American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-10-15
GAMBLING ON THE MISSISSIPPI,

ITO asfearfuleeSteEt on boardathe'steatn-
boats that passsup and dos;n tho Mis-
Isissippi river. is All sorts of games are
Ipracticed there, among those who trav-
lel are some oftbe most finished and
plausible rogues. "a short time since
% party Of blacklegs induced several
returned Californians to venture a few
hundfed dollars upon the chances OF
the cards or dice, and at the end ofthe
game the Californians discovered that
that three counterfeit bills had been
'passediupon them for $50 each. They
Immediately demanded good money in
exchange. This was refused for some
time as the blacklegs pretended that
they had none. They we're given to
understand that unless they rectified
the fraud Immediately, thoy'd be for.
ced to take their chances for the night
at the very next uninhabitcd island
that tho boat should reach. Finding
the alternative rather serious, they re-
luctuantly made the exchange demand
cd, and endeavored to conciliate the
Californians byinyiting them to drink.
The same knaves a day or two before,
contriyed to win 81, 900 from Young
merchant of Louisiana, who was on his
way North to buy goods. " ..t... ,...'l :
Gambling on tho Mississippi is a pro-
fession which is followed by hundreds,
old aswell as young. Allsorts of com
blnations are formed by these gentry.
They will come on board a boat from
different points as apparent strangers,
and after getting acquainted %ith the
various parties, two or three will sit
down at the gambling table, with the
object of merely killing time. Grad.
ually, however, they, tempt the inex-
perienced, by drink and excitement,
and then proceed to cheat and plundcr
them as coolly as if they were Scngag1
ed In some credible employment. On
one occasion a noted counterfeiter was
discovered toibe, on q boat, when he
was immediately put ashore, and At a
|Point Ehererthe prejudices against
counterteiters, was so great that they
often hung them up without Judge or
jury. Life on the Mississippi is char,
acterizcd by extraordinary scenes and
incidents. T., ...
% 1t is stated that on recent occasion
a clergyman was preaching to q, con.
siderable audience at one end of the
steamer, while in the middle gambling
was in busy progress, and at the other
end OF the saloon were music and dane
ing. Many Of the boats are fitted up
in handsome style, and amount in fact
to floating palaces. In often occurs
that they are occupied by 500 souls
and upward. Yhe cost of a cabin pas
sage from New Orleans to ST. Louie
is about $40, That of deck passage
is Of course much lower. All the lead.
ing towns and cities are stopped at, and
thus constant changes takes place in
the inmates of the boat. In some pla.
ces large profits are realized. Thus,
a few weeks since q steamer that sail
cd from New Orleans to st. Louis had
a freight list thai amounted to $40
600, in addition to the receipts OF the
passenger money and bars.
The quantity Of wood consumed is
immense it ranges sometimes as high
as 200 cords q day. The scenes OF
"wooding," especially atnight, are full
OF excitement. 1t sometimes hap.
pens that hearty every nation on the
face of the globe are represented on
board one ofthesc steamers. The trav.
| el up and down the river amounts to
tens Of thousand per anhim, Willie the
freightthat passes inward and outward,
may 30 estimated in value st 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 the boat, he became
acquainted with a modest and uhassurn-
ling young gentleman, whose tnanhcrs
were so mild, aud conversation SO in.
tellcctual that lie supposed he was d
young lawyer, q physician, or perhaps
a student Of divinity Tie nost day
he discovered that he was one Of the
most accomplished gamblers Of his bgc
in the Western country
Y ..L.---.- ~ =. - Ha
! The Newark Daily Advertiser gives
an account Of the proceedings of al
Anti. Lecompton5 meeting ut Dover
to nominate candidate for Congress.
for the fourth district Of New Jersey
1t is stated to have been composed en-
tirely OF Democrats opposed to tho pre-
sent policy Of the National Administ
ration. Those who were prommentir il
tho Convention have been kuo#h fo
| yoars as the leaders Of tho B6fh5crGsi
! party, and alsay6 been constant to IL
fortunes. ''But tire events of tho las