Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-05-09
\ NIGHT WITH GAMBLERS.

In the year 1859 l was soiourning
temporarily in the City of Mexico, and
having nearly a month of leisure after
satisfactorily winding up the business
matters that drove me thither | devoted
a portion OF it to exploring the darker
portion OF the metropolis, meeting with
some curious adventures, making a few
acquaintance. One Of the last WIS g
middle-aged man with whom [ first
spoke one afternoon at a bull-fght in
Necatilan Square.
A strong feeling Of friendship speedily
sprang up between us, and with Don
jaime Mercado-as lie introduced him
self-as guide l had little difficulty in
finding means Of passing away the time.
And with him as companion one night |
found myself cautiously treading the
Callejon del Arco, or "bliud alley of
the Arcade, long notorious as one of the
most dangerous places in the Mexican
capital. The dense mass of houses, of
which the Merchants Arcade forms a
part, known as the Impedradillo, does
not form one compact street. On the
southwestern side of the cathedral a
narrow lane runs into the lmpedradillo;
this is called the Calleion del Arco. Ii
is like one Of those caYerns which the
sea sometimes Lollovs out in the face
Of a cliff.
Even in the daytime, while the suns
rays pouring down upon the square are
almost binding, this alley is dark,
gloomy, forbidding. Advance within
It, though only a few PAGES, and you
seem precipitated into the shades of
night an involuntary chill creeps over
you, by no mea lessened as you catch
a glimpse Of some shadowy figure lurk-
ing in an arch.way, closely shrL uded in
cloak and sombrero, the black, evil eyes
watching your every motion. Then there
IS an unhealthy dampness around you ;
water is constantly oozing out of the
walls under foot it is wet and shiny
almost unconsciously comes the terrible
fancy that n is treading in the gore of
the countless victims whose lives have
ended here.
Yet through this alley Don Jaime
Mercado guided me-he with drawn
sword, | with cooked revolver. Three
several times we closely Rugged the
mlidewed walls, our weapons pointing
outward, to await the passing by of
some suspicious character. Either
these gentlemen we're wronged by our
suspicious, or else they did not like
cold steel or hot lead, since they
quietly passed us by, though edging
close to the further wall.
At length Don Jaime paused before a
heavlly-irOned door, striking three loud
blows upon it with the pommel of his
sword. Almost Immediately this
opened, and a porter bearing a lantern
held the light to our faces. Evidently
satisfied he raped q signal upon the
door behind him, which promptly
opened.
This revealed a long, steep flight of
stairs, up which we tramped. Here a
serge curtain, surmounted by o trans.
parency bearing the legend "Sociadad
fllarmonica, swung n~oiselessly aside,
we were in one of the most fash.
lonable gambling halls of the Ctv of
Mexico. For a minute the brilliant
light dazzled me, and l could distin.
gu1sh little else than a low, indistinct
hum, mingled with the click of the
roulette balls and the mere musical
Jingle of golden coin.
The ball was Of extraordinary dimen.
sions, lighted by hundreds of wax to.
pers. Two dozen long, green baize.
covered tables were surmounted by the
eager devotees of Fortune this much
SOW, then vas introduced to The pro.
proprietor of the hall, a dapper little
Frenchman whose name 1 have forgot.
ten.
He was extremely polite and atten.
tive, leading us to the elegantly fitted.
mp sideboard, pressing us to partake Of
the sparkling wines and luscious frn;t
He soon left us, however, to greet some
other visitors, and then we Joined fbe
crowd around one of the tables.
1t was devoted 10 rouge ct NOR, with