M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-08-25
A Gamblers story.

Through the wilds OF New Mexico.
Glanced to have for a travelling
companion noted California gambler
Iby the name of Tom Hickman, aud a;
the Apache tribe Of Indians were iust
at that time unusually hostile, the
company of this brave man was quite
agreeable to me.
/ Mounted on our hardy little Mexi
can ponies, with our trusty rifles rest
ing easily across our saddles, we star,
Ted and moved slowly onward, appa,
IrenIly Indifferent TO the surrounding
peril.
The monotony of being silent sen.
tinel is at all times irksome, but never
more so than when trailing in an In,
dian conntry. reminded Hickman
Of this fact, and proposed to him that
he should narrate to me a brief sketch
Of his life, for said |, 1T must be
checkered with many strange adven-
turUs.'
lie replied, Indeed you are right
as to Its having been strange. for So it
often appears to me, when lrecall any
portion o!it; but listen while | tell it
to you.
4 was born on Tie right bank ofthe
Missouri river, several hundred miles
above its mouth. My father owned
a small farm and a few slaves. There
was a large family Of us, and we all
had to work bard to obtain the means
OF subsistence. Schools were scarce
in our parts, and the only lesson |
studied tter working hard all day
was the art Of playing cards.
Seated on logs, | have spent night
after night in gambling with our ne
groes. The stakes usually played for
III these games consisted of such mi.
nor articles as pocket knives, buttons,
&c.; but Oltentmes il happened that
even these worldly goods, were scarce
am my us, and then we played to kill
time, as the saying is.
The HAT boats on the river would
frequently tie up at our wood yard,
and the first sum OF money ever won
was obtained from the boatmen OF
them.
Thus years flew by, until at last |
one day found myself possessed Of
enough money sufficient to buy of a
neighbOr a valuable horse and equip,
ments.
My father despatched me, shortly
after this event, to town located over
fifty miles from our log house. Itwas
the first time in my life | had been SO
far from home or seen a settlement
With a merry heart | made the Jour.
ney to the place, but with a sad one |
returned. 1t was the old story of the
green countcy boy being duped by the
village sharpers.
Not satisfied with seeing the sights,
| made new acquaintances, and final
ly | fell into the hands Of a profession,
al black.log, who easily won my horse
and saddle.
Bankrupt both in pocket and spir-
its, travelled home on foot. This ad.
venture made me resolve never to
touch another card, aud for five years
| kept my promise.
The Mexican war broke out, and |
enlisted in company OF volunteers,
and was actively engaged during the
war. Fighting and gaming, you
know, 90 hand in hand, therefore my
old habits returned to me.
When peace was declared and our
company was disbanded, | visited my
friends in Missouri, and then, in com.
pany with some emigrants, | started
overland to California.
The skill | here exhibited as a
dealer in the Mexican game of monte,
caused my services to be engaged in
the famous Ell Dorado House, OF San
Francisco. Money Or rather gold dust,
was plenty, and as gambling was
fashionable, lneVer lacked for custom.
ers.
Il had thus been employed about six
months, when one night | was drawn
into an encounter with a desperate,
and in self-detence | was obliged to in
tlct on lin severe wound with my
bowie-knile. This fellow was mem
Der OF party of cut -throats who lived
about the gambling establishments OF
the city, aud of whom the gamblers
were in great dread.
1T now became necessary for me to
make my escape to distant part of
the country. | advised with my
friends, and they counselled me to 90
to the mines.
The knowledge | had gained of the
world by at first being woodsman,
then soldier, and finally the boon
companion of different individuals
who styled themselves gentlemen,
made me accomplished in almost any
character | choose to undertake.
TO win the confidence of the miners
of the locality to which | was
bornd I HYet hod to nv 1h N nua my Aach