The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-31

ILaflNG IOhER On n MISSISSIPPI
STEAMBoAT.-YOu can not see now, as
we did ten years ago, the cabin tables
surrounded by planters; merchants, and
politicians calling themselves gentle
| men, who would gamble from morning
till night, and again till morning, stak4
ing and often losing, their entire fol-
tunes. We do not now encounter the
elegant gentlemaniy, professional gam
bier, who was accomplished in every
way, andanot least in the use of the Dis-
tol and boWie-knife. Well l-educated.
fascinating gentlemen were they, whose
hands were again and again stained with
the blood of their fell0w-ePeatures. All
this class of men are hardly to be found
in the Southwest in this gOodIy year of
our Lord 1870. The war did splendid
ssteaVenger- work i'll sweeping them into
the other world. And the young men
have been such as they, find a better
existence in working for their daily
bread. The gang of gamblers who are
our companions on this trip belong to
altogether another than class those whose
places they fill. These are what the
panel thief is to the bank burglar, what
Burns is to Morrissey., 1t is amusing
for your experienced traveller to watch
the tricks and schemes of these miser-
able wretches. One'o of these is short,
rather Fat, dressed in black broadcIoth.
and carries under his plug hat O. cunning.
greasy. smooth -shaven face, which has
small, ferret-like eyes in it, and red
snub nose, like 'carbuncle, imposed
upon. it. This man is called the "iudge,''
and is, | believe, the leader of the. gang,
although another fellow in common
clothes, with wolfish, coWardly coun-
tenance, gives the cue to all tEeir do
ings., The third thief of the party is
small in stature, with black mustache,
and All assumed wohegone look: 1t is
he who, in their make believe games,
bets wildly and largely, who most al
ways looses, gets angry, and appeals to
the loOkers-on. The fourth of the squad
looks like an honest tradesma1i,i who
ought to be in better business than
betting, "u-s ,t..ad tf;v .t3il-- -
One. day these gentlemen were play
ing at poker, which is Q favorite game
penter we will give them such names
as describe them best--had dealt Fer
ret-eyesn y a hand of three kings and a
seven and eight Of clubs. To "Wolf-
mouth he gave three aces and nine
and ten of hearts. With these hands
i" Ferret7eyes and Wolf mouth he
gan to bet and brag in the most excited
way, talking to each other, appealing To
the crowd, and gettingup an enthusiasm
pretty much as the clown and ring-mas-
ter do in the circus, shouting and run
ming in order to make the audience be-
lieVe that the horse which the "equine
queen " is riding is going fearfully fast,
when tits all sham, gotten, up fOreffect.
Such was the excitement about our
steamboat gaming @2a t@f3
~ | soc UO1jr fyyanfHr Hnlfnpt, anoI ,s...
fifty better" shouts g Felret-eyes.n
g | see your fifty and go ten better,r
screamed "Wolf mouth
see that, and make it one hun
dred, = cries F." Ferret-eyes. .DGs4 4s-sr.~
.al At this point there was a dead pause
and silence, broken in an, instant by
"Wolf- f-mouth," who turned beseechif,C-
ly to the by-standers with the remark:
z" Gentlemen, Pm blowed if | amt
strapped yr.a..... ,4.. +..,ae,. -
Meanwhile moving around the table
there was a peaked sandy haired man.
who has on board forty mules, which he
is taking to Memphis. This fellow has
seen both hands, and knew that " Wolf
mouth " had the strong cards. Just at
this moment he caught the gamblers
eye, who continued: s.s. We. D4.fE
Ell had a mule, wouldn't I sling
him, ears and all, atop o. that pile 2"
You kin bet one Of my mules" was
the answer of " Sandy-hair.n
..Will you take 1tEe mule ~ cries
/" Wolf mouth to "Ferret-eyes.n
Yes" answered tie other, asking the
@ Carpenter" as he had a right to bY the
laws of the game, for two cards, i'm place
OF his seven and eight of clubs. That
obliging gentleman at once complied,
giving him the fourth king and an ace.
Wolf mouth" did not ask for more.
They showed their hands. "Ferret-
eyes ! swept in the pool, and "Sandy-
hair" had lost his, mule.-[HarpeTs
Magazine. 57