The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-17
THE GAMBLER AND HIS VICTIM
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
ny GEORGE P. RILEY

BY GEORGE P. RILEY.
In the spring of 1852, when the excite
ment over the discovery Of gold in Cali
fornia lured thousands from their quiet
and peaceful homes, all bent on the
acquisition of the precious metal, /, in
common with others, being affected by
the rumOrs of the auriferous nature OF
the soil, and of how easily, by little
muscular exertion, many whom we had
known at home as impecunious, in this
Eldorado had become wealthy, con-
eluded to ''try my luck" as the saying
is, by venturing in that far-off land to
court Fortunes favor. After due prep
aration, left home, bearing the bless
ing of parents and the kind wishes OF
relatives and friends. will not relate
all the varied incidents of the voyage,
the deaths and burials at sea, the vic
TINS of the Isthmus fevers and other, to
me, melancholy events, but will proceed
to the incident forming the caption of
this story.
The English barque Salem, which
left San Juan, Del. Sur.l Central
America, carried as passengers, be-
sides myself, a young eouple-man and
wife-whom, it was subsequently ascer-
tained, hailed from Vermont. They
were were fond and loving, as young
couples usually are. Their hopes were
of the brightest. In the flush Of youth
the world seemed TO them one vast gar
den, where the beautiful flowers of life
might be culled and its various paths
strewn with roses.
Arriving in San Francisco, after a
passage of "a days, all felt rejoiced at
the prospect of putting our feet on terra
Grma again. The usual excitement
which in those days was incidental upon
the arrival of new comers, proved no
exception in our case, and after a great
deal of hustle and annoyance we finally
arrived safe and sound at the terminus
of our journey.
A description of the city OF San Fran
cisco at that time / deem superfiuous, as
able writers, better qualified than !, have
described its appearance from 1919 down
TO the present time. Having partaken
Of hearty meal-the first / had enjoyed
since I left home-I resolved within
myself TO "view the city by gaslight, " as
the phrase goes. was attracted by the
sound Of music toward a saloon, where
a man was crying out in loud voice;
"Red wins; black loses" Not COM
pretending what was meant by this ex-
clamation, went in the room, and a
scene presented itself to my astonished
gaze, such as / had never witnessed be-
fore. A number of tables stood in the
room. Grouped around them were men
of different NatiOnalities, seemingly in
terested in the games going on at the
tables. Standing near one of these Ia
bles, which was literally covered with
gold and silver coin, observed the
young married man and two compan-
ions, my fellow passengers, whose curl
osity, like my own, had bean excited by
this Ito us) novel scene. AS 1 ap.
preached l overheard one of them re-
mark to the young married man:
"Charley, try your luck"
He replied by pleading ignorance of
the game.
"Never mind" said the other, "try
Just for the fun Of the thing"
Again he denied all knowledge of
gambling in any form.
A middle-aged man standing behind
him observed:
young man, if you desire to crafty
the whim Of your companions by play
ing will inform you when YOU win or
lose"
Being again urged by his friends TO
play, he complied with their request bv
putting downg upon one of the cards
hye-dollar gold piece. He won. Again
and again he won. Fortune seemed to
smile upon each venture. At last the
nckle Goddess, as ever has been the
case toward her blind votaries, frowned
upon him, and in a moment his win
nlhgs were swept from him by the
dealer of the game.
ihey were walking away from the Ia
e, ~ughing at the amusement this
paS'i'ne had afforded them, when the
DOo one married man was tapped lightly
- 'ne shoulder. Upon lookino
S, wbo h,s ne Oeheld the middle-aeed man
in ,ha U informed him of his success
, @ recent game he had boon
his desire. Tue man
hiy 70 inform you that vo, h.
been swindled cheated ont oS n'Aye
money. Those cards were va, your
and demand your money.n 81, %O
somewhat excitedly. nc
The young man reflected for
ment; then by some strange imnuIs.
concluded to act on the mans advice
He went back TO the table, and eharv.
ing the dealer of cheating him, de-
manded the money. As might have
been expected, the dealer denied the
charge The voIln0 man naraisfad In,