The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-04-09
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 near.y
all the fine boats Off the river, and left
! the field to the freight boats, whose ac-
commodatiOn for passengers are by no
means palatial. The former class of
steamers were in many respects deliIhtful,
! but they mover ceased to be the objects Of
dread to timid people, for if the racing,
which on that stream WAS reduced TO a
| system, did not result in the loss of the
boat, there was sure to be one or more
encounters between the more lawless por-
tlon OF the travellers, in which pistol bullets
would fly rather too thick for the comfort
OF steady going people. The cause for
such disturbance was generally a quarrel
over gaming table. The regulations of
the boats usually required that all such
amusements should be conducted in a
SALON provided for that purpose in the
| "Iexas," ''Officer's cabin situated on
| the hurricane deck, but the sporting gen.
tlemen were by no means careful to OBJ
serve this rule. and the gaming was most
| commonly carried on at the dining table.
| in the main saloon on the steamer, to the
| great annoyance of two thirds of those on
| board.
Many professional gamblers used to
| make these boats their home, travelling
| back and forth with them, fleeing all WHO
| were foolish and verdant enough to fail
into their hands So well, indeed, was the
| system managed, that the various mems
| bers seemed to have their different steam
| ers marked out for them by common con-
sent, so that 40 one would trespass upon
| the domain o. the other. OF course these
men were warm friends of the officers of
| the boat, who were either too sincere in
their friendship to put a stop to the prac-
| tice, or too much afraid of the gamblers
| to care TO provoke quarrel with them.
! for in those days it was a common affair
| for such men to resent any fancied insult
with pistol shot.
One Of tie most remarkable men of This
class was named Daniel Sturdivant, a
! Frenchman, the son of a broken down
scion of nobility who had settled in New
Orleans before the transfer of Louisiana
to the United States. Sturdiyant had
been raised gentleman by his aristo-
cratic father, but on coming of age, and
finding his fortunes very bad, had taken
| to cards as a means to better them. His
success in this field was so great that he
| was induced to continue it, until at the
time of which | write he was one of the
most notorious gamblers between St Louis
and New Orleans. lie was a man Of fine
personal appearance, and of great physical
strength. He was also noted for his per-
sonal courage. As gambler he was most
| expert and successful. There were dark
stories Of deeds which he had committed
while under the influence Of play and
liqpor, and it was said by some that he
had killed half dozen men in his life
time. Yet no one dared to speak Of these
stories openly, for no one cared to bring
upon himself the anger of such a man
There were few that knew him that really
cared to play against him, but they learned
that q refusal to do so might involve them
in quarrel with him, and rarely declined
his invitation.
About fifteen years ago, the time OF
which / write, he had attached himself
to one of the magnificent steamers plying
between New Orleans and Nicksburg, and
had publicly announced his determination
to shoot any man who encroached upon
his scene of operations. OF course Il is
left hun in undisputed possession of the
field; and he reaped a golden harvest
during the one brief year he conducted his
operations there.
1t was my lot at that time TO be com
PEELED TO make frequent trips between New
Orleans and Vicksburg, being heavily
engaged in Gotten speculations Ipreferred
the steamer Of which Sturdvant had taken
possession inasmuch as il was not only tbs
most comfortable, but also the swiitest
and time was of the utmost importance r
me. 1t was known that l carried large
sums of money, and l was always appre
hensive lest Sturdivant should ask me tt
play. l had made up my mind to rcfus'
> him, and if he attempted to draw me int
a quarrel, to shoot him without mercy, a
knew that the only chance of my life la,
in getting the advantage of him. Strang
! to say, he did not make any such propo
2 sition 10 nee, and L gave him no chance t.
2 do so.
I Ono night we had started out from
Vicksburg, and were heading merrily dow
f the river, when Sturdivant came to tn
a group which had gathered around th
stove. He had been drinking, and wa
smoking fine cigar as he approached
= All made way for him.
"Wcn. gentlemen, said he in an un
r steady tone, you seem TO be terribly dul
Who wants TO play for twenty dollar
5 ante %
) There was no reply. All present seem
2 ed to know the man, and no one cared {
J volunteer TO place himself in his clutches
: "UmPh ]" he exclaimed with an ez
), preston of contempt, "afraid to try you
$ luck with Daniel Sturdivant, eh c
= NAV be Won want q eoax;no c..