Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-11-16
A MODEL MISSISSIPPI LER.

A MODEL MISSISSIPPI GAMB LER
In the good old steamboating days
the steamboats, plying between New
Orleans and st. Louis, and New Orleans
and Cincinnati, never made tri with
out carrying one or more chevalier din
dustrie, who turned any trick that came
in his way, from robbing state-roon
to wringing in cold deck on fiat in
q game of draw poker. The men were
invariably well dressed and gentlemanly
and were rarely without roll of 81 500
or $4,000. They generally travelled in
pairs, as it was frequently possible fol-
one of the fakirs to render his com
panion valuable assistance, especially in
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 his left full hand, but to fur.
nish his partner with larger full. The
victim, if smart, would "tumble to the
game and jump it" after getting out.
rageously beaten once or twice on al
most invincible hands, but the black.
legs would already have made enough
to pay them well for the trip. One OF
the most noted of the professionals was
Humphrey Davis, a small, dapper, and
rather good-looking man, of perhaps 80
years of age, who travelled almost con.
tinually on the boats, but made his
home in New Orleans, where he sup
ported woman in luxurious style. lie
was not married to her, but seemed to
entertain an unusual affection FOR her,
and treated her with the greatest ten.
derness, although he was naturally
utterly cold and unscrupulous. He
weighed only l20 or l25 pounds, but hi.
word was never disputed by his reckless
companions, 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
revolver. Unlike many of the others
he frequently travelled alone, and was
always 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 dis
covered, it would involve the loss oil
their money, if not their lives.
On one occasion, when coming up
from New Orleans, Davis met party
who expressed a desire to engage in a
little poker, and, as he manifested nc
reluctance, they all adjourned to the
cabin after supper, and, wheeling out
table, commenced to play. One OF
the party was man standing over six
feet i'll his stockings, and perfect giant
in muscle and strength. lie had heard
of Davis, but probably underestimated
his shrewdness or courage, and deter
mined to win his money by raising cold
hands from his lap and playing them.
While he was reserving material for an
invinciblc hand Davis noticed it, but
said nothing, and the game went on
Finally, DAVIS received more than or
dinarily 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 maneuvel
had not been observed, raised the origi
nal 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 dollars more, and
SO it went until 5000 or 800 were up
and Davis called. The giant threw the
stolen hand on tie table, and Davis
quietly remarked, after looking at it,
THAT'S good hand" The other as
sented, and reached out to draw the
money in, when Davis said, "Don'i
touch that just yet"
Why not? ?" said the Goliah; 81 have
the best hand"
I" say. don't touch it," repeated
Davis, whose eyes were beginning tc
gleam, although he was outwardly calm
and collected.
Yes, | will touch it, too," said the
other, in sneering way, as he swept
the money toward him with his arms
He had barely placed his arms on the
table whom Davis reached over the
table with his left hand and caught hin
by the hair, while with his right h,
drew revolver and fired pointbla
at his body. Although shot through
the chest, the vitality of the man was 81
remarkable that the wound appeared
to affect him but little, and, rising tt
his feet, he caught Davis by the hal
with his right hand, and, throwing hi
left arm about him, forced his heat
back, with the intention, as he after
wards said, of breaking his neck. Davi
comprehended his desi gn in an instant
and, quick as lightning, fired two shot
into the giants right shoulder, com
pletely crippling his arm. lie thel
sent another ball through his left arm
and, as he fell back into his chair, firet
the fifth shot, the bullet passing througl
his antagonists right arm near the el
bow, seveiing one of the tendons.
The wounded mans friend had, il
the mean time, crowded back out q
the way, and Davis swept his pisto
which still contained one load, aroup
the table once or twice, and, still hole
ing it in his right hand, called after
tion to the cards which the blackleg ha
dropped, and coolly remarked, "i tol
you not to touch that money, but yo
would do it." He then crumpled u
the bills in his left hand orannoa