Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-11-12

An Eminent IS Sportsman Dead-The Great Cam
bling House I'm Washington.--A Senator Breaking
Bank.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25-One of the most celebrated
and successful spormen of this any other country
buried in this city Sunday week. The occasion of
his death affords opportunity of giving your read
ers sketch of the and description of his gaming
house. Let it a warning, not as an example.
He had been a resident of Washington fifteen
or twenty years. during which period he amassed great
wealth by gambling or, to the mild and honest Ian
guage OF the avenue he realized ample fortune out
of the successful operations of his house " His house
being the most elegant and the bank the most Weghy
and substantial in the country has been for years the
fashionable and fascinating resort of wealthy planters
fast Congressman, aspiring diplomats and ambitious
spOrtsmen from every part of the world. For many
years past he has lived in the most uxuriant STYLE hav
ing, like certain other rich man, been clothed in pur
pie and fine linen and faring sumptuously every day.
In person he above the medium size fat and Sleek
of pleasing address, and generous disposition exhibit
ing in his general department to strangers the charac
terstics of well-ed goodnatured clergyman, rather
than those of heartless, unrelenting gambler
His reputation for generosity was widely established
If college was to be endowed church built or pr-
vate charities to be dispensed his to be among
the most munifcent of the donations. His wife, now
widow was of good parentage; woman OF rare beau
ty and accomplishments possessing social qualities
which, combined with the dazzling auremens OF wealth.
insured her troops of admirers and courtezans. Rolling
along the in her magnificent equipage which far
exceeds in richness and style that Of the President of the
United States, that of any other gentleman In Wash
ngton she looked very queen-belng quite undsturD-
ed by any thought that her presence sent dagger to
scores of hearts, whose patrimony unlawfuy obtained
had contributed to her enjoyment in the same proper
ton that its loss had added to the and wreched
ness of the behoder
! His establishment " 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 light reflects all the colors of the rainbow.
Ascending flight of stairs you reach door, pull the
bell and instantly small aperture opens and you are
greeted with pair of red eyesand double ofvory
set in black, which nominaly belong to Sambo, but
which, in fact, the property of the proprietor
glance suices. You have filled Sambo's eye and are
deemed passable. The door is at once ened and you
ushered into the ane-roOm-the vestbule OF hell =
This room is not large but elegantly appointed
chief attraction being the sdeboard which is Of solid
marble and white as Dianas breast Here arranged
in long and glistenng columns decaners of cut glass,
sparkling like brillants filled with the choicest nectar
and bushng the very necks with the glowing vintage
of the oden time. If you pass this rubicon without
tasting its sparkling but dangerous waters it is not from
any dearth of hospitality the part of your persuasive
host spacious Sporting hall " is visible. The floor
is covered with carpeting from the Orient of immense
cost and marvellous beauty The walls adorned with
superb paintings OF the old masters and the new, while
pendent from the windows hang curtains of embroidered
lace covered with golden tapestry of Oriental magni
cence with mirrors of mammoth size rejecting your
form and features from of cleaning embrasures.
Along the hail. at convenient distances, ranged cir
cuar tables Of polished rosewood, around which are
seated numbers of thoughtful anxious dark visaged men,
who heed you uoher eyes having another and stronger
attraction. One would naturally suppose this to be a
theatre for ests, droery and song, bachanaian
Velmg or pugllStlc encounters Far from It, On the
contrary all is hushcd silent, sepuchral.
''No real voice or sound,
Within those cherries walls are found
GU are oppressed with the fearful stiffness and awful
silence which pervades the place. A laugh joke, or
even curse would be a sensible relief But you hear
nothing Of this An occasional long breath halEsub-
dued sigh all that tells the that these mad devotees
are possessed of lungs and life.
An hours inspection satisfies your curiosity and you
about taking your departure when soft hand taps
you on the shoulder, and low voice: "Pease don't
leave sir, supper will be ready in few minutes" AT
precisely halfpas ten O'Clock the doors of the dining
hall are thrown open and "suppers ready proclams
immediate armist ice between the combattants and
invites to more healthy and rational duty. The long
tables groan beneath their burden of gold and silver
plate and the heaps of decacies which surmount and
adorn them. Here are venson from the brown forest Of
Maine, turkeys from the broad savannahs of the West
canvasbacks from the placid Potomac trout from Su
perior, and salmon from the st. Johns; together with
fruits flowers and wines for every taste and from every
cline.
i The repast over, you are permitted with patron
zlng invitation, to" call again. to make your retreat
to the open air. there to thank heaven that you not
whorshipper within this magnificent yet cherries
abode
One nights work, few days previous to the last
sion, made sad havoc among the Golfers of this den
is said that distinguished senator 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
magnifcenty decorated when the liking of terrors,
the great unbeaen and unchaenged slept in and CLOSED
the game of life forever. FAUST.
Boston Post