Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-29
TIE FATAL CARD.

SOME years ago the Mississippi River
was famous for its "Aosting palaces"
as the large steamers plying between
New.Orleans and the ports above we're
called. Those fine hoats, were, in many
ways delightful; but they never ceased
to be objects of dread to timid people,
for there was sure to be one or more en-
counters, between the more lawless por-
ton of the travellers, in which pistol
bullets would fly rather too thick for the
comfort of steady going people. The
cause of such disturbances was generally
quarrel over the gaming table. The
regulation of the boats usually required
that all such amusements should be con-
Quoted in saloon provided for that pur.
pose in the officers cabin, situated on the
hurricane deck; but the sporting gentle
men where 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 Of the steamer, to the
great annoyance of two-thirds Of those
on board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these beats their homes, travelling
to ard fro with. them, fleeing all who
were foolish enough to fall in their clutch
cs. SO well, indeed, was the system
managed, that the. various members SEEM
ed to have their different steamers marked
out for them by common consent, so that
no one would trespass upon the domain
Of the other. Of course these men were
warm friends of the officers of the boat,
who were too sincere in their friendship.
to put stop to the practice, or too much
afraid of the gamblers to care to provoke
quarrel with them for in those days it
was common affair for such men to re.
sent any fancied insult with a pistol shot.
One of the 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. Sturdivant had
been reared a gentleman by his father
button coming of age, and6nding his for
tunes very bad. had taken to cards as
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.
He was man of fine personal appear
ance, and of great physical strength. He
was also noted for his personal courage.
As gambler he was most expert and
successful. There were dark. stories Of
deeds which he had committed while un-
der the influence of play and liquor; and
it was said by some that he had killed half
a-dozen men in his lifetime. Yet no one
dared to speak those stories openly, for
no one dared to bring upon himself the
anger of such man.
About fifteen years ago, the time of
which | write, he had attached himself to
one of tie magnificent steamers plying
between New.Orleans and Vicksburg,
and had publicly announced to shoot any
man who encroached upon his scene of
operations. Of course this left him un-
disputed possession of the field; and he
reaped golden harvest during the one
brief year he conducted his operations
there.
1t was my lot at the time to be compell-
ed to make frequent trips between New
Orleans and Vicksburg, being heavily en-
gagged in cotton specuations. I.preferred
the steamer of which Sturdivant had ia.
ken possession, inasn,uch as it was not
only the most comfortable, but also the
swiftest, and time was Of the utmost i'm
portance to me. 1t was known that |
carried large sums of money, and | was
also apprehensive lest Sturdlvant should
ask me to play.
| had fully made up my mind to refuse
him, and if he attempted to draw me
into quarrel, to shoot him without mer
cy, as / knew that the only chance for
my life lag in getting 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
Vicksburg, 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 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"
There was no reply. All present
seemed to know the man, and no one
cared to volunteer to place himself in
his clutches.
"Umph!" he exclaimed. with-an ex-
preston of contempt; afraid to try
your luck with Dan Sturdivant, eh 2, Or
spay be you want q little coaxing. Some
of YOU must play with me. can't stand
such treatment. Come, let's see who it
shall be-
He glanced around the crowd as if to
select his victim. For the frst time, |
.,oticed the gaze of one of the group fixed
upon him. He was stranger
TO me, and was dressed in plain suit OF.
homespan and his face was partially
concealed by broad-brimmed sombrero,
which was drawn down over it. He was
a small, but powerfully made man and
in the decided expression of his we'll
shaped head Tread an unusual frmness
aud intensity of purpose. i
care you Daniel Stardivant, the gam
bler?" he asked, in a.calm tone, without
rising.