The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-01-14
Playing Poker on Mississippi Steamboat,

lou cohhot see now, as we dld ten years
ago, the cabin tables surrounded by planters,
merchants, and politicians, calling them
selves gentlemen, who would gamble from
morning till night, and again till morning,
stalking and often losing, their entire for
tunes. We do not now encounter the
elegant, gentlemanly, professional gambler,
who was accomplished in every way. and
not least in the use of the pistol and bowie
knife. Well-educated fascinating gentle
men were they, whose hands were again
and again stained with the blood of their
fellow creatures. All this class of men are
hardly to be found in the Southwest in this
goodly year of our Lord 1870.
The war did splendid scavenger-work in
sweeping them into the other world. And
the young men now coming up into life,
who would have been such as they, find
better existence in working for their daily
bread. The gang of gamblers who are our
champions on this trip belong to altogether
another class than those whose places they
fill. These are what the panel thief is to
the bank burglar, what Burns is to Morris
sey. 1t is amusing 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, and carries under his plug hat a cum
ming, greasy, smooth-shaven face, which
has small ferret-like eyes in it, and red
snub nose, like a carbuncle, imposed upon
it. This man is called the Judge" and
is, l believe, the leader of the gang,
although another fellow in common clothes,
with wolfish, cowardly countenance, gives
the cue to all their doings. The third
thief of the party is small in stature, with
black moustache, and an assumed wobe-
gone look. 1t is he who, in their make
believe games, bets wildly and largely,
who most always loses, gets angry, and
appeals to the lookers-on. The fourth of 4;
the squad looks like an honest tradesman,
who ought to be in better business than
betting.
One day these gentlemen were playing at
poker, which is a favorite game for their
nefarious purposes. The Carpenter ~
we will give them such names as describe
them best-had dealt "Ferret-eyes a
hand of three kings and seven and eight
Of clubs. To Wolfmouth he gave
three aces and nine and ten of hearts.
With these hands "Ferret-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 is going fear
fully fast, when it is all sham gotten up
for effect. Such was the excitement about
our steamboat gaming table.
" see your twenty dollars and go fifty
BETTER" shouts Ferret-eyes."
81 see your fifty and go ten BETTER"
said " Wolf-month.''
81 see that, and make it one hundred"
cries Ferret-eyes."
At this point there was dead pause and
silence, broken in an instant by "Wolf.
mouth, who turned beseechingly to the
by-standers with the remark.
Gentlemen, I'm bowed if I amt
strapped"
Meanwhile moving around the table
there was peaked sandy-haired man, who
has on board forty mules, which he is tax.
ing 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 continued
"Ef I had mule, wouldn't sling him,
ears and all, atop o that pile?"
"You kin bet one Of my mules" WAS
the answer of Sandy hair"
"Will you take the mule9" cried
Wolfmouth to Ferret-eyes"
EYES," answered the other, asking tho
Carpenter" as he had a right to by tho
laws of the game, for two cards, in place
of his seven and eight of clubs. That
obliging gentleman at once complied, CIV
ing him the fourth king and ace. "Wolf-
mouth" did not ask for more. They
showed their hands "Ferret-eyes" swept
in the pool, and SANDY hair" to his dis
may, had lost his mule.-GEoReE WARD
NIcoLs, in Harper's Magazine for Norem6er