The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-11-14
A Mississippi Gambler.

anu DU. LOUIS, anu NeW OTleduS uiu
Cincinnati, never made trip without
carrying one or more chepdlier dinduStrie,
who turned any trick that came into his
way, from robbing stateroom to wiring
ing in fat on cold deck in game of
draw poker. The men were invariably
well dressed and gentlemanly, and were
rarely without q roll of $1,000 or $4,000.
They generally travelled in pairs, as it
was frequently possible for one of the
fakirs to render his companion valuable
assistance, especially in a little game cf
draw, where the dealer would stock the
cards. slip the cut and deal in such
manner as to give the man at his left a
full hand, but to furnish his partner
with larger full. The victim, if smart,
would "tumble to the game and jump it,
after getting outrageously beaten once
or twice on almost invincible hands, but
the blacklegs would already have made
enough to pay them well for the trip.
One of the most noted of the profession
ais was Humphrey Davis, a small, dap
per and rather good-looking man Of per-
haps 30 years of age, who travelled al"
most continually on the boats, but made
his home in New Orleans. He weighed
only 100 or 1875 pounds but his word was
never disputed by his reckless compan-
ions, who knew that he would brook
contradiction or interference from no
one, and that his hand readily fell on
the hilt OF knife or the handle of re-
volver. Unlike many of the others, he
frequently travelled alone, and was al
ways ready to test his skill in game of
poker with one or more strangers but
the professionals who knew him only by
reputation hesitated at trying to beat
him by illegitimate 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 party who ex-
pressed desire to engage in little pe-
ker, and, as he manifested no reluctance,
they all adjourned to the cabin after
supper, and wheeling out table, COM
menoed to play. One of the party was
man standing six feet in his stockings,
and perfect giant in muscle and
strength. He had heard of Davis, but
probably underestimated his shrewdness
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 more than ordinarily good
hand, and bet fifty dollars on it. The
giant adroitly changed the hand given
him for the reserve on his knee, and
thinking that the maneuvre 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, think
ing he had sure thing, raised two hun
dred dollars more, and 80 it went until
5000 or 500 were up, and Davis called
The giant threw the stolen hand on the
table, and Davis quietly remarked, aftel
looking at it, "That's a good hand.
The other assented, and reached out t.
draw the money in, when Davis said
"Don't touch that just yet"
"Why not?" said Goliah, Z" 1 have tn,
best hand"
"I say don't touch it" repeated Davis
whose eyes were beginning to CLEAN
although he was outwardly calm anc
collected.
"Yes, I will touch it" said the other
in sneering way, as he swept the none.
towards him with his arms. He haC
scarcely placed his arms on the tabl
when Davis reached over the table will
his left hand and caught him by the hair
while with his right he drew revolve
and fred point-blank at his body. Al
though shot through the chest the vital
ity of the man was SO remarkable tina
the wound appeared to affect him bu
little, and rising to his feet he caugh
Davis by the hair with his right hand
and throwing his right arm about hin
forced his head back with the intention
he afterwards said, of breaking his necl
Davis comprehended his design in a
instant, and, quick as lightning, fire
two shots into the giants right shoulde
completely crippling his arm. He the
sent another ball through his left arm
and as he fell back into his chair fire
the fifth shot, the bullet passing throug
his antagonists right arm near the e.
bow, severing one of the tendons.
The wounded mans friends had, in th
meantime, crowded back out of the wa.
and Davis swept his pistol, which sti
contained one load, around the tab
once or twice, and, still holding it in h
right hand, called attention to the caro-
which the blackleg had dropped, an
coslly remarked, "I told you not
touch that money, but you would do it
He then crumpled up the bills in his lie
hand, crammed them into his pocke
and, unmolested, retired to his stat
room, where he reloaded his pistol al
packed his pertmanteau. At the ne,
landing he left the boat without inte
ference, and was quickly lost to sight {
he climbed up the landing and entert
the woods.
1t was probably owing to two reasol
that the officers of the boat OF passel
gers made no attempt to detain him.
the first place, it was evident to all
them that the sufferer had attempted
swindle or rob him, and he Davis beir
much the smaller and weaker man, the
felt sympathy for him, not unmiyt
with a species of admiration at his coo
ness and nerve. Secondly, many of the
knew him by sight or reputation, and d
not care to hazard their lives in an a
tempt to arrest him when they cou,
gain nothing by SO doing. The woun
ed man was assisted to bed by his friend
and a physician was called to after
him. Strange to say, he recovered, b.
for weeks after arriving at st. Lou
and becoming sufficiently convalescel
to walk the streets, carried both OF b
arms in sling.
Davis remained away from town son
time, but finally reappeared here, al
80, DaIr,nlx Mano.o,,.b N