Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-05-07
The. Sturp.Teller.
Howl WAS CURED OF GAMING.

My friend was captain of one of the mail steam
ers, plying between New Orleans and Mobile. II
spent some days with me not long since and a
mong other adventures which had befallen him
he related the following: -. a ". &" .'
I had been engaged on board the steamer some
thing over year, and was then serving in the ca
pacity Of mate. During the first few months
had been rather shy Of New Orleans by gas-ight
had heard so many strange stories of robberie
and murders, and of strangers being attacked iron
mere wantonness, that preferred to keep mysel
as safe as possible Sometimes I spent the nigh
at the hotel, where the officers Of the Vanou
steamers had assembled for social time, anC
some times went to theatre At length, howev
er, as became acquainted with the city, the tim
idity wore off, and finally accompanied some o
my brother officers to places where the more start
ling episodes of real life in the city occurred From
the hotel we went to the theatre, and from tn
theatre we went to some Of the most famous gam
bling houses. ..... -. ,.a......
Suffer me, my friend, to inform you here that
am not gamester. have played a little, as
shall be obliged to confess; but the charm wa!
broken, as you shall hear.
On the third or fourth visit to the gambling
house, one of my companions laughingy proposed
that we should make small venture at the fart
table. With smile upon my countenance | threw
down a quarter eagle The banker asked me if ]
bet upon the queen. I told him "yes." wa
then admonished to put my money fairly upon the
card. T pushed the piece further on; and tht
confusion exhibited must have informed the by
ISLANDERS that I was slightly verdant touching the
rules, regulations and mysteries Of the faro bank
The banker began to slide off the cards, and pre-
sently he drew in the piece of gold which hac
ventured, and threw down in its place an ivory
cheque representing FIVE dollars. had won.
smiled at my luck, and when the cards were mex
shufled, I placed my cheque back upon the queen
won again and again smiled; for the thought
that I was gambling did not enter my mind. Il
was sport-sport of new and exciting kind.
bet upon the queen again, and again / won. Be
fore the next play I calculated little. It was no
likely that the same card would win again, 50
made my venture upon the ace. The queen los
and the ace won. At the end of an hour hao
won $75 or $50, and then went with my compan
ions to the hotel, where we spent another hour be
fore repairing to our boats.
After this frequently accompanied my friend.
to the gaming house, and Ialso made further ven
lures at the faro bank. A love of the excitement
grew upon me so strongly that more than once
ventured alone into gambling house not far from
our hotel. One evening four of us officers wert
at the St. Charles, and after supper the question
was started as to how we should dispose of th'
next four hours. Two, were for the theatre, anC
two for the gaming house. How should we de
eide? As neither party seemed willing to give up
it was finally arranged that we should 60 just al
our inclination led us. Two went to the theatre
and two started for the gaming house. I was ont
of the latter. My companion was Captain of al
up river boat, and before we set out he informed
me that he must be on board by midnight as h'
was to start early in the morning This was al
pleasant to me- as had already made up my mint
that I would be in my own state room, before th'
hour he had mentioned So off we went over to
wards the third municipality, nearly mile and I
half from our hotel, where we found the gaming
house we had planned to visit. We sat In tht
bar-room awhile and smoked cigar, and ther
went into the hall. We lounged about and OBJ
served the progress of the different games and Il
nally stoppedat faro table I made another ven
ture which was successful I made another ven
ture, and lost another and won. Then I bough
500 worth of cheques.
When I bought my cheques there were sever
players beside myself at the table. Two of then
were steamboat Captains, and four of them wert
either merchants, or gentlemen of their stamp
They may have been gamblers by profession-reg
ular blacklegs-but that doesn't matter. The!
appeared to be gentlemen, and certainly they be
haved as such. The seventh man at hetable wa
a study, and had there not been an overbalance o
apparent gentility in the company, [ should no
have stopped where he was He was evidently
boatman, and when / heard him speak, made VI
my mind that he was Hoosier. He had COM
down from Ohio with his hatboat, and sold his car
20 and useless lumber, and was now on bit of 1
time. He was truly tough looking customer
He must have stood six feetand two or three inch
es high, with a frame like an OK. His shoulder
were broad and heavy his arms long and muscu
lar, and his hands so long and hard that it diff
icult for him to put down his cheques. Of hi
face but little was to be seen the lower part Of i
being covered by thick, long beard Of grizzly col
or, while the upper part was shaded by the slouch
ing of the broad rim of an old felt hat. coult
see his eyes, and they were black and keen enough
They looked black in the deepest shade, but whel
his head was turned so that the light struck upol
the face, they seemed to have metallic lustre
changing from steel to brass. Presently thos
eyes were turned upon me with Threatening look
the owner seeming to intimate that had stared
him long enough. At any rate 1 took it as hint
and went on with my play.
Ny luck was changeful. won and then I 10,
again. Finally touched the knave with doze
CHEQUES, worth five dollars each, and won. Th
Hoosier had staked twelve cheques on the queen
He lost, and the banker pushed the pile on tn
queen over to me- 1 let the twenty-four cheque
remain where they were, and the Hoosier pu
twenty-four upon the queen At tins point m
companion came and said he must be going.
was too much excited with the play to leave tn
table then, and told him not to wait for me. Th
queen lost-the knave won-and again the banke
passed to me the cheques which the Hooser ha
lost.
Once more my companion asked me if | woul
20 with him. told him I couldnot, and be wen
away without me. Forty-eight cheques were upo
the knave, in four stacks.
stranger, do you 60 them yer all?''
The Hoosier asked me the question, at the sam
time pointing to my cheques. told him ''yes.
He bought more cheques, and placed a numbe
L. ,S,.,o IN tho nuaop