Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-04-14
Selected aflistellanp,
THE FATAL CARD.

Some years ago, the Mississippi rive
was famous for its floating palaces al
the large steamers plying between New
Orleans and the ports above were called
Now the railroads have driven nearly al
the fine boats off the river, and left tn.
field to the freight boats, whose accom-
modations for passengers are by nj
means palatial The former class o
steamers were in many respects delight
full, but they never ceased to be the OBJ
jects of dread to timid people, for The
racing, which on that stream was re-
duced to a system, did not result in the
loss of the boat, there was sure to be one
or more encounters between the moro
lawless portion of the travellers, in which
pistol bullets would fly rather too thick
for the comfort of steady-going people
The cause for such disturbances was
generally quarrel over the gaming ia
Bile. The regulations of the boat usual
ly required that all such amusements
should be conducted in room provided
for that purpose in the officers cabin,
situated on the hurricane deck, but the
sporting gentlemen were by no means
careful to observe this rule, and the gam
ing was mostly carried on at the dining
table, in the main saloon on the steamer,
to the annoyance of two thirds on board
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats their home, travelling
back and forth with them, fleeing all
who were foolish and vcrdant enough to
fall into their hands. So well, indeed
was the system managed, that the various
members seemed to have their different
steamers marked out for them by com
MON consent, so that no one would tres
pass upon the domain OF the other. OF
course, these men were warm friends of
the officers Of the boat, who were either
too sincere in their friendship to put a
stop to the practice, or too much afraid
of the gamblers to care to provoke a
quarrel with them for, in those days,
it was common affair for such men
to resent any fancied insult with a pis-
tol shot. One of the most remarkable
men of this class was Daniel Sturdivant,
Frenchman, the son of broken-down
scion of nobility, who had settled in New
Orleans before the transfer of Louisiana
to the United States. Sturdivant had
been raised gentleman by his arts
tocratic father. but, on coming of age,
and finding his fortunes very bad, had
taken to cards as means to better
them. His success in this field was so
great. that he was induced to continue
it, until at the time of which | write he
was one of the most notorious gamblers
between St. Louis and New Orleans
lie was man of fine personal appear
ance, and of great physical strength
and was also noted for his personal cour-
age; and as a gombler he was most
expert and successful There were dark
stories Of deeds which he had committed
while under the influence of play and
liquor, and it was said by some that he
had killed half dozen men in his life
time. No one dared to speak of these
stories openly, for no one cared to bring
upon himself the anger of such man.
There were few who knew him that real
ly cared to play against him, but they
learned that rufusal to do so might in
volvc them in a quarrel with him, and
rarely declined an invitation. About
twenty years ago, the time of which
write, he had attached himself to one of
the splendid steamers plying between
New Orleans and Vicksburg, and had
publicly announced his determination to
shoot any man who encroached upon his
scene Of operations. OF course, this
left him in undisputed possession of the
field, and he reaped golden harvest
during the nine years he conducted his
operations there.
1t was my lot at the time to be com
PEELED to make frequent trips between
New Orleans and Vicksburg, and / pre-
ferred the steamer Of which Sturdi-
want had taken possession. inasmuch as
i was not only the most comfortable,
but, also, the swiftcst, and time was Of
The utmost importance to me. Il was
known that at times | carried large sums
Of money and | was always apprehen-
sive lest Sturdivant should ask me to
play. l made up my mind to refuse
lim, and-if he attempted to draw me into
/ quarrel, to shoot him without mercy,
Is l knew that the only chance of my
ife lay 10 getting the advantage of him.
Strange to say, be did not make any
iuch proposition % me, and | gave him