Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-08-17
The Dead Gambler.

The Dead Gambler.
Among the thousands Of gold-seek-
ers who landed in Sacramento in the
summer of the year l $40, on their way
to the placers on the South, Middle
and North forks of the American riv-
er, was a prepossessing looking gen
tleman by the name of Hardie. His
only companion was his son, a lad Of
some fourteen years, but who, not
withstanding 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 passoia for gaming had
ruined him. He was not profession
al gambler. He looked with contempt
upon all who kept games of chance,
but his personal dislike for such char
acters did not prevent him risking his
money upon the turn of card or cast
of a die. 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 he 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 discov-
cred to h e eastward of Coloma
formerly Suttersville,) 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 leav
ing Sacramento the little company en-
tered a gulch which subsequently be
came famous as the "Oregon," an6
there succeeded in securing a claim
that amply repaid the adventurers fol
their time and labor. At the expira
ton of four months the company haC
realized twenty thousand dollars
This was equally divided, one-half be
. inc handed to Hardie and his son
while the other moiety was retained
by their co-laborers. When the di
, vision had been satisfactorily made
Hardie became suddenly restless
; He intinated a desire to return t,
Sacramento, there to engage in som
, mercantile pursuit for which his earl,
! education had fitted him, and he Offer
: ed to sell his own and sons interes
to the sailors. These men were re
: luctant to part with him. The so
, was also adverse to the proposition
! but Hardie persisted in his resolution
and finally disposed of his claim fo
y twenty five hundred dollars.
4 On returning to Sacramento, fathe
g and son, as the reader perceives, ha
e the snug little sum of upwards {
= twelve thousand dollars to begin wit
# Had Hardie, as he honestly inten'
# ed when at Oregon canton, at one
r. embarked in trade, he could have
r. a few months trebled if not QUA
e rupled his capital, and perhaps in tt
It course of couple of years returne
# to the the Atlantic States with a fo
, tune quite as large as he was mast'
v of before the mania for gambling can
d upon him.
3. Unfortunately for him, howeve
it before he had fully arranged his me
le camille projects he renewed his a
IS quaintance with a gentleman who, lii
er himself, had been addicted to gam
ht ling, and by him was induced to Wis
er the Empire Saloon, at that time Il
e. leading "helr' of the town, where far
IS monte, rogue ct noir and other gam
of chance were openly played
Ill shell" where miners, after months
ID exposure, perhaps sickness, and
is ways hard labor, would lose their hu
re dreds Of thousands Of dollars in
h, single night, and then be compelled
ry return to the diggings with sadden
id, hearts to win from the rivers and hi
i" those smiles which fortune had deni
by them at the tables Of the gamblers.
It's Hardie had barely entered the rot
sp- when his thirst returned to him a
ID and even before he was fully console
of [of his actions he found himself seat
tic lat a faro table. Unfortunately ag;
Ter for Hardie, he rose from it the "