Mississippi is a 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 boat from diff
terent points, and as apparent strangers, and after
getting acquainted with the various parties, two
or three will set down 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 and plumber
them, coolly as if they were engagedin some
creditable employment. On one occasion noted
counterfeiter was discovered to be on boat, when
he was Immediately put ashore and at point
where the prejudice against counterfeiters was so
great that they often hung them up without judge
or jury. Life the Mississippi is characterized
by extraordinary scenes and incidents.
1t is stated that on recent occasion a clergy
+l1y tn
siderable audience at end of the steamer, while
in the middle gambling in busy progress, and
at the other end of the saloon were music and
dancing. Many Of the boats are fitted up in the
most magnificent style, and amount, in fact, to
floating palaces. 1t often occurs that they are oc-
cupied 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 realized Thus, few weeks since,
steamer that sailed from New Orleans to St. Louis
had freight list that amounted to 10000, in ad-
dition to the receipts OF the passenger money and
the bars
The quantity of wood that is consumed is i'm
mcnsc it ranges sometimes as high as 200 cords a
day The SCIENCES of .'woodng especially at nj ght,
are full Of excitement 1t somtmes happens that
nearly every nation the face of the globe has
it's representatives on board of one of these steam
ers. The travel up and down the river amounts
to tens of thousands per annum, while the freight
that passes inward and outward may be estimated
in value at millions. a friend from whom
gather these facts informs us that short time
since he had occ asion to travel from New Orleans
to ST. Louis, and day after he
board the boat he became acquainted with a modest
and unassunng young gentleman, whose manners
were so mild and conversation so intellectual, that
he supposed he was young lawyer, physician,
perhaps a student of divinity. The next day
he discovered that he was one of the most accom-
plished gamblers of his age in the Western coun-
try.-Chicdgo Journal.