Connecticut western news., 1877-07-06
A Rame for Freedom.

count of an incident alleged to have oc- cured on Mississippi steamboat a short time before the war.
 ''l ascended the Mississippi" says the writer, Con steamer on board of which were Judge J-and General K, of Pennsylvania, with both of whom was slightly acquainted.
 "A hard set, these Natchez men, said the captain, who met us on the cabin-stairs. There's some of them down in the saloon playing high game. How men can be such fools, I could never see!'
 "Let's go down and look on awhile,' , suggested the judge.
 ''ln the saloon we found four men seated at table, around which crowd of spectators was gathered. The four were the heavy players -...
 "The game was poker, and the money changed hands rapidly. We had not been looking on long, when one of the players, middle-aged man, who I learned was cotton-planter, bet his last dollar against the hand of one of four kings, while he had only four queens. He was 'cleaned out,' and rose as though he were going to leave the table.
 "Are you broke, colonel?' asked one of the men.
 E "Dead!' was the laconic reply.
 "Never mind I'll lend you.'
 "No; can make raise, I reckon.- Here. Pomp!'
 "Here, mass!' responded an old negro, as he emerged from one corner of the saloon.
 "Bring that girl and her youngster here, that bought in Natchez.-Wait few minutes, gentlemen. I'll raise some money
 "The old negro went on his errand and soon returned with the girl and her youngster. The 'girl' proved to be stately mulatto woman about thirty-five years old. Her 'youngster' was a fine, intelligent-looking boy eleven or twelve years old, whose com plexion showed him to be much more nearly allied to the white race than to the black.
 "Here, gentlemen said the planter. as they entered, you see this girl and her boy-two as fine niggers as you can find anywhere. paid eight hun dred dollars for them yesterday in Nat chez. Who will give me six hundred for them?'
 W III yOu SClI dShcu some one.'
 "No can't do it; promised not to. The girls swears she'll take her life if she's separated from her boy, and her old master said that he was sure she'd keep her word But don't you all see that the girl is worth more money than I ask for both of them? Come, who'll give me six hundred for both ? 'oThe planter waited moment for a reply, and then said: 'Well, I must have some money. Come, what say you to a raffie-thirty chances at twenty dollars a chance ? Out with your cash, gentlemen. The first on the list has the first throw!'
 ''This proposition created a decided stir among all present. The three players at the table led off by taking three chances each. Their example was followed by the spectators, and twenty chances were taken as rapidly as the planter could write down the names and take the money. Then there was slight pause. The planter himself now took two chances, and he was followed by his three fellow-play- CTS, who each took one chance more. Finally, three more chances were taken by the spectators, when the planter cried out: ''Two chances still, gentlemen! Who will have them!' HGeneral K-whispered somethine in Judge J--'s ear, and then went to the table and laid two ten-dollar gold pieces on it.
 ''Name, sir, please
 Never mind the name. Put il down for the woman"
 'Eh-what! for the girl herself?
 Yes, certainly; let's give her 8 chance.'
 "'All right! One for Ninette. And now-'
 "'That's for the boy,' said Judge J., quietly, as he laid twenty dol lars on the table.
 Good! bravo! bravo! cried the planter and several of the by-standeIs 'One for Tommy, which makes the thirty. Now, gentlemen, let's see whom luck favors.'
 '"The dice were brought and the throwing began. Each chance entitled the holder to three throws.
 "Thirty-six was the highest until tht holder of the eleventh chance threw He scored forty-two. Then a les! number was thrown, until number twenty-one scored forty-nine.
 "The excitement now became in tense. FOrty-nine was hard to beat the highest throw possible being nin' sixes-ffty
 "Again and again the dice rattled il the box, until it came to numbe twenty-nine.
 "'Come, Ninette-it's your turl nowv
 GA, tho ,,oo, ,,,o,, ,, e,,. T her hands crossed and pressed convul sively against her breast, it was trul, painful to witness her agitation.
 "Won't the gentleman that took tn chance for me please throw?' she aske' in low tremulous tone.
 "No; let your boy throw,' replie' the general; perhaps ne would hay more luck than I.
 Come, Tom,' said the planter.
 E'Tom came forward and picked III the box. The woman pressed her lip firmly together and clasped her hand as if in prayer. The boy trembled lik , an aspen-leaf, but shook the dice, an threw-three!
 "For moment he stared at the die , as though he could not believe his eye then he put down the box and steppe back pale and dejected. U "Come, Tommy, throw again, urge the planter.
 "It's no use, master; I couldn' throw forty-nine now.' " True, true! But you have you own chance. Throw that " Certainly said Judge J., 'tha one was your mothers. Now throN
 for yourself, on the chance I gave you ] Have stout heart, my boy, and ma Heaven smile on you'
 and dAgan tga the boy returned to the tabi I lips together and did his best to cor :, trol his trembling limbs. Not a soun