Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-06-25
A Night With Gamblers.

In the year 1853 was soiouruing Temporarily
in the city OF Mexico, and having nearly a month
ot leisure, alter satisfactorily winding up the bus
mess matters that drove me thithcr, devoted a
portion OF it 20 exploring the darker potion Of
tie metropolis, meeting with some curious adj
ventures, MAKING u lew strange acQuaintances.
one oil the last was 4 middle aged man, with
whom first spoke. one afternoon, ut bull fight
in Necatilan Square.
strong feeling of friendship suddenly spranp
up between us, and with Don Jaime Mercado-as
hc introduced himself-as guide, had little dii-
hcnlty IN iindlng means to pass away the time.
Anu wan him a companion one uight l found
myself cautiously treading the CarjOu del Arco,
or "bhnd alley oil tho Arcade" long notorious as
one OF the most dangerous places in the Mexican
capital lhe dense mass OF houses, Ut which the
Merchants Arcade forms = part, known rs the
lmPedraillo, does not form one compact street.
On the southwestern side OF the Cathedral mar
row Lane runs INTO the lmpedmlllo this is called
the CaeJou del Ateu I; is like ono uf those
caNerns NDich the sea sonnet times huIlON- oHt ia
the face OF elm.
Even in tue daytime, while the suns rays pour
ing down upon the square are almost binding,
this alley Is dark, gloomy and iOrbiddug. Ad-
vance with 1t, though only few PAGES, and YOU
setm preclPItatrd into the shades oi night an
involuntary chill creeps over yuu, by no means
lessened as You CATCH a glimpse OF some shalowy
hgure lurking IN an archway, closely enshrduded
m cloak and somOrero, the black, ey.l eyes waIcI
ing your every motion. Then there - all uu-
healthy dampness around you; water IS constant
~ ooIIng out OF Tue walls; under loot 1t IS wet
aud slimy-alnost uuconsc!ous!y ,1mes the Ter
litle fancy that one IS tteadlng the gore OF the
countless victims whose lives have suddenly end
ed here
Yet through this alley Don Jaime Mereado
guided me-he with drawn sword and 1 with
| cooked revolver. Three several times We closely
hugged The mldewrd walls our Weapons p04ut-
ing outward, to await the passing ol some sl.spI-
Oh.
wronged by our suspicious or else they did NOT
like cold steel or hot lead, since they very quietly
passed us by, although vdelng close t. the other
wall
At length Don Jaime passed lelora heavily
ironed door, striking three loud blows upon II
with the rommel OF bis ssord. Almost imme-
lately this opened, and A porter, bearing Ian
| tern, held the light up To our faces. Evidently
| satisfied, he wrapped signal upon the door
behind him which also promptly opened.
This revealed long. steep flight OF stairs. up
which we tramped. Here n serge curtain, sur
mounted by trans oarency bearing the legend
''Sociedad Filarmouiea, swung noselessy aside,
and we were in one Of the most fashionable gam
bling halls in the city Mexico. For minute the
brilliant light dallled me, and could distinguish
| little else than a low, indistinot hum, mingled
With the click of the roulette balls, aud the
more musical ineles OF golden coin,
The hall was of extraordinary dimensions
lighted by hundreds of wax tapers. Two dozen
long, green baze-coored tables were surrounded
by the eager devolees Of Fortune this much |
saw, then | was introduced TO the proprietor OF
the hall, dappsr little Ftenchman whose name
| have forgotten.
lie was extremely polite aud attentive lead
ing us TO the elegantly tted-up sideboard, press
ing us 10 psrtake Of the sparkling wines and ms
cioua fruit. lie soon left rs, however. to greet
some other visitors, and then We Joined the crowd
around one of the tables.
| Ii was devoted TO rouge ct noir, with ia cir
cles Of deyotees, who came night after night Il
tempt fortune, one moment tlngling with a wlt
delicious Joy, as the tickle dame deons TO smil,
upon them, the next plunged into the depths O
despair, as the crouplers rake transfers lht
gittering Offering to the wrong side ol the table
"See" whispered Don jaime into my ear
"obserye that lady in black, she with the lac,
mask, who places her little pile on the re,
'do1ble zero with such queenly air. That il
!, sonora de los D-Ten months since she wa
i. the IDOL of her husband, who possessed almos
princely wealth. but the mania seized her. Sh'
, visited the tables nightly, losing enormously
giving orders upon her husband for the amount
which were gladly taken, foe Don D, every
body knew, would sacratice his last thaco rahe
, Than dishonor his name by refusing payment
Her husband soon discovered the truth and pai,
her debts, but there was stormy scene belwee'
them, it is said, and two days afterwaTd he wa
found dead in the street, slain by the stroke OF
lcuchio in the hands of hired bravo. The trutl
E ia not vet known for certain, but many believ
i; that she paid for the murder. Since then sh
, has been nightly visitor here, losing almos
{ constantly. The last OF her husbands propert,
) ! is sold, and when that is gone-wel, She has
! choice to be sure-the suicides grave, or IL
pave"
At the next table Californian of swarthy fra
lures and sinister aspect, not lessened by til
strips OF court plaster that diagonaliy cross b
face from eye 10 jaw bone, deals monte Tor In
.beueht' OF the moths who tutter around tn
golden piles OF momentary expectation OF ralsn
: 1t into their own pockets but, alas thougl
riches have wings, they do not fy in that dlree
ton.
| The low cries, '.Cayallo Ell Ia puetra - "sot
/, Mozo" C'The Queen IN the gate - "Ih>