The union Democrat., 1869-10-02
Che 9lnion 9emocrat.
tsam5iers and their superstit ons'


General 4. l.. S. OF Kentucky. perhaps
one ct the les; card players IN thar State,
would never playa band or risk dollar il
there was a black cat in the room. TX Gov
ernor g.. from one Of tie Western States, an
invetera;e camester. would never cit down 10
table in n room where there was looking
glass. Some gamblers refuse to play if, on
ente1in, the room, the left foot crosses the
threshold FIRST anl no persuasion can induce
then, TO do so. until they leave and return
with the right foot foremost. To put your
foot on the chair of player is sure uremoni
ton OF bad luck Some men will never play
ON Friday.
In 1919, | was a passenger on the steamer
Star Spangled Banner, from New Orleans to
Louisville. She was crowded with people
aud an hour after leaving New Orleans found
twenty card tables drawn out, and three or
four score Of passengers deeply absorbed in
the mystery of 'old sedge," euchre and pok-
er. All that night and the next day the
game went on. As fortune. however, soon
singled out and made victims of tie poorer
aud less skilled players, so tie number grad
ually decreased until tie fourth day cut, when
only one table was running.
Old Bob Brasher. u negro trader, Young
Ben Sandford horse trader, and two plan
ters from La Fourche still kert on. Although
they had played almost necessarily for four
days and nights, yet luck bad favored neither
party, and they were within n few dollars OF
even. The 'bucking" had been principally
between Brasher and Sandiord, but hereto
fore they had kept themselves within the
''genteman's limit"-fve hundred dollars.
After leaving Memphis the game was renew
ed and the bystanders observed "that big
playing was on the tapis," as young Sand
ford was considerably under the influence Of
liquor and when in that condition he was
known to be q heavy player. Late at night
the two traders came together both had
"bucking hands," and Louisiana and Ken
lucky bank notes soon almost covered the ia
ble The margin Of fre hundred dollars had
been forgotten, and one, two, three, five hun
dred better rapidly passed between them.
At last Erasher leaned back from the table,
unbut,oned his vest. and took from around
his body cit filed with gold pieces. Lay
ing it down upon the bank notes he exclaim-
ed Three thousand better!' Sandford be-
came spcechless; his face turned deadly pale
he called for glass of liquor, which he drank
never once taking his eyes from the belt of
gold. lie had exhausted his means in the
former bets; all his money lay upon the table.
AT last n thought struck him.
"Ben here sir?" he exclaimed
"Yes, massa, and Sanford body servant,
q fine. athletic pure blood, came to his side
Get upon that table, sir"
Not daring to disobey-as he knew we'll in
that moment of frenzy his young master
wanld send bullet through his brain, did he
reSxse--the slave tremblingly stepped on the
table, crushing the bank-notes and gold be-
meath has feet.
''ForGe good Lords sake, massa Ben, don't
bet dis.nigger off, What will de ole mssus
cay when you go home? Oh, massa Ben,
please DON'T" groaned the boy, but in vain.
"Call you i" shreiked Sandford, at the
snme time laying down four queens and an
ace.
.>'As invincible, sirl' said Brasher. with a
eneer; ''four Kings and an acei" And, us
Brasher reached for his belt Of gold, young
Sanhord fell to the floor, the blood gushing
from his mouth, nose and ears. With one
spring the slave started from the table, dash
ing through the thin folding doors of the $50
cial Hall, out on heboiler deck, and, with
q half uttered prayer for the ''old mssus,"
he threw himself into the dark waters Of the
Mississippi aud was seen no more. Death
prevented lBrasher from claiming his spoil
Sandfurll for weeks fingered on sick bed.
hut ut last recovered, and forever renounced
the gaming table. He "made good" how
ever, the money worti of the negro to the win
ner.