The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-11
Sslrtt R@dina.
A GAnnLINa scene.

In lS49, I was passenger on the
steamer "Star Spangled Banner"
from New Orleans to Louisville. Size
was crowded with people; and, an
h6tr after leaving New Orleans, found
perhaps twenty card tables drawn out,
Ind three or four score of the passen-
gers deeply absorbed in the mystery of
the cold sledge," euchre, and poker.
All that night aud the next day the
game went on. As fortunej however,
soon singled out and made victims of
the poorer and less skilled players, 50
tho nunbora gradually daoroasol until
the fourth day out, when only one
table was running. Old Bob Brasher,
a negro trader, and two planters
from La Fourche, still held on. Al
though they played almost incossantly
for four days and nights, yet luck had
favored neither party, and they were
within a few dollars CT even. The
"bucling" had been principally be-
tween Brasher and Sanford but hence
forth they had kept themselves with
in the "gentleman's limit"-fvc hum
dred dollars. After leaving Memphis
the game was renewed, and the by
ISLANDERS observed, "that big play was
on the tapis," as young Sanford was
considerably under the influence of
liquor, and wheH IN that condition
was known to be Il heavy player. Late
at night the two traders came together;
botn nau uuvhirg nanls," and Lou
isiana and Kentucky bank notes soon
covered almost the whole table. The
margin of five hundred dollars had
been forgotten, and one, two, thee,
five hundred better passed between
them. At last Brasher leaned back
upon the table, unbuttoned his vest,
and took from around his body o belt
filled with gold pieces. Laying it
down upon the bank notes he ex-
claimed, "Thrce thousand better y
Sanford became spcechless his face
turned deadly pale; he called for q
glass of ofliquor, which he drank, never
once taking his eyes from the belt Of
gold. He had exhausted his means
in the former bets; all his money lay
upon the table. AT last thought
struck him.
"Bcn! here, sir" he exclaimed.
''Yes, massa," and Santorps body
servant, a fine athletic pure blood
came to his table.
"Get up on the table, sir!"
Not daring to disobey as he knew
Well in tina, moment of frenzy hi.
Young master would send bullet
through his brain did he refuso-thc
slave trembling stepped on the table
crushing the bank notes and gold be-
meath his feet.
"For the good Lords sake, massa
Ben, don't bet this niger off Whs.
will the old missus say when you &c
home. Oh, massa Ben, please don'tr
groaned the poor boy, but IN vain
"Call you, sir !" shricked Sanford
at the same time laying down foul
queens and an ace.
"An invincible, sir" said Brasher
with a rnccr; "four kings and an ace =
And as Brasher reached for his belt o
gold, young Sanford fell to the floor
the blood gushing from his mouth
nose and ears With one spring the
slave started from the table, dashine
through the thin folding doors oftht
"Social Hall" out on the boiler deck
and, with half-uttered prayer for til,
cold missus," he threw himself head
long into the dark waters of the Mis-
sissippi, and was seen no more. Deatf
prevented Brasher from claiming hi.
spoils. Sanford for weeks fingered OF
Il sick bed, but at last recovered, ant
forever renounced the gambling table
He "made good" however, the none.
,corth of the negro to his winner.