The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-11-21
From Harper for Noyember.1
Down the HIssIssIppi-A Party OF
Gamblers.


Down she HIssIssIppi-A Party OF
Gamblers.
The gang Of gamblers who sre our
companions on this trip belong to al
together another class than those
whose places they fill. These are what
the panel thief il to the bank burglar.
what Burns is to Morrisey. tits anus
ing for your experienced traveller to
watch the tricks and schemes of these
miserable wretches. One of these is
short, rather fat. dressed in black
broad cloth, carries under his plug
hat cunning, greasy, smooth-shaven
face, which has small, ferret-like eyes
In it, and a red snub-nOse, like a car
buncle. imposed upon ii. This man
is called the Judge" and is, / be-
ieve, the leader of the gang, although
another fellow in common clothes,
with wol6sh, coTardly countenance,
gives tie cue TO all their doings. The
third thief OF the party is small in
stature, with black mustache, and an
assumed woe begone look. 1t is he
who, in their make believe games,
bets wildly and largely, who most al
ways loses. gets angry, and appeals to
the lockers on. The fourth of the
squad looks like an honest tradesman,
who ought to be in better business than
betting.
One day these gentlemen were play
ing at poker, which is favori3e game
for their ne6rious purposes. The
Carpenter we will give them such
names as describes them best-had
dealt 'Ferret-eyes" a hand of three
kings a seven aHd eight of clubs. To
"Wolf-mouth" he gave three aces and
a nine and ten of hearts. With these
hands "Ferrt-eyes" and Wolf
mouth" began to bet and brag In the
most excited way, talking to each
other, appealing to the crowd, and
getting up an enthusiasm pretty much
as the clown and ring master do in the
circus, shouting and running in order
to make the audience believe that the
horse which the equine queen" is
riding il going fearfully fast, when ii
is all sham, gotten up for effect.
Such was the excitement about our
steamboat gaming table.
Il sec your twenty dollars and 20
fifty better" shouts Ferret
Il see your fifty and 90 ten better,
screamed Wolf mouth.
i see that, aud make it one hun
drad, cried Ferret eyes"
At this point there was a dead
pause and silence, broken in an instant
BY Wolf. mouth" who turned be.
seechingly to the bystanders with the
remark:
Gentlemen. I'm blowed if l ain
strapped.
Meanwhile moving around the table
there was a peaked, sandy haired man
who has oa board forty mules, which
he was taking to Memphis. This
fellow had seen both hands and knew
that "Wolf-mouth" had the strong
cards. just at this moment he caught
the gamblers eye, who oontinued:
''Ef | had a mule, wouldn't | sling
him, ears and all atop O. that pile?"
You kin bet one of my mules" wai
the answer Of Sandy. hair"
"Will you take the mule?' erie;
Wolf mouth" to "Ferret-eyes. /"
Yes" answered the other, asking
the Carpenter" as he had right t
by the laws Of the game. for two card:
in place Of his seven and eight o.
clubs. That obliging gentleman a
once complied, giving him the fourth
king and an ace. "Wolf-mouth" die
not ask for more. They showed thei
hands. "Ferret-eyes" swept in tn
pool, and Sandy hair, to his dismay
had lost lis mule.