Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-28
TzzE FATAE1 CARD.

=
TszE FATAL CARD.
: sac years ago tho Mississippi river was
fan sas ia rs II 'atlng palaces, ~ tbs large
steamer. plying between New Orleans Aut
tho pprts above were called. Now the rail-
as have dnven nearly all the fine boats
I'll lac r.yer, AMI lift the field to the freight
bsa :. whose accommodations for passen-
rsff acc w ~ means palaiial. Tho former
,ias- ii steamers we're IN many respects de-
llAetn, hat tn~y never Ceased to be the
oily - ct dread 10 ,imid people, for IL tho
r4cti.. whicl On tns, stream was reduced
- sssle.a, did not result IN the ioss Of the
bNsl. tarre VAS sure 70 be one more en-
csunleE- between tue more lasiess portion
.. the Travellers, in which pisto buliets
Won a n, rather too thick for Tho comfort OF
steady going people. The cause for such
cisiufe Dances was generally aquarrel over
the gambling table. The regu a,ions Of tho
beas. usnsily required that all su.h amuse.
ments should be conducted in % ssloon pro-
vi. 4 li ,uai purpose IA the Texas, "ef-
ttert.' ctain, rta.tel On tho hurricane
deck. hut the Spnttins gentlemen were by
no means csrrtul - oossrve this rule, and
tie Gam n. was ulost cDnmonl, carried ON
a. Tie d,n ns table. In the main saloon on
thu sieamts. 10 the great annoy auce OF two
thf4ss.,t thnse an bosId.
aans es-lpHal gauib ers used TO mah e
these ,atS their home, travrilng back anu
for Il y "a ID -, IT., eng all WHO wrse fJol
- ssi v,iicut enough to Ill into then
haht> 80 wUl. tnde u, was the system
flsa44tti. thSt The VARIOUS meinbers scetn, d
a. ave t.,ii itN rent = Gamers marked out
ia tt+ai ~ tet.Hstn consent, 50 that no
~ns Wam.i try-pAss on the domain of tht
q. her. 20 crise these men were warm
friends sc the ati ,efs Of the boat, who were
either too sincere IN their friendship TO put
>isf - chs prsr.lce, Or too mnch afraid OF
"a lNsa nleFs q cas- g. provoke n quarrel
Wa ihr'n GU ~ those days Il WAS a CON
mao 81 i.s TOT $ itsf men L. resent any fan
eel .e.a-t wi'h . .ss,o, shot.
osss If tae mos IemsIkabls men OF this
eisss was namsi Daaiel SturdivAnt, a
reseAm4n. the son q. bro .cn-down sc on
81 nahiiity, who had settled in New Orleans
bes,se ,hr transfer OF l. ,uisiaua TO the Uni
ted states. SIurdsv.uy had been raised .
''gs nsiensn" Nv has ar,stsera,ic father, but
ga coming IL age. and fading his fortunes
vcry bad, had taken TO cards ~ . means TO
better them. HIS success IN this field was
~ gtcat that he was Induced to coatinus II,
until tie tune of which | write he was one
81 the most notorious gsmb ers between ST.
l.tats aud New Orleans. lie was q man OF
ha personal Appearance, aud Of great ply
ssrtl strearth. lie was also noted fyr his
rvrs nal e 'ursge As gambler he was
.aest expert sed successful. fhere were
SA.k sieties OF deeds which he had commit
IL NuI;c nader the Influence of play and
J qWpr sud II vas said ny some that he had
NMtsA hall dV2,n insn IA his Iitot inc. No
one. asret q 50 ak of these stories openly.
for ue one cared to bring upon himself
ihe surer OF such n man. There were
ics who kaew h.n that really cared to
pss asnn,t hlm, but they learned that =
fei4ssi - ID 80 might involve them in a
qasrrei ~Ish him, and rarely declined his
lessfaion
About fifteen years ago, the time Of which
WI e he had attached himself to one Of
ihc magnificent steamers plying between
y = osicans sud Vicksburg, and had pub
hcis announced his determination TO shoot
any man who cnctosched upon his scene OF
operations. of course this lett him in un.
Disputed possession OF the field. and he
real'ed u golden harvest during the nine
hsirt wears he conducted his operations
there
IL vas my lot At that time to be compcll-
ed 70 Nuke frequent trips between New
ofieans aud Vick>burg, being heavily en-
g.esd ia cotton spcculations. | preferred
The steamer 9! which Sturdivant had taken
possession, ina.much a. it WAS not only the
most comfortable. but also the swites,. and
u sc ~as OF The utmost importance to me.
u 90 known that carried large sums Of
maaty. and always was apprehensive lest
SS", swami should ask me to play. I had
usas up my minl 10 refuse him. and il he
attempted 10 draw me into n Quarrel. to
shoot him wihou, mercy, Al l knew that
the only chance OF my life Law in getting
the 'dsaas>gc OF him. Strange to say, be
did MT m,Ne aay 81 h propo s,tion to mo.
ami gave h'm no chance to dc 20.
o"e n'A h We had started out from Vicks
burg. and Srre aiding merr,iy down the
riez', wHen Siafdsvant came to the eroup
whica had gathered ar,uni the stove. lie
had been drink,ag. and vas smoking fine
e'.ssr ~ he approached, AL made way 70,
han.
We'll. gentleman" he said in an IN.
s'e.d, tone. ''you seem TO be terribly Gull
NO wants 10 pay for twenty dollars
ante -
Iheie was no reply. All present seemed
70 A"os the man. and no one cared TO vol
uase.r 10 place himself IN his clutches.
O"Ph, he exeiaimed with an exnres
s'on ci cbniempi. AFRAID 10 try vour In 81
w. Daniel Ssualvan,, chs or. NAV h.
yn want a little caaxinr somc az xop
must clay with me. can't stand such
treatment. Come, let us see who it sh
be-
lie glanced around the crowd as If to Sc.
lect his victim For the first time | noticed
the gazs OF one Of TIA group lxed o,e,d,lv
us.on him. lie WAS n stranger 10 m. an
was dressed ID q plain homessun, snd mis-
face was partially cSnceslsd 10y broad.
brimmed sembrero, which was drawn down
over Il. He Was small but powerfully
made man, and in the decided expression
Of his we'll shaped head read an unusual
f-nness and intensity Of purpose.
Are you Daniel Sturdivant, the gam
bier = to asked in calm tone, without ris
ing
S'ordivant flushed darby, and ssvs Il,
stranger dark glance.
some prrsons call me 90 behind nv
back, : he said 'nsoien,ly, ..but ne one would
csre 70 apply that term to be before IN
f.ce"
"Nevsfthslsas, ssid the stranger. oeiet.
", Il want IN answer-yss o. H.
well. then. | am" said the gamble, an.
g-ily. what of il 2"
''Ssmply this" replied the stranger. az,
have h ard Il said that you claim to be IN.
h.st cara-plAycr in the Southwest. hav,
G. ne ITO bunirsd miles to prove you
hAf-
Ssurdivant ssrods forward step Of two
cad thrust bis had late ~ bfeast . if Z