The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-04-18
How Sam Collins got broke
playing agin a Hand Or
gan.
BY BROOMSTRAw.

Sam Collins was bound to have
a spree. He had sold his boat
load of -four, received the money,
and intended to indemnify HIM
self for the labor and hard life of a
flat-boat; so he laid off fifty dollars,
to see New Orleans. In the hands
of an exquisite, at first class hotel,
with wines, dinners, operas, and
their consequences, fifty dollars
would go a very short distance !;
while the same sum would go a
good way in cheap brandy, theater
tickets, corporation fines, and the
catalogue Of amusements appGo-
pirate to them.
Without doubt, Sam would have
made out his week, and have been
dragged aboard an up-riyer boat,
by some more careful colleague,
but that his fifty dollars came to a
premature end.
Among other tastes which be had
acquired about the boat-yard, on
the head waters of tho noble Ten
nessee, was an indiscrimiante par
tiahty tor all games of chance. He
was not only verse0 in all the arts
of short cards." but had attacked
all fancy amusements which came
along, from the faro dealer, in his
buggy, to the more humble thimble-
rigger, who paused in the tavern
porch long enough to collect q few
dimes from the unwary.
Having limited himself to a GER
tain sum, Mr.. Collins reflected that
if he could only "git q streak agin
some OF them id games,' he could
extend his stay in "OrIeans7 to an
indefinite period, at the expense of
the gamblers. So, after fixing up,
with the assistance of bis friends,
he set off to find a game. He
played against the faro bank, got
into a row with q bystander, who
refused to drink with him, and was
turned out, after a great row, and
obstinate resistance on his part;
in the course of which he knocked
down his antagonist, and received
slight wound on the shoulder.
His valorons boatmen carried him
off, swearing vengeance against
their odd bone mill" He was,
however, appeased by an introdnc-
ton to an elegant apartment, where
the game of rouge ct noiy was con-
Quoted, by some silent and genteel
Frencbmen. There were very few
persons in the room, so Sam drank
claret they had. nothing else, as
long as he had room for it; but the
whole affair was ChocktaW to him.
After q few words, which were
quite unintelligiablo to him, they
paid him o dollar. Then came
some more sibberish,. when they
ra!led down five dollars. It was q
DUH aiIair-he understood not a
word, knew nothing Of the game,
and was rapidly drinking himself
and party sober. Besides, he be-
gun to learn that it was a losing
game. So, as the place was too
quiet, genteel and expensive for
the party, they left. With the ex-
ception Of a slight scuffle with some
watchman, they met with no other
adventure, until they reached the
purlieus of the city, and saw, to
their great delight, the congenlal
beams of a red lantern, in a low
doggery. Here they felt perfectly
at home. They called for liquor,
made proclamation of their united
and several capacities to " lick the
city," or any of it's citizens, and
made the acquaintance OF a very
=" peaceable" little man, who soon
led the way to room in which
there was new dayice, with which
Sam was charmed. Amongst other
games going on there, were several
tables, ornamented with horizontal
wheels, the edges whereof, as well
as those OF tho circular box i'll
which the wheel was inclosed, was
fitted with little tin pockets, num-
bered to correspond with tue figures
painted upon an oil-cloth, spread
on d table. The person who bet,
placed his money upon any number
ne liked the wheel was put in
rapid motion, and q marble was
thrown upon its surface, When The
impetus given the wheel was ex-
haasted, the marble, of course,
stopped i'll one of the little pockets.
IL the number OF that pocket cor
responded with that upon which
the better had placed his money,
he received o considerably larger
amount OF money than he liaa nu5
down. fit ,li,i nc5 cosrespoHd- -
co;;rsa ise iosc lis stake uur