Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-09-11
Gambling on the Miaaissinni.

we arc tolu that gambling prevails to q
fearful extent on board the stcambnats that
pass up and down the Mississippi River
All sorts of games a:c practiccd thofc, and
among those who travel arc some of the most
finished and plausible rogucs y short timc
since, IL party of bmcklcgs induced several
returned Caiii0rnians to venture n few hunA
drcd dollars upon the chances of the cards or
the dice. and at the cnd of the game the CalA
horniNns discovered that three counterfeit
bills, for $50 each, had been passed off upott
them They Immediately demanded good
money in exchange. This WAS refused for 81
time, as the blacklcgs pretended that they
had none. They were then given to under
stand that. unless they rcctiiici the fraud
Immediately, they would bc forced 10 takc
their chances for the night ut thevery next
uninhabitcd island that the boat should reach
Finding the alternative rather serious. they
reluctantly made the exchange demanded,
and endc0vored to concilialc the Californiaus
by inviting thcm to drink The same kravos.
day or two before, contrived to win $1,000
from very young merchant of Lnuisinnn.
who wns ON his way North u buy goods.
Gambling on the Mississippi is a profession
which is followed by hundreds. old as we'll
as young. All sorts of combinations arc
formed by these gentry They will come ON
parent strangers, and after getting acquaini-
ted with the various parties, two or three
will set down to n gaming table, with the OH
Ject otmcrcly killing time. Gradually. how
ever, they will tempt the inexperienced. by
drink and excitement, and then proceed to
cheat and plunder them, as coolly as if they
were engaged in some crcditable employ
mcnt. On one occasion, a noted counterfeit
or was discovered to be ON u boat, when he
was Immediately put ashore. and at point
where the prejudice against countcriciters
was so great that they often hung them up
without judge or Jury. Life on tho Missis.
sippiis characterized by extraordinary scenes
and Incidents.
Ii is stated that on recent occasion. n
clcrgymcn was earnestly engaged in preach
ing to a considerable audience at one end OF
the steamer. while in tho middle gambling
was in busy progress, and ut the other end
of the saloon were music and dancing Many
of the boats are fitted up in the most mag
nifccnt style, and amount, in fact, to float
ing palaces. lt often occurs that they arc
occupied hy 5000 souls and upward The
cost of II cabin passage from New Orleans to-
St Louis is about 500. That of u deck pas
sage is. fcoursc, much lower. All the lead
ing 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 IL steam
or that sailed from New Orleans to ST. I.ouis
had freight list that amounted to $4,000.
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. Tho scenes of "wood-
ing" especially at night. arc full of excite
ment. 1t sometimes happens that nearly
every nation on the face OF the globe has its
representatives OH board Of one of these
steamers. The travclup and down the river
amounts to tens of thousands rcr annum.
while the freight that passes inward and
outward may be estimated in value at mil
lions. n friend from whom wc gathcr these
facts informs us that short time since he
had occasion to travel from New Orleans to
st. Louis, and II day or two after he was ON
board the boat he became acquainted with IL
modest and unassumng Young gentleman,
| whose manners were so mild and conversa-
ton so intellectual, that he supposed he was
young lawyer. - physician. or perhaps u
student OF divinity The next day he dis
covered that Inc was one Of the most accom-
| plishcd gamblers of his age in the Western
country. = Chicago JomwM.
CoMPMMENr TO Mn, SPEAKER ORR.-We
| learn from the South Carolina journals that
| the neighbors, constituents, and political
! friends Of Mr.. Speaker Orr, assembled ut Cray
tonyille, in that State, on tho 18th inst, to
tender to this distinguished gentleman the
ucScrNeu compliment Ot ~ pNDllc dinner, az
well from respect for his long and eminent
services in Congress as in token of their cs-
tccm for him personally. As is appropriate
! ly remarked by the Anderson Is. G.j Gazette.
in cominemorating this festive gathering OF
Mir. Orrs friends and admirers, lit was meet
that those who have known him during his
infancy and youth; who had at the age of
twenty-five to Congress, should greet him in
demonstration OF approval at the place of
his bmth-covcrcd with long and faithful ser.
! vices, and adorned with the robes of Speaker
of the Thirty:ftth Congress"
AS due no less to the high official rosition
| OF Mr.. Orr !han to the ability and dignity lie
has displayed in the discharge of its rcspon-
sible duties, as, we may add, of those which
| pertain to everypublc station he has Leen
! called to occupy, we to-day find room for tho
| insertion of so much Of the add ess delivered
] BY him ON the occasion above designated as
| Will serve to indicate the views of the snea.
ker on tho various topics Of our current poll
ties which it became his province to pass in
review. These views, while naturally takin,.
somewhat of their color from the political
sentiments entertained by Mr. Orr, will be
/ found pervaded by breadth of conception
and a soundncss of Judgment which do honor
| to his intelligence and candor as an Anicri4
can statesman, called 20 discuss questions ot
high political concern in the light, not only
of temporary eXped;ency, but OF public right
and natural justice National Iatcitigacet,.
4-- - - sf----- t
| GlDpINGs LEFT An HoME.-- lion. Jos.
hua II. Giddings, after twenty years un.
| interrupted and consecutive service in the