Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-31
GAMBLING ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
fFrom the Chicago Jourpall

We are told that gambling prevails to fear
fui 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 Diackiegs induced several returned Califor-
mans to venture q few hundred dollars upon
the chances of the cards or the dice, and at the
end OF the game the Californians discovered
that three counterfeit bills, for $50 each, had
been passed OF upon them They Immediately
demanded good money in exchange This was
refused for a time, as the blacklegs pretended
that they had none. They were then given to
understand that unless they rectiied 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 serious. they re-
luctantly made the exchange demanded, and
endeavored to conciliate the Californians by
inviting them to drink. The same knaves, a
day or two before, contrived TO win 81, 900 from
very 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 as apparent
strangers, and after getting acquainted with
the various parties, two or three will sit down
at the gambling table, with the object of merely
killing time. Gradually, however, they will
tempt III, Inexperienced, by drink and excite
ment, and then proceed to cheat and plundcr
them, as coolly as if they were engaged in some
credltabie employment. On one occasion a
noted counterfeiter was discovered to be on a
boat, when he was Immediately put ashore and
at point where the prejudice against coun-
terfeiters was so great that they often hung
them up without judge or jury. Life on the
Mississippi is characterized by extraordinary
scenes and incidents.
IL Is stated that on recent occasion a cler-
gyman was earnestly engaged in preaching to
considerable audience at one end of the
steamer, while in the middle gambling was in
busy progress, and at the other end of the sa-
loon were music and dancing. Many of the
boats are fitted up in the most magnificent
style, and amount in fact, to floating palaces
IL often occurs that they are occupied 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
pace IN tne inmates OF the boat. In some cases
large profits are realized. Thus, a few weeks
since, steamer that sailed from New Orleans
to 81 Louis had freight list that amounted to
S4V,OO0, In addition to the receipts of the pas
senger money and the bars.
1he quantity Of wood that is consumed is
immense; 1t ranges sometimes as high as 200
CORDS day The scenes of "wooding," es-
pecially at night, are full of excitement. 1t
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 thou
sands per annum, 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 a short time since
he had occasion to travel from New Orleans to
ST. Louis, and a day or two after he was on
board the boat he became acquainted with a
modest and unassuming young gentleman,
whose manners were so mild, and conversation
SO Intellectual, that he supposed he was a young
lawyer, physician, or perhaps a student of d.
vinity. The next day he discovered that he
was one of the most accomplished gamblers of
his age in the Western country.