Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-07
A MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER.

Steamboat fe-GambIing-Chea
ing Rt Cards-The Daring. and Fa:
BuIlets Fearf6I RePspnni Eu.
cOunter-Fight With an Ohceg.
From the Missouri Democrat VI
In the good old steamboat days, the
steamboats, plying between New Orleans
and St. Louis, and New Orleans and Gin
cinnati, never made trip without car
rying one or more chevaliers d'industrie
who turned any trick that came in his
way, from robbing stateroom to wiring
ing in dat Oh c cold deck in a game Of
draw poker. The men were Invariably
well-dressed and gentlemanly, and were
rarely without roll of $500 or $4,000.
They generally travelled in pairs, as it
was frequently possible for one of the
fakirs TO render bis companion valuable
assistance especially in q little game Of
draw, where the dealer would stock the
cards, slip the cut and deal in such a
manner as to give the man at his left q
full hand, but to furnish his partner with
a larger fail, The victim, if smart,
would tumble 10 the game and jump
IT. after getting outrageousiy beatan
ence or twice on almost invincible bands,
but the blacklegs would already have
made enough to pay them well for the
trip. One Of The post noted of the
professionals was Humphrey paYlsl q
small, dapper and rather good loaking
man of perhaps thirty years Of age who
travelled almost continually on the boats,
but made his home in New Orleans,
where be supported woman in luxu-
rioss style. He was cot married to her,
hut seem, II TO entertain an unusual al
lection for her, and treated her with the
utmost tenderness, altno.gh be was nat
urally cold and unscrupulous. he
weighed only 100 or l25 pounds, but, his
word was never disputed by his reckless
companions, who knew that hs would
brook contradiction or interference from
no one, and that his hand readily fell on
the hill of knife or the handle of re-
vover. Unlike many. of the others, he
frequently travelled alone, and was al
ways ready to test hiG skill in game Of
poker with one or more strangers, but
the professionals who knew him only by
reputation hestated at trying to beat
him by illegitimate means, well knowing
that should tho cheat be discovered, it
wodld involve the loss Of their money,
if not their lives.
On one occasion, when coming up
from New Orleans, Davis met a party
who expressed desire to engage in
little poker, and, as he manifested no re-
luctanee, they all adjourned to the cabin
after supper, agd wheeling out table,
commenced to play. One of the party
was man standing over six feet in his
stockings, and perfect giant in muscle
and strength. He had heard OF Davis,
but probably underestimate his shrewd-
mesa or courage, and determined to win
his money by raising cold hands from
his lap and playing them. While he
was reserving material for sc ipyincible
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 ehanged the hand given
him for the reserve on bis knap, and
thinking that the maneuyer bad not
been observed, raised the original bet
ona huu1rad dnllaPa m0rQ Davis SaW
.ho Jne ona bnndreJ ro;se and in tnrn ya;Sed
ono cTe | bnndrad dollars The other thinE.
;nn % be had a sure thing raised two hun-
5rsd dollars more and go il went until
zoo o. s-oo were mn and Davis called
% Tba g1;ont !, tbrev tbe stolen hand ON the
tobIa and Davis auietiv remarked after
sootinr % 80 ot 4 "1hafs n good hand"
Tba o,5er assenied and reached ont 10
49, tba ,nonev in when Davis said
Snor't toncb hat inst vet"
T EWbv not9" said Goi;ab "I have the
III
oesT ,,I 49, ~. don',to.ab n II reneated Davis
say oVn o"' .so1't- LaSS,p;3g N gleam
whose Eyes WEI ont~ardIS caltc Tsd Xxx
altnoug1 He was OD'"
cosieeeeui y .r.t 40 ,.;d ,be otber
Les, ! wl'l .ouSn y, o.', ea. tba is nonav OS
IN q s1geIIns Ma{i a. NC :" n Ia ~ boreIy
t9war1 nun WIN n,S a. q, Ms ."hia rbep Dav;S
pesu nus @ arms ho o .atIe sns S,b say, h;s Is hand
reaSusu J.et .ne saOiI .h" ~ ~ ~ wb;Io With
anu ai caI. .t. =. nim In y .ovoi1.r so [ and fred
n,s nn;,, siorL AZ b;s Sodv Altbou0b shot
poinsy pp.n y."IN .La oLas. ,ba y;toisty ~ t5a man
through 'ne eIeSI' A ''.I ~. a'~ .h ~ 1p5 sSe On.
was 30 81 .e'as.AsIie s S;, i" hnt T,,Ie md
peIteu ~; ~ "ie.s e oa-ht t nas;s bv tBe hair
W R'S ;se., IN. ~ | LapS nd tbTovina his
s;oh, S,Jn us us, abont b;r, forced his head
bscL With tbs intention he Afterwards
said of breaking his neck, Davis com