The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-05-12
THE ACE OF HEARTS.
A Mississippi River Steamboat sketch.

Now the railroads have driven nearly
all the fine boats off the river, and left
the field to the freight boats, whose ae-
commodations for passengers are by no
means palatial. The former class of
steamers were in many respects delight
full, but they never ceased to be the OBJ
jects of dread to timid people, for if the
racing, which on that stream was re-
dueed to system, did not result in the
loss of the boat, there was sure to be
one or more encounters between the
more 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 disturban-
ces was generally quarrel over the
gaming table. The regulations of the
boat usually required that all such
amusements should be conducted in a
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 gaming was mostly carried on
at the dining table, in the main saloon
in the steamer, to the annoyance of
two-thirds on board. Many profession
al gamblers used to make these boats
their home, travelling back and forth
with them, fleeing all who were foolish
and verdant enough to fall into their
hands. So well, indeed, was the system
seemed to have their different steamers
marked out for them by common con-
sent, so that no one would trespass upon
the domain of the other. of course,
these men were warm friends of the Off
GERS of the boat, who were either too
sincere in their friendship to put stop
to the practice, or too much afraid of
the gamblers to care to provoke quar-
rel with them; for, in those days, it was
a common affair for such men to resent
any fancied insult with a pistol shot.
One o. the most remarkable men of this
class was Daniel Sturdivant, a French
man, the son of broken-down scion of
nobility, who had settled in New Orleans
before the transer of Louisiana to the
United States. Sturdivant had been
raised a gentleman" by his aristocratic
father, but, on coming of age, and find
ing his fortunes very bad, had taken to
cards as a 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. He was a man
of fine personal appearance, and of
great physical strength, and was also
noted for his personal courage; and as
a gambler he was most expert and sue
cessful. There were dark stories of
deeds which he had committed while
under the Influence of play and liquor,
killed half a dozen men in his lifetime.
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 really
cared to play against him, but they
learned that a refusal to do so might in
volve them in 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 a golden harvest
during the brief 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 Vieksburg, and / pre-
ferred the steamer of which Sturdivant
had taken possession, inasmuch as it
was not only the most comfortable, but,
also, the swiftest, and time was of the
utmost Importance to me. 1t was known
that at times | carried large sums of
money, and Twas always apprehensive
lest Sturdivant should ask me to play.
made up my mind to refuse him, and
if he attempted to draw me into a quar-
rel, to shoot him without mercy, as
knew that the only chance of my life lay
in getting the advantage of him. Strange
to say, he did not make any such prop
osition to me, and l gave him no chance
to do so. One night we had started out
from Vieksburg, and were heading down
the river, when Sturdivant came 60 the
group which was gatherd around the
stove. He had been drinking, and was
smoking fine cigar as he approached.
All made way Cor him. ''WeII, gentle
men," he said, in an unsteady tone,
'you seem to be terribly dull; who wants
to play for twenty dollars antez' There
was no reply; and no one volunteered
toplace himself in his clutches. ''Umphr'
he exclaimed, with an expression of con-
tempt, ''afraid to try your luck with
Daniel Sturdivant, eh2 Or may be you
want a little coaxing; can't stand such
treatment. Come, let's see who it shall
be-" He glanced around the crowd as
if to select his victim. and, for the first
time, / noticed the gaze of one of the
group fixed steadily upon him. He was
stranger to me, and was dressed in
plain hoInespun, and his face was par
TALLY concealed by broad brimmed
sombrero, which was drawn over it.
He was a small but powerfully made
man, and in the decided expression of
his well shaped head read an unusual
firmuess and intensity of purpose.
"Are you Daniel Sturdivant, the gam
bier" he asked in a calm tone, without
rising. Sturdivant flushed darkly. and
gave the stranger a dark glance .'Some
persons call me so behind my back, he
said i1solently, ''but no one would care
to apply that term before my face"
Nevertheless, said the stranger quiet
ly, Il want an answer-yes or no."
"Well then / am, said the gambler an
grily; what oft = ''Simply this, re Piled
the stranger, 81 have heard it said |
that you claim to be the best card player |
in the Southwest, and have come two |