The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-07-11
Tt'F family Cirele.
ZyHE EaEaE CaRD.

Q
ing between New Orleans and the
ports above were called. Now the
railroads have driven nearly all the
fine boats off the river, and left the
field to the freight boats, whose ac
comodatiOns for passengers are bv
no means paiatiaI. The former
class Of steamers were in MANY re
spects delightful, but they never
ceased to be objects of dread to tim
id people,. for if the racing, which
was on that stream reduced to a
system, did not result in the loss of
the boat, there was sure to be one
or more encounters between the
more lawless portion Of the travel
lers, in which pistol bullets would
fly rather too thick for the comfort
Of steady-gOing people. The cause
Of such disturbances was generally q
quarrel over the gam bling table
The regulations Of the boat usually
required that all such amusements
should be conducted in q saloon
provided for that purpose in the
''Texas or officers cabins" situated
On the hurricane deck, but the sport
ing gentry were by no means careful
to observe this rule, and the gaming
was most commonly carried on on
the dining tables in the main saloon
Of the steamer to the great annoy
anCe of two thirds Of those on
board.
Many professional gamblers used
to make these boats their house,
travelling back and forth with them,
and feecing all who were verdant or
foolish enough to fall. into their
clutches. So well, indeed, was this
system managed, that the various
members of the "crafU" seemed to
have their different steamers marked
out for them by common consent,
so that no one would trcspass upon
the domain Of the other, OF course
these men were warm friends of the
officers of the boat, who were either
too sincere in their friendship to put
Ia stop to the practice, or too much
afraid of the gamblers to care to
provoke a quarrel with them, for in
those days it was common affair
for such men to resent any fancied
affrOnt with 4 pistol shot.
One of the most remarkable men
of their class was named Daniel
Sturdivant, a Frenchman, the son of
a broken-down scion of nobility,
who had settled in New Orleans be-
fore the transfer Of Louisiana to the
United States. Sturdivant had been.
raised a gentleman" by his aricto-
cratic father, but upon coming of
age, and finding his fortune very
bad, had taken to cards as a means
of bettering them. His success in
this field was so great that he was
induced to continue in it, until at
the time / write he was one of the
most notorious gamblers between
st. Louis and New Orleans. He
was fOrty-five years old, but had kept
himself so well that he seemed much
Younger. He was a man Of fine
personal appearance, and of great
physical strength. He was also no
ted for his personal courage. As
gambler he was most expert and
successful.
There were dark stories of deeds
which he had committed while Un-
der the influence Of play and liquor,
and was said by some that he had
killed half dozen men in his life
time. Yet no one dared to speak
these stories openly, for no one cared
to bring upon himself the anger Of
such a man. There were few who
knew him who really cared to play
against him, but they feared that a
refusal to do so might involve them
IN quarrel with him, and rarely
declined his invitations.
About fifteen years ago, the time
of which I write, he had attached
himself to one of the magnificent
steamers plying between New Or
leans and Vicksburg, and had public
! ly announced his determination t.
/ shoot any man who attempted to
encroach upon his scene Of opera
| tions. OF course this left him in
undisputed possession Of the field,
and he rcapcd 8 golden harvest
| from it during the one brief year
that conducted his operations there
1t was my lot at that time to he
| compelled to make frequent trips
! between New Orleans and Nicks-
burg, being heavily engaged ia cot
ton speCulatiOns. | perferred the
steamer Of which Sturdivant had Ia
ken possession inasmuch as it was
not only most comfortable, but also
swiftest, and time was importance to
me. It was known that l carried
large sums of money with me, and
/ was always apprehensive lest
Sturdivant should ask NE to play,
l had fully made up my mind to re
fuse him, and if he attempted to
draw me into a quarrel, to shoot
him without mercy, as l knew that
the only chance for my life lay in
getting the advantage of him.
Strange to say he did not make any
such proposition to me, and l gave
him no chance to do so.
One night we had started out for
Vicksburg, and were heading merri-
" down the river when Sturdivant
came up to the group which had
gathered around the stove. He had
been drinking, and was smoking a
fine cigar as ne approached. All
made way for him.
"WeH, gentlemen, said he in an
unsteady tone, "you seem to be ter
rible dull. Who wants to play for
twenty dollars antee?"
There was no reply. All present
seemed to know the man, and no one |
cared to volunteer to place himself /
in his clutches.
"Umphr' he exclaimed, with an |
expression of contempt. Afraid to |
trv your luelS against .Dar Sturdi- |
want. eh? Or maybe You want lit /
lie coaxing. Some of you must
olav with ms l can't stand such /
Come let's see who 1t /
shall be-"
He glanced around the Gro vd as
if TO select his victim. For the first
line I noticed the gaze ot one OF
ne aroup fixed steudiiy. upon htppt 4
rIb vas o Stranger. to tme, and was