Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-03
Correspondence Of the Boston Post
Death Of Gambling House Keeper
at Washington
WAsHINGroN. Oct. 25.

w hNSAhhsSSVAA
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.
One of the most celebrated and successful
sportsman of this or any other eeuutry was
buried in this city on Sunday week. The oc-
casion of bis death affords me an opportunity
of giving your readers sketch of tho man
and description Of his gaming house. let il
ser9e warning, not as an example
lie had been resident Of Washington some
fifteen CIR twenty years, during which period he
anassed great wealth by gambling or, to use
tbe mild aud honest language OF the Avenue,
| she realized an ample fortune out Of the sue
cessfal operations of his house, Ills shouse'
being the most el,gant, and his sbank' the
most weighty and substantial in tie country, it
has been for years the fashionable and fasei-
mating resort of wealthy planters, fast Con-
gressmen, aspiring diplomats, aud ambitions
sportsmen from every part Of the world. For
many years past he has lived in the most luxu-
riaas style, having, like certain other rich
uan, "been clothed 10 purple and fine linen
and faring sumpiuous!y every day." Iu per-
son he was above the medium size, fat and
sleek, of pleasing address and generous dis
position exhibiting in his general department
to strangers the characteristics Of a wuli-fnd
good nat1red clergy an, rather than those of
heartiess, unrelenting gambler
His reputation for generosity was widely
established If college was to be endowed,
u church built, or private charities TO bc dis
pensed, bis was sure to be among ii,e most
munitcent OF tue donations. His wife, now
widow, was of good parent2ge woman Of
rare beauty and accomplishments, possessing
socia qualities when, combining with the daz-
rtsr al llur.f1aDts IF
OF admirers aud eortez4us. Rolling atpng the
Avenue, in her magnificent enuipage, which far
exceeds In richness and style that of tho Presi-
dent OF tue United States, or that Of any other
gentleman in Washington, she lookel a very
queen-being quite undiSturbed By any thought
that her prescuce sent dagger to scores of
hearts, whose patrimony, uulawfully obtained,
had contributed to her enjoyment, in the same
proportion that its loss had added to the woes
and Hretchedness of the beholder.
His establishment wa upon Pennsylvania
Avenue, between the National Hote! aud the
Capital. Let US approa ch and look in
You enter by door of varlegated glass,
which, by gas light, reflects all the colors of
the rainbow. Ascending flight of stairs you
reach the door, pull the bell, and instantly
small apcrtare opens aud you are greeted by
pair of red eyes and double row of ivory, set
in black, which nomally belongs to Sambo, but
which in fact are the property Of tho proprietor.
A glance sufices. You have filled Sambo's
eye and are deemed passable. The door is at
once opened aud you are ushered into the ante
room tue vestibule of hell The room is
not large, but elegantly appointed-the chief
attraction being the side board, which is of
solid marble aud white as Diana's breast
Here are arranged in long and glistenng
columns decanters of cut glass, sparkling like
brilliants, filled with tue choicest nectar, aud
blushing to the very neckS with the glowing
vintage of the olden time. Ii you pass this
Rubicon without tasting its sparkling but dan
gerous waters, it is not from any dearth of
hospitality on the part of your persuasive host
The spacious "Sporting halP' is now visible
The floor is covered with carpetting from the
Orient of immense cost and marvellous beauty.
The walls are adorned with superb paintings
of the old masters aud new, while pendent from
the windows hang curtains of embroidered lace,
covered with golden tapestry of Oriental
magniicence, with mirrors of mammoth sizere
hectiug your form and features from a score of
cleaning embrazures. Along the hall, at
convenient distances, are ranged circular tables
Oh pUlISu6d IoStHOOa1 WhiCu are oG1teu
numbers of thoughtful, anxious, dark vsaged
men, who heed you not their eyes have another
and stronger attraction. One would naturally
suppose this to be a .heatre tor jests, dIollery
and song, OF bacchaDalian reyelings, or puglis
tic encounters Far frou it, On the contrary
all is bpshed, silent, sepulahral.
sNo real voice or sound
Within these cheerless walls are found"
You are oppressed with the fearful stiffness
and awful silence which prevailed the place.
A laugh, joke, or even curse, would bo
sensible relief. But you hear nothing of this.
An occasional long breath or half subdued
sigh is all that tells the ear that these mad de-
votees are possessed of lungs and life.
An hours inspection satisfied your curiosity,
and you are about taking yeur departure when
soft hand taps you on the shoulder, aud low
voice ;-"Please don't sir, supper viii be ready
in few minutes" AT precisely lob o'clock