The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-08-03
The Dead Gambler.
BY JAMES REYNOLDS.

BY JAMES REYNOLDS.
Among the thousands of gold-seek-
ers who landed in Sacramento in the
summer of the year lS49, on their way
to the placers on the South, Middle
and North forks Of the American riv-
er, was n prepossessing looking gen
tleman by the name of Hardie. His
only companion was his son, a lad of
some fourteen years. but who, not
withstandiDg his extreme youth, was
sharp, shrewd and intelligent. Mr..
Hardie was what might be called as
the fashionable phrase goes, "reti-
cent man" He had once been veal
thy, but his passion for gaming had
ruined him. He was not q profess
sional Indeed, he looked with con
tempt upon all who kept games of
chance, but his personal dislike for
such characters did not prevent him
risking his money upon the turn of a
card or east Of dice. His son, fully
aware of his fathers only failing,
sought every possible means to keep
him from the table, IN the hope, vain
though it was, that the passion would
lose its hold upon him, and that
eventually lie would be thoroughly
weaned from cards.
Hardie landed in Sacramento with
about one hundred dollars in money,
the last of his once ample fortune, and
without an hours delay pushed for
the mines which had Just been dis
covered to the eastward of Coloma
formerly Suttersyille), where it was
rumored very rich veins had been dis
covered.
BY fortunate chance, Hardie and
his son made the acquaintance on the
road of two honest hearted, adven-
turous sailors, and they determined
to prospect the country together.
On the fourth day from their leaving
Sacramento the little company entered
gulch which subsequently became
famous as the Oregon, and there
succeeded in securing a claim that
amply repaid the adventures for their
time and labor. At the expiration OF
four months the company had realized
twenty thousand dollars This was
equally divided, one-half being handed
to Hardie and his son, while the other
moiety was retained by their co-labor-
ers When the division had been sat
isfactorily made Hardie became sud.
denly restless He intimated desire
to return to Sacramento, there to en-
gage in some mercantile pursuit fol-
which DIS early education had fitted
him, and he offered to sell his own and
sons interest to the sailors. These
men were reluctant to part with him
The son was also adverse TO the prop
osition; but Harlie persisted in his
resolution, and finally disposed of his
claim for twenty five hundred dollars
On returning to Sacramento, father
and son, as the reader perceives, had
the snug little sum of upwards Of
twelve thousand dollars to begin with
Had Hardie, as he honestly intend
ed when at Oregon canton, at once
embarked in trade, he could have in Q
few months trebled if not quadrupled
his capital, and perhaps in the course
of couple of years returned to the
Atlantic States with fortune quite as
large as he was master of before the
mania for gambling came upon him.
Unfortunately for him, however, be-
fore he had fully arranged his mercan.
tile projects he renewed his acquain-
lance with gentleman who, like him
self, had been addicted to gambling
and by him was induced to visit the
Empire Saloon, at that time the lead
ing "hell'' of the town, where faro
monte, rogue ct noir and other games
of chance were openly played--a hell
where miners, after months of expos
ure, perhaps sickness, and always hare
labor, would lose their hundreds o
thousands of dollars in single night
and then be compelled to return t.
the diggings with saddened hearts t.
win from the rivers and hills thos,
smiles which fortune had denied then
at the tables of the gamblers.
Hardie had barely entered the room
when his thirst returned to him F.; anC
even before he was fully conscious o
his actions he found himself seated a
a faro table. Unfortunately again TO
Hardie, he rose from it the winner o
one thousand dollars. The passion
for gaming once aroused in the maj
and he could no more restrain himsel
from indulging in it than a broker
down thirsty topper can keep his lip
from tasting the fiery potation tina
stimulates and poisons.
The next night and the next, Hardi
was at the table; now, however, ac
companied by his son, who, with tear
in his eyes, stood by the chair on whicl
his father sat, and trembling saw thei
little capital pass into the hands OF tn
bankers of the game.
He. moor boy, had entreated his pa
rent not TO indulge in the wild intoxi
oot;on 20 cave his money, and, if h