The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-23
,aE sRofIisRs.

f;oSs OF the chance kind in san Fran.
.;scA vera he . Bella Unitn," "vcropdi,
"Nim de 90" and Parker House., all
xitasted about the N"PIsss," aad each
snployed a band OF music to Lessen tbst
Aedious hours OF that rainy winter, aud
% drown the noise Of jinglisg gold and
S,iver, and the cursiog ejscuIstions Of the
gamblers.
Many q. sad scene has taken place
vithin these saloons, that chilled the
klood of the behoder, and is remem-
bcsed With horror. once carelessly
sauptsrsd through one of these places
Nv attention was attracted toward a per,
son who TAD large piles of gold before
him. Ths etsring eyebails, the swollen
veins upon his forehead, the cold sweat
spon his face, and clsnched hands, told
Of heavy losses. Mingled exclamstions
of horror and contempt would escape
him, and ho seemed unconscious Of all
chat wss going on around him. His
gaze was bent upon the cards As if bis
iife's blood was the stake at issue. In
this case his last dollar was placed within
the dealers bank then with the frenzy
Of . maniac, be drew long, ugly dirk
ksife and plugged 1t up to the hilt 10
bis own body, aud sank a corpse on the
table A few rude jeers followed this
scs the body was removed, and the
game went on as though nothing bad
hsppensd.-as though another victim
had not been sddsd to tho gamblers s
damning record, or another man had not
died.
He started with large stock Of goods,
given him BY his father to sell on com
mission, aBd the fathers fortune de-
pended on q safe return Of the money so
invested; but, a. usual with young men.
he INDUCED In tho full liberty Of un.
bridled license, aud, while the ship
stopped at one Of the South American
ports, he engsndsred the FIRST seeds Of
"play." But for awhile after his arri.
val, the excitement Of trade, and the
energy necessary to accomplish a sue
cessful issue, kept his mind busy. One
day, by appointment, he was to meet q
mercantile friend at this time, aud, while
waiting for his friends arrival, staksd q
few dollars upon the turn of the cards,
when the latent disease spraug iuto life.
and it carried him headlong over the
precipice, and ended in the tragic mau-
usr related.
The "Nim de Oro" was gambling
saloon on Washington street, opposite
the ElDorado, and in l549 was the prin
cipal resort OF the dlsbaHded soldiers Of
the California regiments, and also of the
soldiers who had been engaged in the
war with Mexico.
Behind oas Of the largest monte banks
in the room sat man who had won for
himself honorable mention, and an Off
GERS commission was given him for his
bravery a, the storming Of Monterey !;
but, preferrng the climate Of California
and Its ''goldcn" prospects to more
northern home, be embarked to that
country at the close of the war with
Mexico, and, upon arriving, he opened a
gambling saloon. The enlgrants came
in by thousands, and two or three nights
nfter his arrival, a young man entered
the saloon and seated himself at the
bank, and stoked various sums on the
cards, until he had lost nearly all the
money he possessed.
Excited By the game, and maddened
with his losses, be accused the dealer of
cheating; the dealer replied sharply
the lie passed, and then the young man
struck The dealer a severe blow upon the
face. Quick as thought the sharp re.
port Of pistol followed. an | the ga m
bler's clothing was covered with the
young mans blood he had shot him
through the right breast. The room
was soon cleared Of the spectators pres
ent, the door closed, and medical at
tendance called in to aid the wounded
man.
The gambler sat moodiIy over hi.
bank, running the small monte card.
through his fingers, and perhaps think
p ing Of the deed just psrpetrated, wher
the wounded man gave a moan of agony
as the doctors probe reached the bottom
of the wound.
Tho doctor inquired what state he va
from, and the wounded man replied:
"trom Vermont
The gambler raised his head, for i
had been a long time since he had seer
a person from tho home of bis childhood
md Vermont being the name of his na
tive state, the mere mention Of tho nam
interested him.
The doctor next inquired the name o
the place where his parents resided, j
he had soy The wounded man replied
"Montpelier
The gambler sprang to his feet. biz
limbs trembled, and his face was pale al
death. for Montpelier was the home o.
his youth, and perhaps the wounded mar
might have been his play ymate 10 child
hood-perhaps a sehoolmate knew hi,
parents. his brothers and sisters. II,
clung convulsively to he table, and will
the intending emotions of rapid though
and the weight Of injury ioaieted, b,
could scarcely keep upon his feet.
A stimulaut was given to the wounded
man, and he was momentarily relieved
froro The On ao nosa tha hody "a an All;