The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-30
Gam bling en- the Mississippi.

va are told that gambling prevails to q fear
ex.ent On beard tbs steAmeoass thai pass up an
down the Mississippi River. All sorts Of games
ars practiced there and among those who travef
ere sons Of the most finished ard plsusioierogues
A short time snce, a party Of blsckless induced
ssrefAf CsliforDiags to venture lew hnn-
dref dolsss upon tho chances OF tne Sa,as OF .nc
dice and a. the end Of tbs game the Ca!ifornians
discovered that three counerfet bills, for <oo eacn
hai been passed of upon them. They immedi
s.ey demanded good money Ia exchange. Ih's
was refused for time, a. the blacsiess pre.enusa
THAT tbey had none. They were then given 20
understand that, unless they rectihed the fraud
Immediately, they would be forced 70 take their
chances for the night at the very next uuiuhaofed
island that the boat should reach. Finding the
alerustivc rather ssriops they reluctantly made
Va. exchssgs demanded, and epdeasored to c"ncii'
ate the Gaiiforniaas by inviting them to drink
This SANE knsves, q day or two before, contrived
20 win $1,000 from a very young merchant OF
l.ousaiana, who was on his way North to buy
Ciaplb1pg on the Mississippi Is profession which
IS foiicwsi by hundreds, old az we'll rs younR-
All tprts Of Combinations are formed by these
geutry.sNThey will come on board boat from d.
ferent points, and ~ a1n1ent strangers, aud after
getting sacquaiuted with the various parties, two
or thres will set down 70 gaming table, with the
.elject Of merely Killing time. Gradually however
rs,ey will tempt the Inexperienced. by drink ana
sxcitement and then proceed TO cheat and plumber
them, as cooiiy as If they were engaged In some
sreditsble emp ioynienf. On one occasion no'eo
touaserfsiter was discovered 20 be on boat, when
he was immediately put ashore, ami at point
where tho prejudice against counterfei:ers was 30
greats that they often hung them mp without judge
or Jury. Life on the Mississippi Is characterised
by extraordinary scsnes aud incidents
Il H. stated that recent occasion clergy
man w4a earnestly engaged In preaching to con
siderable audience at one end OF the steamer. while
ia tho middle gambling was In busy progress, and
at the other end OF the saloon were music aud
dancing. Many Of the boats arc fitted up In the
raost magnificent style, and amount Ia fact, to
floating psIacas IL often occurs that they are oc-
caped by 5000 souls and upward. The cost OF
cabin passage from New Orleans to st. Louis Is
shout $40. That CT deck passage is, of course,
IN zch lawer. Az the leading towns aud cities are
stopped at, and thus constant changes take place
in the inmates OF the boat. In some cases large
profits are realised. Thus, few weeks since,
steamer that sailed from New Orleans TO ST. Louis
had freight list that amountsd TO $4,000, In ad-
diiion to she receipts of the passenger money and
the bars. 4E
nenssi II ranges sometimes as high as 200 cords
day. Fhesceues Of "wooding," especially at night,
are fIll Of excitement. 1t sometimes happens tina.
neary every nation on the face OF the Siobe has
IT'S reprosen tatives board OF OF these steam
srs The travel mp and down the river amounts
60 tens OF thousands per annum, while the freight
that passes inward and outward may be estimated
gather these facts informs US that short time
since hs had occasion TO travel from New Orleans
10 ST. Louis, and day or two after he was
board the boat he became acquainted with modest
and unassuming young gentleman, whose manners
were 30 mild and conversation so intellectual, that
or perhaps student Of divinity. The next day
he discovered that he was ono OF the most accom-
plshed gamblers OF his age in the Western country.
--ChicAgo Journal. -