Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-11-17
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A DUEL BY CANDLELlGHT
1t was in the winter Of 186l-th
| l7th of November. Well do re
member the day-not alone from
the circumstance ] am about t
relate, but--but no matter. The
experience of every early adventnr'
er here. is dotted with endurin.
landmarks, TO guide the noiseles
step of recollection back through the
dim viStas Of the past, and lengther
the great way of life. Broad, thi:
evening,is..theroa We travelled to-day
and flowers still blossom beside it
and ,horns linger in the sight; bu,
further back, and it narrows into
thread-Iike path, along which the
flowers lie dead and scentless, and
touching here and there at mo-
ment of bliss or sepulcher OF hope,
approaches the confines of memory,
and is soon lost to sight.
We'll; it was the seventeenth Of
November. The day had been a
drearv, drizzling one, and as night
approached the wind lulied, and
a heavy fog rolled like a mighty ava
lanche of snow over the hills west of
San Francisco, aud settled, in a
thick, almost drenching mist over
muddy street and housetop. Twas
indeed a chilly, cheerless evening,
and we did not wonder then, nor do
we now, that the gambling houses
were crowded and the bars of The
drinking saloons thronged, for the
city was full Of strangers, and prom:
enading the half-pavee streets by
The uncertain light of an occasional
door lamp could sea rcely be deemed
positive enjoyment.
ThesEl Dorado was thegreat centre
of attraction. 1t was not only one OF
the largest and most substantial struc-
lures in the city, but its proprietors
were men whose wealth was counted
by tens Of thousands; and every
bank in its capacious saloon was
loaded with golden slugs anc ounces.
Through the room we're ranged no
less than twenty tables at which were
played faro, monte, yipgt-et-nolr, lans-
quenet and vayiety Of other games,
the very names Of which have es-
capped me; while from raised plat
form poured forth continuous
flood of exquisite music from a band
of the best musicians in the country.
The finest musical talent 10 the State
found employ nent in the gambling
saloons of San Francisco and Sacra.
mento, and many Of the most noted
performers in the country to-day,
made their debut before an audience
of gamblers. Simonton, the we'll
known violinist, and Pcttinos, one OF
the best pianists 10 the State, for two
years occupied together the platform
os the .El Dorado at Sacramento,
receiving sixty -four dollars per day
for their services, and the very first
musicians in the city once led an or.
chestra at an other gambling house
in the City of the Plains.
As we said before, the 'El Dorado
was crowded. Many we're betting
and venturing their last dollar With
an unconcenn characteristic OF the
times, while as many more were ell.
bowiug their way from one table to
another, with no ether object than
1.-The qualification of their curiosity
and the vain hope 0! seeing some
desperate gamester tap a bank ane
| win it. Adozen or more were reel
ing through the saloon entirely TOO
wealthy in their own estimation ever
to covet the piles Of iluore arouno
them. while not a few might be ob
served with hands jammed in thel'
empty pockess,stsrin ahstractedly a
the progress Of game that had re
llieyed them Of the last ounce.
The band had commenced Its SEQ
ond performance for the evening anf
seemed intent in boisterous execu
ltiou to drown the clamor OF olinkips
lsilver, when tall, muscular locking
miner stopped in front of the door
and gazing moment at the seen.
within, buttoned his thin cost arounf
| him and started slowly do~H WASH
lipcton street. He was coarseiy On
comfor,ablyiclad. A. pair Of heaS!
/ brown whiskers completely coyere'
his face, and the broad ebrim oi
[ slouched hat rested almost upon ni
1 ebouldorc