The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-04-02
DUEL BY CANDLELIGHT.
A STORY OF REAL LIFE.

1t was in the winter Of 1851, the 18th
OF November Well do remember the
day-not alone for the circumstances |
am about to relate-but no matter. The
experience Of every early adyenturer
here has dotted with enduring land.
marks, TO guide the noiseless step Of rec
objection back through the dim vistas of
the past, and lengthen the great way Of
life. Broad, this evening. is the road to
travel to-day, and flowers still blossom
beside ii, and thorns linger in the sight !;
but further. and IL narrows iuto thread
like path, along which the flowers lie
dead and scentess. and touching here
and there at a few moments of bliss or
sepuchre of hope, approaches the con-
lines OF memory, and is soon lost TO
sight.
Well, it was the seventeenth of No
vember. The day had been dreary,
drizzling one. and as night approached
the wind lulled, and heavy fog rolled
like a mighty avalanche of snow over the
hills west of San Francisco, aud settled,
in thick, almost drenching mist over
muddy street and house top. Twas in.
deed cherries 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
promenading the half.paved streets, by
the uncertain light of an occasional door
lamp could scarcely be deemed a posi-
tive enjoyment.
The /" FL Dorado was the great CEN
ter 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 capa-
cious saloon was loaded with golden
slugs and ounces. Through the room
were ranged no less than twenty tables,
at which were played faro, monte, vingt-
et-noir, lansquenet, and variety of 9TH
er games, the very names of which have
escaped me while from the raised plat
form poured forth a continuous flood OF
exquisite music from a band of the best
musicians in the country The finest
musical talent in the State found employ
ment in the gambling saloons of San
Francisco and Sacramento, and many OF
the most noted performers in the country
to-day, made their debut before an All
dience of gamblers. Simonton, the we'll
known violinist, and Pettinos, one of the
best pianists in the State. for two wears
occupied together the platform Of the
/" I'll Dorado " at Sacramento. receiving
slxty-four dollars per day for their servi.
ces, and the very first musicians in the
city once led an orchestra to another
gambling house in the "City OF
Plains"
As we said before. the "El Dorado /"
was crowded. Many were betting and
yenturing their last dollar with an un-
certainty characteristic of the times.
while as many more were elbowing their
way from one table to another with no
other object than TO crafty their curiosi-
ty, and the vain hope of seeing some des-
perate gamester +" tap bank and win it. -
dozen or moro We're reeling through
the saloon entirely too wealthy in their
own estimation even to covet the piles oil
lucre around them, while not few might
be observed with hands jammed in their
empty pockets, staring abstracted at the
progress of game that had relieved
them OF the last ounce.
The band had commenced its second
performance for the evening. and seemed
intent In boisterous execution to drowr
the clamor of chinking silver. when .
tall muscular looking miner stopped il
front of the door, and gazing momen
at the scene within, but.oned his thir