Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-11-16
STANTON, VIRGINIA. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 1855
Gambling i'm Washington--Death of q Noto-
rious fsSportsman.o

Gambling in Washington--Death of MOTTO
rious GSpOrtsman."
The Washington correspondent OF the Bostoi
Post. notices the death there few days since o
one of the most famous "sportsmen," in this O.
any other country, and adds:
lie had been a resident of Washington some
fifteen or twenty years, during which period hs
amsssed great wealth by gambling; or, to use the
mild and honest language of the avenue, "he re-
allied an ample fortune out of the successful op
erations of his house" His "His house" being
the most elegant, and his bank the most weighty
and substantial in the country, it has been for
years the fashionable and fascinating resort Of
the wealthy planters and fast congressman, as
piring diplomats, and ambitious sportsmen, from
every part of the world. For many years past
he has lived in the most luxuriant style, having,
like certain other rich man, sheen clothed in
purple and fine linen and faring sumptuously
every day." In person he was above the medi-
um size, fat and sleek, of pleasing address, and
generous disposition exhibiting in his general
department to strangers the characteristics OF a
well fed, good-natured clergyman rather than
those of heartless, urrelenting gambler.
His reputation for generosity was widely es-
tablished Ifa college was to be endowed, q
church built, or private charities to be dispensed
his was sure to be among the most munlflcent Of
the donations. His wife, now widow, was oil
good parentage, woman OF rare beauty and ac'
complishments, possessing social qualities which
combined with the dazzling allurements OF wealth,
insured her troops of admirers. Rolling along
the avenue in her magnificent equipage, which
far exceeds in richness and style that ofthe Pres,
ident OF the United States, or that of any other
gentlemen in Washington, she looked like q very
queen-being quite undisturbed by any thought
that her presence sent dagger to scores OF
hearts, whose patrimony, unlawfully obtained,
had contributed to her enjoyment, in the same
proportion that its loss had added to the woes
and wfetchedness of the beholder.
His establishment" was upon Pennsylvania
avenue, between the National Hotel and the
Capitol. Let us approach and look at it.
You enter by door of variegated stained glass;
which, by gas light reflects all the colors OF the
rainbow. Ascending fight of stairs, you reach
door, pull the bell, and instantly small aper-
ture opens, and you are greeted with pair OF
red eyes and double row of ivory set in black,
which nominally belonged to Sambo, but which,
in fact, are the property of the proprietor. A
glance sutfices. You have filed Sambos eyes
and are deemed passabe. The door is at once
pened and you are ushered into the ante-room-
the vestibule of hell. This room is not large,
but elegantly appointed-the chef attraction be.
ing the side board, which is of solid marble and
as white as Dana's breast. Here are arranged
in long and glistenng columns decanters OF cut
glass, sparkling like brilliants, filled with the
choicest nectar, and blushing to the very neckS
with the glowing vintage of the olden time
If you pass this rubicon without tasting its spark
ling but dangerous waters, it is not from any
dearth of hospitality on the part of your per
suasive host. The spacious sporting hair Is
now visible. The floor is covered with car
peting from the Orient, of immense cost and
marvellous beauty. The walls are adorned with
superb paintings of the old masters and the new,
while pendent from the windows hang curtains
of embroidered lace, covered with golden tapes
try OF Oriental magniticence; with mirrors OF
size rejecting your form and features
from a score of cleaning embrasures. Along the
hall, at convenient distances, are arranged cir
cular tables of polished rosewood, around which
are seated numbers of thoughtful, anxious dark
visaged men, who heed you not-their eyes have
another and stronger attraction. One would
suppose this to be theatre for Jests,
drolery and songs, Or bacchanalian revellings,
or pugllistic encounters. Far fromi it, On the
contrary all is hushed, silent, sepulcaral.
"No real voice or sound.
Within those cheeress walls are found"
You are oppressed with the fearful stiffness
and awful silence which prevades the place. A
laughSa joke, or even curse, would be o sensl-
bic relief But you hear nothing of this. An
occasional long breath or half subdued sigh is
all that tells the ear that these mad devotees are
possessed of lungs and lite.
An hours inspection satisfies your curiosity,
and you are about taking your departure when
a soft hand taps you on the shoulder, aud low
voice: "Please don't leave, sir, supper will be
ready in few minutes" At precisely half.past
ten o'clock, the doors of the dining hall are
thrown open and "supper's ready" proclaims an
immediate armistice between the combatants,
and invites to more healthy and rational duty.
The long tables groan beneath their burden OF
gold and silver plate, and the heaps of delicaces
which surmount and adorn them. Here'are VEN
sap from the brown forests of Maine, turkeys
from the broad savannahs Of the West, canvas
backs from the Potomac trout from Superior,
and salmon from the st. Johns, together with
fruits, flowers and wines for every taste and
from every CLINE.
Tie repast over, you are permitted, with. a
patronizing invitation, to 'call again" to make
your retreat to the open air, there to thank
heaven that you are not O worslipper within
this magnificent yet cheerless abode.
One nights work, q few days previous to the
close of the last session, made sad havoc among
the Golfers of his den. 1t is said that distin-
guished Senator won on that night one hundred
and eighty thousand dollars, which broke the
bank and caused temporary suspension. A
new house, however, was soon purchased by
him, and was magni6cently decorated, when the
"king of terrors," the great unbeaten and an
challenged, slept in andplosed the game of life
forever.
GHOST STORIES There is foolish and perni
cious practice with some people of relating sto
ries TO young children, to excite alarm and ter