Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-07-06
-gIisabfts 2aiIp @e'nit'r,
PUBLISHED AT 155 BROAD STREET, BY
J. MADISON DRAKE.
GAMBLERS SUPERSTITION.

loving singular STORY:
General A. T. S., of Kentucky, per-
haps one of the best card-players in
the State, would never play hand nor
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 Ia
BILE ina room where there was alooking
glass. Some gamblers refuse to play
if, on entering the room the left foot
crosses the threshold first, and no per-
suasion can induce them to do SO. until
they leave and return with the right
foot foremost. To put your foot on
the chair of player is sure Fremont
ton of bad luck. Some men will nev-
er play on Friday.
In 1849 was passenger on the steam
er Star Spangled Banner, from New
Orleans to Louisville. She was crowd
ed with people, and an hour after
leaving New Orleans found, perhaps,
twenty card tables drawn out, and three
or four scores Of the passengers deeply
absorbed in the mystery OF "old sledge,
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
skillful players, so the number gradual
ly decreased until the fourth day out,
when only one table was running
Old Bob Brasher, negro trader; young
Ben Sandford, horse trader, and two
planters, from the Lafourche, still kept
| on.
Although they bad played almost in
cessantly for four days and nights, yet
luck had favored neither party, and
they were within few dollars of even.
The ''buckling" had been principally
between Brasher and Sandford, but
heretofore they had kept themselves
within the "gentleman's limits" five
hundred dollars. After leaving Mem
phis the game was renewed, and the
bystanders observed '.that big play was
on the tapis," as young Sandford was
considerably under the influence OF
liquor; and when in that condition he
was known to be heavy player.
Late at night the two traders came
together, both had "backing hands, -
4 and Louisiana bank notes soon covered
almost the whole table. The margin
of five hundred dollars had been for
gotten, and one, two, three, five hun
bred better rapidly passed between
them. At last Brasher leaned back
from the table, unbuttoned his vest,
and took from around his body belt
filled with gold pieces. Laying it down
upon the bank notes, he exclaimed:
"Three thousand better p
Sandford became speechless his
face turned deadly pale he called for a
glass of liquor, when he drank, never
once taking his eye from the belt of
gold. He had exhausted his means in
his former bets ;; all his money lay upon
the table. At last q thought struck
him.
Ben, here, sir p he exclaimed.
4
Eyes, massa," and Sandford's body
servant, a firm, athletic, pure blood,
came to his side.
"Get upon the table, sir !"
E Not daring to disobey-as he knew
well in that moment Of frenzy his
young master would send a bullet
through his brain did he refuse, the
slave tremblingly stepped on the table,
crushing the bank notes and gold be-
meath his feet
g For the good Lords sake, Massa
Ben. don't bet dis niger of. What
viii the old missus say when you go
home? Oh, Massa Ben, please don'tl"
groaned the boy, but in vain.
"Call you, sir !" shrieked Sanford.
at the same time laying down four
queens and an acre.
''An invincible, SIR" said Brasher,
with sneer, "four kings and an ace p
And as Brasher reached for his belt OF
gold, young Sanford fell to the floor,
the blood gushing from his mouth, and
nose and ears. With one spring, the
slave started from the table, dashed
through the thin folding doors of the
''Social Hail." out on the boiler deck,
and with half uttered prayer for the
old missus, he threw himself into the
dark waters of the Mississippi, and was
seen no more. Death prevented Bash
er from claiming his spoil. Sanford
for weeks fingered on a sick bed, but
at last recovered, and forever renoun-
ced the gaming table. He "made
good" however, the money worth of
the negro to the winner.
|
One hundred special policemen have
been appointed in Richmond, Va, for