The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-28
Gambling in San Francisco.

and "Parker House." all situated about the
sPlaza." and each employed band OF music
to lessen the tedious hours of that rainy win
ter. and to drown the noise of dingllng gold
and silver, and the cursing ejaculations OF the
gamblers. Many sad scene has taken place
within these saloons that chilled the blood OF
the beholder and Is remembered with horror.
was once carelessly saunterlng through one
of these places. My attention was attracted
towards a person who had large piles of gold
before him. The starting eye-balls, the swollen
veins upon his forehead, the cold sweat upon
his face, and clenched hands told of heavy
losses. Mingled exclamations of horror and
contempt would escape him, and he seemed un-
conscious of all that was going on around him.
His gaze was bent upon the cards as II his llfe.s
blood was the stake at issue. In this case his
last dollar was placed within the dealers bank /;
then with the frenzy of maniac, he drew a
dirk-knife and plunged in UP to the hilt in his
own body and sunk corpse upon the table
A few rude jeers followed this act; the body
was removed, and the game went on as though
nothing had happened-as though another VIC
tim had not been added to the gamblers dam
ming record, or another soul had not gone to
its final account I learned this much OF mis-
history.
he started with large stock of goods given
by his father to sell on commission, and the
Ether's fortune depended upon a safe return of
the money so invested; but, as usual with
Young men, he INDUCED in the full liberty OF
unbridled license, and while the ship stopped
at one of the South American ports, he engep-
dered the first seeds of "play." But for while
after his arrival, the excitement OF trade, and
the energy necessary to accomplish success
full issue, kept his mind busy. One day by ap--
pointment, he was to meet mercantile friend
at this time, and while waiting for his friends
arrival stalking few dollars upon the turn OF
and it carried him head-long over the precipice,
and ended in the tragic manner related.
The Nine de Orc was gambling saloon on
Washington street, opposite of Ell Dorado, and
in 1S49 was the principal resort of the disban-
ded soldiers of the California regiments, and
also of the soldiers that had been engaged IN
the war with Mexico.
Behind one of the largest money banks in
The room sat man who had won for himself
honorable mention, and an officers commission
was given him for his bravery at the stormlng
Monterey; but preferring the climate of Cali
fornia and its golden prospects to more north
ern home, he embarked for that country at the
close of the war with Mexico, and, upon arriv-
ing he opened a gambling saloon. The emil
grants came in by the thousand, and, few
the saloon and seated himself at the bank, and
staked various sums upon the cards until he
had lost nearly all the money he possessed.
Excited by the play, and maddened by his
losses, he accused the dealer of cheating; the
dealer replied sharply to the accusuatlon; the
lie passed, when the young man struck the
dealer severe blow upon the face. Quick as
thought, the sharp report of pistol followed,
and the gamblers clothing was covered with
the young mans blood-he had shot him
through the right breast. The room was clear
ed of the spectators present, the door closed,
and medical attendance called in TO aid the
wounded man.
The gambler sat moodily over his bank, run
ming the small monte cards through his fingers,
and perhaps thinking of the deed just perpe-
trated. when the wounded man gave a moan of
agony as the doctors probe reached the bottom
of the wound.
The doctor inquired what State he was from,
and the wounded man replied
"From Vermont"
The gambler raised his head, for it had
been long time since he had seen person
from the home of his childhood, and Vermont
being the name of his native State, the mere
mention of its name interested him.
The doctor next inquired the name of the
place where his parents resided, if he had any.
The wounded man replied
Montpelier"
Yhe gambler sprang to his feet, his limbs
trembled, and his face was as pale as death, for
perhaps the wounded man might have been his
playmate in childhood-perhaps schoolmate
knew his parents, his brothers and sisters.
He clung to the table and with contending
emotions of rapid thought and the weight of
injury inflicted, he could scarcely keep upon
his feet
A stimulant was given to the wounded man
and he was momentarily relieved from the
weakness the body is so subject to after severe
wound, when the doctor inquired if there was
any friend in the city he wished to send for.
eyes" he replied, "my wife. She is at the
City Hotel, on the Corner of Clay and Kearney
streets. Tell Mary to hasten, for I am badly
hurt"
A man was sent to bring his wife,
Doctor" said the gambler, "save that mans
life, and there's my bank, and ten thousand
dollars in Burgoyne, and you shall have it all. /"
The doctor felt the pulse of the man, and
probcd' the wound anew. The gambler watch
ed him with the greatest anxiety until the in
spection was finished, when the doctor shook
his head in token of impossibility. The gam
bier sat beside the wounded man, and staunched
the flow of blood from his wound, until the ar
rival of his wife, She came, accompanied by a
few friends, and as heroic women bear their
misfortunes, she bore hers. Not word of re-
proach escaped her-words of cheerfulness only
came to her lips, as tears coursed down her
cheeks. To her inquiry as to the chances of
her husbands recovery, the doctor assured her
there was no hope, that the wound was mortal,
and that in few hours the wounded man must
die. She sank down upon her knees and in
voked the mercy of forgiving God upon her
dying husband and his murderer.
The gambler knelt at the side of the wounded
man, and asked his forgiveness for the wrong
he had committed, also that of his wife, which
was readily granted,
'This," said he, 'is for disobeying the sacred
Injunction of my aged father and mother.