The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-05-20
THE FATAL CARD.

THE FATAL CARD.
Some years ago the Mississippi river
was famous for its Floating palaces" as
the large steamers plying between New
Orleans and the ports above were called
Now the railroads have driven nearly
all the fine boats off the river, and left
the field to the freight boats, whose ac-
commodations for passengers are by nc
means palatial. The former class OF
steamers were in many respects delight
full, but they never ceased to be the OBJ
jects of dread to timid people, for if the
racing, which was on that stream re
duced to O system, did not result in the
loss of the boat, there was sure to be
one or more encounters between the
lawless portion of the travellers, in
which pistol would fly rather too
people. The cause of such disturbances
was generally q quarrel over the gam
bling table. The regulations of the
boat usually required that all such
amusements should be conducted in a
saloon provided for that purpose, in the
"Texas" or ''officers' cabiu," situated on
the hurricane-deck, but the sporting
gentry were by no means careful to OBJ
serve this rule, and the gaming was
most commonly carried on upon the
dining-tablcs in the main saloon of the
steamer, to the great annoyance of two
thirds of those Oh board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats their resorts, travel
ing back and forth with them, and
fleeing ali who were verdant and fool
ISL enough to fail into their clutches.
So we'll, indeed, was this system manag-
ed, that the various members of the
"craft" seemed to have their different
mon consent, so that no one would tres
pass upon the domain of the other. Of
course, these men were warm friends of
the officers of the boat, who were either
too sincere in their friendship to pnt a
stop to the practice, or 100 much afraid
of the gamblers to care to provoke a
quarrel with them. for in those days it
was a common affair for such men to re-
sent any fancied affront with a pistol
shot.
One of the most remarkable men of
this class was Daniel Sturdivant, a
Frenchman, the son Of brokcH-down
scion of nobility, who had settled in
New Orleans before the transfer of Lou
| isiana to the United States. Sturdivant
had been raised gentleman" by his
aristocratic father, bnt upon coming OF
age, and finding his fortunes very bad,
had taken to cards rs a means of better
ing them. His success in this field was
80 great, that he was induced to con-
tinue in it, until, at the time of which l
write, he was ono of the most notorious
gamblers between st. Louis and New
Orleans. He was forty-five years old,
bnt had kept himself so well that he
seemed much younger. He was a man
of fine personal appearance, and of great
physical strength. He was also noted
for his personal courage. As q gambler
he was most expert and successful.
There were dark stories of deeds which
he had committed while under the int1u-
ence of play and liquor, and it was said
by some that he had killed a half a do
zen men in his lifetime. Yet no one
dared to speak these stories openly, for
no one cared to bring upon himself the
anger of such a man. There were few
who knew him that really cared to play
against him, but they feared that re-
fusal to do so might involve themselves
in a quarrel with him, and rarely de-
clined his invitations.
About fifteen years ago, the time OF
which / write, he had attached himself
to one of the magnificent steamers ply
ing between New Orleans and Vicks-
burg, and had publicly announced his
determination to shoot any man who
dared to encroach upon his scene of
operations. OF course this left him in
| undisputed possession Of tho field, and
he reaped golden harvest from it dur
dncted his operations there.
1t was my lot, at that time, to be COM
PEELED to make frequent trips between
New Orleans and yicksburg, being heav-
ily engaged in cotton speculstions. !
preferred the steamer of which Sturdi.
want had taken possession, inasmuch as
it was not only the most comfortable,
but also the swiftest. and time was Of
importance to me. 1t was known that
I carried large sums Of money with me,
and l was always apprehensive lest
Sturdivant should ask me to play. l
had fully made up my mind to refuse
him, and if he attempted to draw me
into q quarrel, to shoot him without
mercy, as ! knew that the only chance
for my life lay in getting nearly all the
advantage Of him. Strange to say, he
did not make any such proposition to
me, and / gave him no chance to do SO.
One night we had started out from
yicksburg, and were heading merrily
down the river, when Sturdivant came
up to the group which had gathered
around the stove. He had been drink
ing, and was smoking a fine cigar as he
approached. All made way for him.
"Well. gentlemen" he said, in an un-
steady tone, "you seem to be terribly
dull. Who wants to play for twenty
dollars anteep
There was no reply. All those pres
ent seemed to know the man, and ne
one cared to volunteer to place himself
in his clutches.
"Umph!p he exclaimed, with an ex-
preston of contempt, "afraid to try your
| luck against Dan. Sturdivant, ehi Or
maybe YOU want little eoaXing. Some
of You mxst play withme. l can't stand
such bad treatment. Come, and lets
see who it shall be-"
He glanced around the crowd as If to
select his victim. For the first time
noticed the gaze Of ono Of the group
fixed steadily upon him. He was q
stranger to me, and was dressed In 9