Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-02-14
g-HI'HIHl BROTHERS
a SCENE III A GAMBLING 9 HOUSE.
nY EDWARD sNlLY clI,sBEY.

bi EDWARD EMILY cIIASBEY.
In 1910, the principal banking il,sti-
tutions of the chance Kind in San Fran
cisco were the "Bella Union, ,n'."Ve Vernda,D
"Nim dc Oro,D and "Parker House."
all situated about the plaza" and each
employed IL band Of music to lessen, the
tedious hours Of that rainy winter, and
so drown the noise of tlingling gold and
silver, ard the cursing Cancellations OF.
the gamblers
Many q sad scene has taken place with
in these SALOONS that chilled the Blood of
the bcholder, and is remembered with
horror. l once carclessly sauntcrcd
through one of these places. Ny atten-
tion wns attracted towards apcrson who
had large piles OF gold before him. The
staring cyeballs, the swollen Veins upon
his forehead. the cold sweat upon his lace,
and ,clcnchcd han,s. told of heavy losses.
Mingled eXclamations of horror and con
tempt would escape him, and lie seemed
unconscious of all that was going OH
around him. His gaze was bent upun
the cards ;ts if his lites blood was the
stake at issue. In this case his last dollar
was placed within the dealers bank; then.
with the frenzy ola maniac, he drew Il
long, ugly dirk knife and plunged it MI,
to the hilt into his own body, and snnkil
corpse on the table. a few rude iccrs
followed this act; the body was removed,
;snSl the game went on ais though nothing
had liaPItnetl a. tiioGgir ;rlrustIei Sir ttiiis
had not been added To tlit. gamblers
dnmn!ng record, or another man had not
died.
He started with Il large stock OF goods,
given him by his father To sell on CON-
mission; and the t;,thcrs fortune depend
cd on II safe return OF the money 50 in
vested; but, as usual with young men, he
indulgcd i'll the !nil liberty Of unhri,lc,l
license, and, while the ship sroppcdat QUO
OF the south american ports, he en-
gendcrcd theirs; seeds OF play" But
for Il while after, his arrival the excite
mcnt OF trade and thc energy necessary
to accomplish 81 successful issue kept his
mind busy. One day, by appointment,
he WAS to meet II mercantile friend ut this
place, and while waiting for his friends
arrival, staked u lew dollars upon the
turn of the cards, when the latent diseus,c
sprang into life. and it Carried him head
long over the prccipicc, and ended in tile
tragic manncrrclatcd.
The 'Nim &c Gro" was q gambling
saloon on Washington street, opposite the
El Dorado, and i'll lS4Qwa the principal
resort of the tisbandcd soldiers Of the
California regimcnts, and also of the
soldiers who lad been engaged in the war
with Mexico.
Behind one Of the largest monte banks
IN the room sat man WIo had won Cor
himself honorable mention, and an oili-
GERS commission was givcn him for his
bravery. ct the storsning of Monterey;
but, prcfcrring the climate of California
and its "goldcn" prospects to 4 more
northern home, he embarked inr that
country at the close Of the war With
Mexico, and, uran arriving, he opened 1.
gambling saloon. The cmigranls, cams
i'll by tie thousands, and Two nr three
nights after his arrival Young man
entered the saloon, and seated himself at
the bank, and staked various sums on
the cards until he had lost nearly all the
money he possessed.
Excited by the game, ,.nd matltlcncd
with his losses, he accused the dealer of
chcating the dealer replied sharply; tho
lie passed, and then the young man struck
the dealer severe blow upon the face.
Quick rs thought, the sharp report of ii
pistol followed, and She gamblers cloth
ing was covered viii, the young man's
blood-he had shot him through tho.
right breast. The rooiu was soonSlcnred
OF the spectators present, the door closed,
and medical attendance called in to MD