Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-10
A MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER.

Steamboat Life-Gambling-C Cheating
as Cardis-The Isaring and Famous
Humphrey Isavis-Aces and Bullets
Fearful Personal Enc0unter--Figh
with an ORlcer.
steamboats, plying between New Orleans
and st. Louis, and New Orlca rs and Gin
cinnati, never made trip without carrying
one or mora cheu1Iier findustrie, who
turned any trick that came in bis way,
from robbing stateroom to Wringing in
fiat on cold deck in game of draw poker.
The men were invariably well-dressed and
gentlemenly, and we're rarely without a roll
of 1900 or $4,000. They generally tray
elled in pairs, as it was frequently possible
for one of the fakirs to render his COM
panion valuable assistance, especially in a
little game of draw, where the dealer would
stock the cards, slip the cut, and deal in
such manner as to give the man at the
left full hand, but TO furnish his partner
with larger full. The victim, il smart,
would stumble to the game and jump it"
after getting outrsgeously beaten once or
twice on almost invincible hands, but the
blacklegs would already have made enough
10 pay them well for the trip. One Of the
most noted Of the professionals was Hum
phrey Davis, small, dapper and rather
good looking man Of perhaps 80 years of
age, who Travelled almost continually on the
boats, but made bis home in New Orleans,
where he supported woman in luxurious
style. He was not married TO her but
seemed to entertain an unusual aft ction for
her, and treated her with the utmost tender
ness, although he was naturally cold and
unscrupulous. He weighed only 120 or lbs
pounds, but his word YVES never disputed
by his reckless companions, who knew that
he would brook contradiction or interfer-
ence from no one, and tina. his hand readily
fell on the hilt of knife or the handle ola
revolver. Unlike many of the others, be
frequently travelled alone, and was always
ready to test his skill in game Of poker
with one or more strangers, but the profess
SIGNALS who knew him only by reputation
hesitaJed at trying to beat him by illegiti-
mate means, well knowing that, should the
cheat be discovered, it would involve the
loss of their money, if not their lives.
On one occasion, when coming up from
New Orleans, Davis met a party who ex-
pressed desire to engage in little poker,
and, as he manifested no reluctance, they
all adjourned TO the cabin after supper, and
out table, commenced TO play.
One of the party was q man standing over
six in his stockings, and perfect giant in
muscle and strength. He had heard of
Davis, but probably underestimate his
or courage, and determined to
win his money by raising cold hands from
his lap and playing them. While he was
reserving material for an invincible hand,
Davis noticed it, but said nothing, and the
game went on. Finally, Davis received a
more than ordinary good hand, and bet
fifty dollars on it. The giant adroitly
changed the hand given him for the reserve
on bis knee, and thinking that the ma
neuvre had not been observed, raised the
original bet one hundred dollars more.
Davis saw the one hundred raise, and in
turn raised one hundred dollars. The
other, thinking he had sure thing, raised
two hundred dOllaTs more, and 50 it went
until 5000 or 500 were up, and Davis call
ed. The giant threw the stolen hand on
the table, and Davis quietly remarked,
after looking at it, ''Ths5's good hand"
The other assented, and reached out to
draw the money in, when Davis said,
''Don't touch that just yet"
"Why not ?" said Goliah, II have the
best hand"
81 say don't touch it," repeated Davis,
whose eyes were beginning to CLEAN, al
though he was outwardly calm and col
lected. -fEg
'Yes, l will touch it," said the other, in
a sneering way, as he swept the money to-
wards him with his arms. He had barely
placed his arms on the table when Davis
reached over the table with his left hand
and caught him by the hair, while with his
right he drew a revolver and fred point
blank at bis body. Although shot through
the chest the vitality of the man was SO re-
that the wound appeared TO
affect him but little, and rising to his feet
hand, and throwing his right arm about
him, forced his head back with the inten-
lion, he afterwards said, of breaking his
neck. Davis comprehended his design in
an instant, and, quick as lightning, fired
5wo shots into the giants right shoulder,
Gripping his arm. He then
sent another bail thsrugh his left arm. aod
Is he fell back into bis chair fred the fifth
shot, the bullet passing through his an
,agonist's right arm near the elbow, sever
ng one of the tendons.
The wounded mans friends had, in the
Meantime, crowded back out of the way,
md Davis swept his pistol, which still
one load, around the table once
,r twice, and, still holding it il his right |
land, called attention TO the cards which |
he black-leg had dropped, and cody re-
marked, 81 told you not to touch that |
money, but you would do it." He then
rumpled up the bills in his left hand
them into his pocket, and, unmo-
ested, retired to his stateroom, where he
eloaded his pistol and packed his portman-
eau. at the next landing he left the boat
Without interference, and was quickly lost
o sight as ne climbed up the landing and
inferred the woods.
1t was probably owing to two reasons
hat the officers of the boat or passengers
made no attempt to deiain him. In the
Irst place, it was evident to all of them
hat the sufferer had attempted to swindle
# rob him, and he (Davis) being much
be smaller and weaker man, they felt
for him, not unrnixsd with
pecies Of admiration at his GOODNESS
nd nerve. Secondly, many of them knew
nm Dy sight or reputation, and did not
ole W haAdiu tDolT lives Ia an aLLoLupJ "
rrest him when they could gain nothing
y 80 doing. The wounded man was as
lsted to bed by bis friends, and physl-
ian was called to attend him. Strange to
az, he recovered, but for weeks after ar
wing at st. Louis, and becoming sufficient
conValescent to walk the streets, carried
9th OF his arms in a sling.
DAVIS remained away from town some
me, but finally reappered here, and officer
'atrick McDonough, seeing and recogniz-
1g him, arrested him, but in the attempt
'as stabbed, and rather badly wounded in
he side. The man shot, for some reason
est known TO himself, refused or failed to
ppear to prosecute him, and that case was
lsmissed on 'lOtie proSequi. How the
ase against him for assault with intent to
III upon officer McDonough was disposed
!, the Democrat informant did not remem-
er, but Davis was probably releass a on
all and jumped his bond.-St. Louis De
Ioerat. 80