The Placer herald., 1859-01-15
An Eminent Sportsman" Dead.
The Great Gamblng- House IN Washington
4 Senator Bre0kin0 the Bank.

The Great GambHng- House IN Washington;
4 Senator Breaking the Bank.
WASHINGTON, October 25th.-One of the
most celebrated and successful sportsmen of
this or any other country, was buried in this
city on Sunday week. The occasion of his
death affords me an opportunity of giving
your readers a sketch of the man and de-
scripton of his gambling house. Let it serve
as a warning; not as an example.
He had been resident of Washington
some fifteen or twenty years, during which
period he had amassed great wealth by
gambling; or, to use the mild and honest
language of the avenue, she realized an am
pie fortune out of the successful operations
Of his house,
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 wealthy
planters, fast Congressman, aspiring dplo-
mats, and ambitious spcrtsmen from every
part of the world. For many years past he
has lived in the most luxuriant style, having,
like certain other rich man, "been clothed
in purple and fine linen and faring sumptu-
ously every day." In person he was above
the medium size, fat and sleek, Of pleasing
address, and generous disposition; exhibiting
in his general department to strangers, the
characteristics Of we-fed, good nasurea
clergyman, rather than those of a heartless,
unrelenting gambler.
His reputation for generosity was widely
established. If a college was to be endowed,
church built, or private charities to be
dispensed, his was sure to be among the
most muniticent of the donations. His wife,
now wi low, was of good parentage; a
woman of rare beauty and accomplishments,
possessing social qualities which, combined
with the dazzling allurements of wealth ac-
quired her troops of admirers and court.ers.
equipage, which far exceeds in richness and
style that of the President of the United
States, or that of any other gentleman in
Washington, she looked a very queen-being
quite undisurbed by any thought that her
presence sent dagger to scores OF hearts,
whose patriInony, unlawfully obtained, had
contributed to her enjoyment, in the same
proportion that its loss had added to the
woes and wretchedness of the beholders.
His establishment" was upon Pennsvlva-
MIA Avenue, between the National Hotel and
the Capitol. Let us approach and look at it.
You enter bv door of varigated stained
glass, which by las light reflects all the
colors of the rainbow. Ascending flight
Of stairs you reach door, pull the bell
and instantly 4 small aperture opens, and
you are greeted with pair of red eyes, and
a double row of ivory, set in black, which
nomnally belong to Sambo but which, in
fact, are the property Of the proprietor. A
glance suhices You have filled Sambo's
eye, and are deemed passabe The door is
at once opened, and you are ushered into
tho ante-room-the vestibule of hell, This
room is not large, but elegantly appointed,
which is of solid marble, and white as
Dianas breast.
Here are arranged in long and glistening
columns decanters of cut glass, sparkling
like brlliants, 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
persuasive host. The spacious sporting
hall" is now visible The floor is covered
with carpetng 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 tapestry of Orien-
tai magniicence; with mirrors OF mammoth
size rejecting your form and features from a
score of cleaning embrazures.
Along the hall, at convenient distances,
are ranged circular tables of polished rose
wood, around which are seated, numbers Of
thoughtful, anxious dark visaged men, who
heed you not-their eyes having another and
stronger attraction. One would naturally
suppose this to be theatre for jests, drollery
and song or bacchanalian revelings or pugil
istic encounters. Far from it. On the con-
trary all is hushed silent, sepufchral.
mo real voice or sound,
Within those solitary walls were found "
You are oppressed with the awful silence
which pervades the place. A laugh, a joke,
or even curse would be sensible relief
An occasional long breath or halfsubdued
sigh is all that tells the ear that these mad
devotees are possessed of lungs and life.
An hours inspection satisfied your curios-
ity, and you are about taking your departure
when soft hand taps you on the shoulder,
and low voice: 'Please don't leave, sir,
supper will be ready in a few minutes" At
precisely halfpast ten o'clock the doors of
the dining hall are thrown open, and "sup-
pers ready" proclams an immediate armis-
tice 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 delicacies