Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1872-12-11
ATERRIFIC 1 TUssLE.
a yarn of steamboat Life
ReminiScence of Hum-
Dhrey Davis.

UHASN ~~~~~
The exploits Of the Missis-
sippi River gamblers, which is
now page in our social history,
are ever Of interestin these days
of more morality andless daring.
The Missouri Democrat gives
an account of Humphrey Davis,
a whilom king among the shar-
pers. Davis was a small, dap
per and rather good looking
man of perhaps 30 years Of age,
weighing only 100 or 125 pounds,
but his word was never disputed
by his reckless companions, who
knew chat he would brook CON
tradiction OF interference from
no one, and that his hand readi-
" fell on the hilt of a knife or
the handle of a revolver. I'm
like many of the others, he tre-
quently travelled alone, and was
always ready to test his skill in
a game of poker with one or
more strangers, but the profess
sionals who knew him only by
reputation hesitated at trying to
beat him by illegitimate meahs,
we'll knowing that, should the
cheat be discovered, it would in
yolye the loss of their money, if
not their lives. On one occa-
sion, when coming up from New
Orleans, Davis met a party who
expressed a desire to engage In
a little poker, and, as he mani
tested no reluctance they all ad-
iourned to the cabin after sup
per, and wheeling out a table,
commenced to play. One of the
party was a man standing over
six in his stockings, and per-
feet giant in muscle and strength.
He had heard of Davis, but
probably underestimated his
shrewdness or courage, and de-
termined to win his money by
raising cold hands from his lap
and playing them. While he
was reserying material for an
invincibIe hand, Davis noticed it,
but said nothing, and the game
went on. Finally, Davis re-
ceiyed more than ordinary
good hand, and bet fifty dollars
omit. The giant adrOitly changed
the hand given him for the re-
serve on his knee, and thinking
that the maneuver had not been
observed raised the original bet
one hundred dollars more Da-
Wis saw the one hundred raise,
and in turn raised one hundred
dollars. The other, thinking he
had a sure thing, raised two
hundred dollars more, and SO it
went until $500 or 500 were
up, and Davis called. The giant
threw the stolen hand on the
table, and Davis quietly re-
marked, after looking at it,
''That's a good hand" The
other assented and reached out
to draw the money in, when
Davis said, "Dont touch that
just yet" "Why not?' said
Goliah :" / have the best hand"
II say don't touch it," repeated
Davis, whose eyes were begin.
ming to CLEAN, although he was
outwardly calm and collected.
eyes ] will touch it," said the
other, in. a sneering way, as he
swept the money toward him
with his arms. He had barely
placed his arms on the table
when Davis reached over the
table and caught him by the
hair, while with his right hand
he drew a revolver and fred
point blank at his body. Altho'a
shot through the chest the vital
ity ofthe man was soremarkable
that the wound appeared to af
feet him but little, and throwing
his right arm about, with the
intention, he afterward said, Of
breaking his neck. Davis COM
pretending his design, in an in
slant, and quick as lightning,
fred two shots into the giants
shoulder, completely crippling
his arm. He then sent another
ball through his left arm, and as
he fell back into his chair fred
the fifth shot, the bullet dashing
through his antagonists right
arm near the elbow, severing one