Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-08
d" The Fancy "-supers,i,ious Sports.

&c The Fancy y"-supeEsiftieus sports.
From the New Orleans Picayune.l
General A. l.. s., of Kentucky, per-
haps one of the best card players in that
State, would never play hand or risk
dollar if there was black cat in the
room. Ex-Governor B., from one of the
Western States, an inveterate gamester,
would never sit down to table in room
where there was looking. glass. Some
gamblers refuse to play if, on entering
the room, the left foot crosses the thres-
hold first, and no persuasion can induce
them to do so until they leave and return
with the right foot foremost. To put
your foot on the chair of a player is a
sure premonition of bad luck. Some
men will never play on Friday.
In lS49 | was passenger on the
steamer Star Spsngled Banner, from
New Orleans to Louisville. She was
crowded with people, and 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
poker. All that night and the next day
the game went on. As fortune, however,
soon singled out and made victims Of the
poorer and less skilled players, so the
number gradually decreased until the
fourth day out, when only one table was
running Old Bob Brasher, negro
trader, young Ben Ssndford, a horse
trader, and two planters from Lsfourche,
still kept on. Although they had played
almost necessarily for four days and
nights, yet luck had favored neither par
ty, and they were within few dollars Of
even, The "bucking" had been princi-
pally between Brasher and Sandford, but
heretofore they lad kept Themselves
within the gentleman's limit five
hundred dollars.
After leaving Memphis the game was
renewed, and the bystanders observed
that big play was on the tapis," as
young Sanford was considerably under
the influence of liquor, and when in that
condition be was known to be heavy
player Late at night the two traders
came together; both had "backing
hands," and Louisiana and Kentucky
bank notes soon almost covered the table.
The margin of five hundred dollars had
bsen forgotten, aud one, two, three, five
hundfsd betterl rsridlv passed between
them. At last Brasher lesHea hack from
the table, unbuttoned bis vest, snq tosk
from around bis body a belt hlled with
gold pieces. Laying it down upon the
bank notes ls EXCLAIMED, Three thou
sand dollars betterl' Sanford became
speechless; his face turned deadly pale
he called for glass Of liquor, which be
drank, never once taking his eyes from
the belt Of gold. He had exhausted his
means in the former beisJ all his money
ley upon the table. At last q thought
struck bin.
"Ben here, sir be exclaimed.
ayes, msssa," and Ssndford's body
servant, fine, athletic, pure-blood, came
to his side.
"Get upon the table, sir -
Not daring to disobey-as he knew well
ia that moment of frenzy his young
master Eopli send bullet through his
brain did be refrse-the slave trem.
blingly stepped on the table, crushing
;he bank notes and geld beuestb his feet.
"For the good Lords sake, massa Ben,
don't bet dis niger of What will the
old missus say vbenyou 20 honey Oh
massa Ben, please dou'i," grOaued the
boy, but in vain.
"Call you, sirl" shrieked Sandford, at
the same time laying down four queens
and an ace.
@An inviucible, sir r. said Brasher.
with a sneeF, four kings and an acel"
And, as Brasher reached for his belt Of
gold young Ssndford fell to the floor, the
blood gushing from his mouth, nose sad