The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-12-01
STRANGE BUT TRUE.
by HALEY CHAScEY.

butlphS vi tiio ehdiCc hluu III OaI
Francisco, were the "Bella Union,"
"Verandah," "Nim de Oro," and
"Parker House." all situated about
the plaza and each employed
band of music To lesson the tedious
hours of that rainy winter, and to
drown the noise of dingling gold and
silver, and the cursing CALCULATIONS of
the gamblers.
Many sad scene has taken place
within these saloons that chilled the
blood OF the bcholder, and is remem-
bcred with horror! l once carelessly
sauntered through one of these places.
My attention was attracted toward u
person who had large piles of gold
before him. The strange eyeballs, 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 il 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 ma.
Mac, he drew long dirk knife and
plunged it up TO the hilt into his own
body, aud sunk corpse upon the Ia
bic. A few rude jeers followed this
act; the body was removed, and the
game went on rs though nothing had
happcncd-as though another victim
had not been added to the gamblers
damning record, or another soul had
not gone to its final account. learned
this much of his history:
He started with large stock of
goods, given him by his father to sell
on commission, and the fathers for
tune depended upon q safe return of
the money 30 invested; but as usual
with young men, he INDUCED in the
full liberty of unbridled Incense. and
while the ship stopped at one of the
South American ports, he engendered
the first seeds OF play" But for a
while after his arrival, the excitement
OF trade and the energy necessary TO
accomplish successful issue, kept his
mind busy. One day, by appoint
ment, he was TO meet q mercantile
friend at this time, aud while waiting
for his friends arrival, staked few
dollars upon the turn OF cards when
the latent disease sprang into life,
| aud il carried him headlopg over the
precipice, aud ended in the tragic
manner related.
The MIN de Oro was a gambling
saloon on Washington street, opposite
the II Dorada, and in IS49 was the
principal resort of the disbanded sol
diers of the California regiments, and
also of the soldiers who had been en-
gagged with the war of Mexico.
Behind one OF the largest monte
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 storming of
Monterey; but preferring the climate
Of California and its golden prospects
to a more northern home. embarked
for that country at the close of the
war with Mexico, and, upon arriving
he opened a gambling saloon. The
emigrants came III by thousands, and
few nights after his arrival, young
man entered the saloon and seated
himself at the bank, and staked vari-
Gus sums upon the cards until he had
lost nearly all the money he possess
ed.
Excited by the play, and maddened
with his losses, he accused the dealer
OF cheating, the lie passed, when the
young man struck the dealer a severe
blow upon the face. Quick as thought,
the sharp report of pistol followed,
and the gamblers clothing was cover
ed with the young mans blood-he
had shot him through the right breast.
The room was cleared of the specta-
tors present, the door closed, and
medical attendance called in to aid the
wounded man.
The gambler sat moodily over his
bank, running the small monte cards
through his fingers, and perhaps
thinking of the deed just perpetrated,
when the wounded man gave a moan
of agony as the doctors probe reach
ed the bottem Of the wound.
The doctor inquired what State he
was from and the wounded man re-
piled
"From Vermont"
The gambler raised his head, for it
had been a 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 the name interested him.
The doctor next inquired the name
of the place where his parents resided,
if he had any. The wounded man re-
Piled W
| "Montpelier tt.. 4st.
! The gambler sprang to his feet, his
limbs trembled, and his face was pale
as death, for Montpelier was the home
of his youth, and perhaps the wound
ed man might have been his playmate
in childhood-perhaps scho climate
knew his parents, his brothers and sis
ters. He clung convulsiyely to the
table, and, with the contending emo
tions of rapid Thought and the weight
of injury inflicted, he could scarcely
| stand. I ss 81 f.s rs
A stimulant was given to the woun-
ded man, and he was momentarily re-
ieved from the weakness the body is
so subject to after a severe wound
when the doctor inquired if there was
any friend in the city he wished to
send for.
"Yes," he feebly replied, an1y wife.
She is at the City Hotel, on the cor
ner of Clay and Kearney streets
Tell Mary to hasten, for | am badly
hurt"