The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-03-15
Gambling in San Francisco

GamDllng III oan FIanciSco.
In 1S49, the principal banking institu.
tons of the chance kind in San Francisco
were the "Bella Union" "Verandah," I"
'.Nim de Oro," and parker House." all
situated about the Plaza" and each en-
ployed a band Of music to lessen the te,
lious hours of that rainy winter, and to
drown the noise of dingling gold and
silver, and the cursing CALCULATIONS Of
the gamblers. Many a sad scene has
taken place within these saloons that
chilled the blood of the .beholder, and is
remembered with horror. ! was once
Icarelessly sauntering through one OF
these places. My attention was attracted
towards a person who had large piles of
gold before him. The staring eyeballs,
the swollen veins upon his forehead, the
cold sweat upon his face, and cleiched
hands, told of heavy losses: Mingled
exclamations of horror and, contempt
would escape him, land he seemed uncop-
scious of all that was going ON around
him. His gaze was bent upon the cards
as If his life's blood was the stake at
issue. In this case his last dollar was
placed within the dealers bank then,
with the frenzy Of a, maniac. ne drew a
long dirk knife and plunged it up to the
hiIt in his own body, and sunk corpse
upon the table. A few rude jeers fol-
ilowed this act; the body was removed,
and the game went on as though nothing
had happened-as though another victim
had not been, added to the, gamblers
lawful record, or another soul had not
gone to it's final account. learned this
much of his history: -.
He started with large stock of goods,
given him by his father, to sell on com.
mission, and the fathers fortune depen.
ded upon safe return Of the money SO
invested but as usual with young men,
he ndalged in the full liberty Of unbri-
died license, and while the ship stopped
at one of the South American ports, he
engendered the first seeds of .'play." -
But, for while after his arrival, the ex-
citement Of trade, and the energy neces-
sarv to accomplish a successful issue,
kept his mind busy. One 'day, by ap-
pointment, he was to meet a mercantile
friend at this time, and while waiting for
his friends arfivsl, staked a few. dollars
upon the turn of cards, when the latent
disease sprang into life, and it carried
him headlong over the precipice, anu
ended in the tragic, manner related.
The MIN de Orc was gambling sa-
loon on Washington street, opposite the
| FL Dorado and in 1S49 was the principal
resort of the disbanded soldiers Of the
California regiments, and also Of the
soldiers who had been engaged in the
war with Mexico. 80 ~ : 's.es..a "
Behind one Of the largest monte banks
in the room sat a man Who. had won, for
himself honorable mention, and an off
GERS commission was given him for bis
bravery at the storming of Monterey /;
but preferrine the climate Of California
and its golden prospects to more nor
thern home, he embarked for that coun
| try at the close of the war with Mexico,
and, upon arriving, he opened a gam
bling saloon. The emigrants came in
by thousands, and q few nights after his
arrival, young man entered the saloon
and seated himself at the bank, and
staked various sums upon the cards Until
The had lost nearly all the money he pos
.sessed. {
-
Excited by the play, and maddened
by his losses, he accused the dealer OF
| cheating; the dealer replied sharply to
| the accusation; the lie passed, when the
Young man struck the dealer a severe
blow in the face, Quick as thought, the
sharp report of a pistol followed, and
| the gamblers clothing was covered with
the young mans blood---he had shot him
Ithrough the right breast. The room
twas cleared of the spectators presents the
door, closed, and, medical attendance
called in to aid the wounded man. i ~,
The gambler sat noodily over his
bank, running the small monte cards
through his fingers, and perhaps think
ling of the deed just perpetrated, when
the wounded man gave groan of agony
as the doctors probe reached the bottom
| of the, wound laeoTa n 90 ,eq..si,.s -
The doctor inquired what state, he was
from, and the wounded man replied; (
"From Vermont. r,8ra,os ge..l ali
| The gambler raised his head, for, it had
been, d long time since he had seen, q
person from the home of bis childhood,
and Vermont being the name Of his ma
tive State, the mere mention Of the name
interested him., fssfsi IF, 3sfj .ss3 4.
The doctor next inquired the name Of
the place where,h his parents resided, if he
had any. The wounded man replied:
q" Montpelier qsf M So
Z The gambler, sprang to his feet, his
limbs trembled, and his face was as pale
as DEATH. for Montpelier was the home
Of his youth, and perhaps the wounded
man might have been bis playmate in
childhood perhaps schoolmate-knew
his parents, his brothers and sisters. He
clung eonvulsively to the table, and, with
the contending emotions Of rapid
thought and the weight of injury inflic-
ted, he could scarcely keep, upon. bis
fleet. eg..Il u !. sgiaop s,ef.,q l,.s
e "A stimulaut was given to the wounded
man, and he was momentarily relieved
from that weakness the body is SO sub
|ject to after a severe wound, when the
doctor inquired if there. was any friend
in the city he wished TO send for. tae
t.Yes," he replied, "my wife. She is
at the. City Hotel, on the corner Of Clay
and Kearney streets. Tell Mary to has
ten, for I am badly, hurt .,s4 a3e,e
A man was sent to bring his wife. oi h
,si''D said the gambler, 'f.saye that
mans life, and thereis my bank and S10l
1000 in Bargoyne, and you shall have ayyie1iit il
ALL - .Ias ads Iae 2is,as,4; ise,fss,ya
The doctor felt the pulse Of the man,
and Drobed the wound anew. The gam