Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-11-30
A Tragedy.
A. scene of Resi- Life.

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Proud asI,am of beautiful Nash
vile, the capital of my State
much as / admire its marble cap
tol, standing palace-like on Cedar
IIill-and appreciating as l do the
beauty, wealth of mind, and tsstc
of many of its citizens, of either
sex-I have seen much in that
city to regret and deplore. A
stranger may not land there but
he has to pass through most dis
reputable locality in Water street.
At the hotels, he will find the
well known blackleg and faro
dealer sssociating with gentlemen.
and if he be a stranger to their
ways, be as likely to become the
victim of his own ignorance and
confidence as of their skill and
cunning.
One evening, shortly after the
close of the Mexican War, l found
myself at the old "Inn," once kept
by the noble Ferguson, incompabyD
with Frank c., Bill W., and two
or three other friends who. had,
with me, faced death on the plains
OF Mexico, and afterward "re-
veled in the Halls Of the Monte
zumas." We had dined together.
and the wine had not been idle /;
therefore, we felt inclined for any
kind of fun that might present
itself. il'1e
A'youngman Of very plausible
address and most genteel appear
anee had in some way got into the
company; and though from some
words which dropped, Iknew thaf
he was e gamblerAone OF a class
which Iautterly' ab1or and despiss
-Lcqntepted myself with avold-
any conv, rsation with HIN, letting
the rest do as they please in re-
gard to him. / heard them. call
him Morford, and afterward learn
ed that he came. from respectable
stock.
After we drank a few glassos at
the bar to stop off, with, a walk
was proposed; and Morfora,
volunteering to show the bows
some fun, was selected as a pilot,
This did not please me overmuch
but / would not let any whim of
of mine break up the party, and
SO went along.
We visited various saloons in u
MON and other streets and Nor
ford, thinking he had got matters
in the right train, started at the
head of the party for the faro
rooms of Sam H., one of the heav-
lest gamblers in the city, situated
in Water street aforesaid
We were just passing n long
brick building, bat a short distance
below the bridge, when a success
sion of screams, evidently from fe-
males, and other indications of a
general row; fell on our ears. As
the noises came from the BRICK
we were not long iRDms-
king an entrance thereto, and in a.
were witnesses Of one OF
the most disgusting scenes that
man can ever Look upon.
Two frail women were engaged
in a beastly fight; while other
Drutes, in the garb of men and
were encouraging the COM
bit. The scene did not last long,;
'nr Morford, with a cry of horror,
'prang forward, and dashing the
apart, drew one to-
wards him.
"Good heavens! Pauline-YoW
mere J" lie exclaimed, in q voice Of
agony.
"Yes, Henry, replied the girl
whose personal beauty was great
notwithstanding the evidences Of
and whose likeness to
to himself was striking--"Yes.--
You broke fathers heart by tur-
ming gambler, and I thought Td
finish the work"
She never finished the sentence
that she had commenced.
With wild cry of despair, the
young mau drew a pistol from his
pocket; and before a word could be
'poken or hand raised TO inter-
ere, her brains bespattered the
vail near which she stood. And
While yet the report echoed in the
'oom and the sitting smoke rose
,ver her body, the young gambler
.ocked a second barrel of his re
rolver, and coolly saying, "Good
,ye, gentlemen; l must go with
ny sister! !" fired, and fell.a corpse
reside thebOdy of his victim.
1t turned out to be true that
he was his sister ; and this wss'
he first knowledge he had of
Ter having-like himself-de-
'arted from the path of virtue and
lonor.
Our fun was over for that night;
nd we went back to our quarters