Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-05-02
to compare half dozen women who
habitually wear corsets to . half dozen
who do not
The Good Old Tunes.


Bailey was the greatest gambler Of
his period, and was in the height oi his
fame during the administration OF
Washington, Jefferson and Madison.
He was the son of an Irishman and his
mother Quaker Born in Chester
Valley, Pennsylvania, his father wasted
a considerable fortune of Mrs. Baileys
by going security for men at large.
| Then entering the patriot army, the
elder Bailey became Major and was
killed at the battle Of Cowpens. The
impoverished widow loaded ner goods
upon cart, and with her brood of chill
dren followed after on foot to Culpep-
per county, Va, where she kept tav
ern. and afterwards a school, aud final
ly married again. The second husband
undertook TO chastise young Bailey.
but received dreadful hogging. This
happened at the Seneca stone quarries,
in Maryland Afterwards young Bail
ey married n tavern-keepers widow,
and showed considerable genius for
trading in horses, liquors, negroes and
merchandise.
Without education he had still
powerful will and violent temper, and
his proves made him audacious and
feared. In those days the Virginia
Springs were full Of faro dealers, and
Bailey was the principle gambler at the
Sweet Springs, afterwards keeping tho
hotel there. In the height of his fame
he had large boarding house at Berk
eley Springs, and city hotel at Wash
ington, called the Bell Inn kept in SIX
OF Daniel Carroll's houses. At this
time, as for fourteen years, he was tho
dupe OF a Winchester widow, named
Ann Turnbull. and although his rela-
tions were notorious aud open with this
creature, the Chief Justice aud tho Su'
preme Bench boarded with him, aud
even advanced him hundreds Of dollars
at times. on account of board. Again
he had magnificent establishment at
Georgetown, I'd haunted the Union
Hotel. lie was twice in prison as
debtor. and each time escaped, once
advertising reward for the Marshal of
the District (Ringgold,) who had pla-
carded him. On another OCCASION he
visited President Jefferson in the White
House, at the request of Commodore
Barney, and Congressman Dawson, and
when the Secretary, Colonel Cole, sent
in an usher to tell him that he must re-
tire, he waylaid the Marshal in tho
s,reet and gave him q dreadful fog
sn1.Ana
cution, he was fined only $40 and costs
lie kept some OF the fastest horses in
the country, and ran at Annapolis.
Richmond, Petersburg, Winchester,
Lexington, Lynchburg, Port Tobacco,
and other places. He drove either four
or six horses to grand chaise, with
outriders, and men in livery, aud his
own hair was superbly powdered, while
he carried gold-headed cane. On
such tours he stopped at tho prominent
places, and opened game. He says
that his earnings amounted TO half
milion.dollars in gross. On one occa-
sion. when the ladies' at tho Sweet
Springs refused TO dance with him, he
bought the negro vioinist and stopped
the music in the height Of the season.
Hs went abroad TO dispose Of some
mountain lands, and becoming short of
funds, ran in with some English noble
men, who diced freely, aud he bet
f5O,0oO. Losing, he threw himself on
their generosity, and they raised him n
purse. Again, in France. magnificent
luck followed him. and he returned 10
the United States rich. lie then loaded
ship with merchandise and went into
business at New Orleans, where dlsa.
greement with his doxy made him low
spirited, and he lost bis luck.
In the latter part Of Bailcys life,
when he was struggling most earnestly
TO amend his evil courses and thrive by
Legitimate business, lie fell iuto tho
hands OF bailiffs, and was hunted from
iail TO Jail for trivial debts until hc lost
the use Of his limbs by wearing mana
cles and by rheumatism, when, wretch
ed, pursued a despairing, he went into
meeting house at the town OF Bath,
where he had once been great favor
ite. and endeayored 10 address bis igno-
rant soul 10 tie contemplation OF
Heaven. The constable suddenly rush
ed in upon bis medtations, and he was
dragged again to Jail Finally released
from Hagerstown prison by the inter
cession OF the celebrated Otho Williams
he had no resort but 10 indite his me-
moirs and peddle the same from horse
race to horse race
His book closes at this period, and
although sometimes vulgar, il Is 50 free
and unreserved in its developments that
we may doubt whether any gambler
ever lived who described bimself 30
fully. To the student Of early social
this is an invaluable book, giving the
depths and heights Of gsmesters tate.
On one occasion Bailey was convicted
at Staunton OF keeping faro bank, and
under laws, rs then enacted, was adj
Judged to be sold as slave. lie libol-
lei the Judge, ST. George Tucker, and
vas cited before q committee 81 the
Virginia Legislature.
The first line Of stages in the United
States was established soon after the
close Of the Revolutionary War, by
Captain Levi Pease, Of Boston. and Dir.
Evans Of the Indian Queen Hotel in
Daits~,1x. oo1 oxto,Ind frnv. Rorfox,