Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-03-09
Misttllan
THE q GAMING HOUSE,
.,oys .-f-. OR, ,s -saN -il Il
rr A rHRI1LING ApvENruRE.I -

1t was in the spring of l8-, that
found myself gliding upon the waters OF
the Mississippi, and bound for the Cres-
cent City, New Orleans.
With single exception, / found no
travelling acquaintances on board the boat,
although had been two days upon my
Journey, which was becoming quite mo-
notonous. The individual with whom |
singularly enough faternized, seemed,
like myself, to have little inclinationte ex-
tend hisracquaintance among the passen-
gers, though he continually seemed TO he
on the look k-out for some one, and fIom
the operations OF two or three individuals,
whose protuse dispiay of vest chains and
jewelry; and proficiency at cards at the
table in the saloon betrayed their profess
ion, more than once set him dow AS
police detective III disguise. r...d
He called himself George Thorn, of
Kentucky; SO his card read, which he
gave me in exchange for mine. In truth
he was a noble specimen of that State
Full six feet in hight; n clear intelligent
blue eve, broad forehead, and light, curly
hair, muscular arm, and the chest of a
Hercules, he challenged the admiration OF
more than one of the passengers, as with
IL
paced the promenade deck or sat apparent
Iy buried in deep thought in the saloon.
DO you ever play cards?' said to him
AS he left group chat were Standing about
table of four players, and noting the
progress Of the game. i had frequently
seen him invited, but he invariably, like
myself, refused to participate in the game,
oh, yes,' said he; but where is the
use of playing here? Those fellows ( nod
ding toward the ,players) know every card
in the pack by their backs, and they are
trying hard TO pluck some poor pigeon
with indifferent success; beware Of them,
SIR , .. --...... ..e .,. ...
thanked him for his friendly warning,
and at the same time expressed my aston
ishmeut at his affirmation. To convince
boat. and ordered him to bring him fresh
pack of cards; were brought, and he
handed the pack to me, bidding me to
shuttle them. l did SO, when he imme-
dlateIy selected every ace and king from
the pack, without looking at the face OF
them. Next, he dealt them in two par
GELS, when, upon examination, found that
all the cards of real value in the game
were in his hand, although could not
detect the least unfairness as he dealt
them. .' .".r. ,.'.'ef o..
You see,' said he smiling at my lock
Of astonishment, the advantage an expert
in these matters has over even a skillful
player. ~f-- t
-, 4 do, indeed, replied, astonisheG al
my fellow travellers dexterity, and begin.
ming tothink he might be a reformed gam.
bier, or one playing the possums for some
purpose or o other hut as heGdid, not III ge
or even invite me to play, nor had played
with any one else, and threw the cards
aside with an expression of disgust toe
natural toAbe assumed. L came to the con.
elusIon that my travelling acquaintance
was a riddle yet to be solved s3e'-r7 ~rl
Early the next morning the boat arrived
at New Orleans, and amid the hurry and
hustle of fdiselnbarkation, l lost my friend
the Kentuckian, not even seeing him t
bid him adieu. The same evening, how
ever, after visiting the theatre, l was en-
ljoying the cool air and the fragrance of {
a Havana in the rotunda, of the st. Charles
: Hotel, aud conversing with a friend from
D the North, whom had fortunately met
when whom should l encounter but m,
steamboat friend. After the usual greet
9 ing, our conversation turned upon our tril
! down the river, our fellow passengers
DC, when my fellow traveller remarked,
| would like to witness the interior of
= gambling house., or HELL as it is some
: times more appropriately called, he woul
be LEASED to show it to us as one Of III
= sights or lions Of the city. Never hav
: ing witnessed anything of the kind, bot
o and my friend asssnted, and sfsHr shoi