Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-08-16
RAFFLTNG FOR FREEDOM.
An Exciting Scene ON q Mississippi
SteambOat-HOw q Slave Woman and
Har CHILD Gained Their Erood0m

- hACiln6 cSS"o W" ~ASSASS.PPA
Steamboat How q Slave Woman and
Her Child Gained Their Freedom.
We translate from German sketch
of American travel the subjoined ac-
count of an incident alleged to nave
occurred on a Mississippi steamboat
a short time before the war:
assembled the Mississippi, says the
writer, on a steamer, on board which
were Judge j and General K,
OF Pennsylvania, with both of whom
was slightly acquainted,
"A hard set, those Natchez men,"
said the Captain, who met us on the
cable stairs. "There's some Of them
down in the saloon playing a high
game. How men could be such fools,
i never could see."
Let's go down andlook on awhile, {"
suggested the Judge.
In the same 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, a middle-aged
man, who / learned was a cotton
planter, bet his last dollar againts
the hand OF one of his antagonists.
The latter showed four kings, while
he had only four queens. He was
Cleaned OUT and rose as though he
was going to leave the table.
Are you broke, Colonel?" asked
one OF the men.
~Deadl' was the laconic reply.
@Never mind; I'll lend YOU"
@No; can make a raise, reckon
Here, Pompi'
Here, nasal responded an old
negro, as he emerged from one cor
ner OF the saloon.
Bring that girl and her young
ster here, thatI 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 nulatto woman, about
thirty-five years old. Her young
ster" was q fine. intelligent looking
boy, eleven or twelve years old.
whose complexion showed him much
more nearly allied TO the white race
than to the black -A 80
Here, gentlemen, said the planter,
a. they entered, you see this girl
and her boy-two as fine niggers as
you can find anywhere. I paid $500
for them yesterday in Natchez.
Who will give me 5000 for them?"
- VIII you sell them separate ?"
asked some one.
mo. can't do it; I promised notl to.
The girl swears she'll take her life II
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 ask for both of them.
Come, who'll give me 5000 for both?"
The planter waited a moment for a
reply, and then said:
well, must have some money.
Come, what say you to q rattle
thirty chances at $40 chance? Out
with your cash, gentlemen. The first
on the list has the first throwl"
This proposition created quite q
stir among all present. The three
players at the table led of 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 parse. The plan
ter himself took two chances, and he
was followed by his three fellow play
ers. who each took one chance more.
Finally three more chances were Ia
ken by the spectators, when the
planter cried out:
1.-TWO chances still, gentlemeni
Who will have them?"
General k whispered some
thing In Judge is ear, and then
went to the table and laid two ten
dollar gold pieces on 1t.
Name, sir, please
Newer mind the name. Put II
dowr for the woman
@Eh-whatl for the girl herself?"
Yes, certainly; let's give her q
chance
@All right One for Ninette. And
now"
That's for the boy" said Judge
quietly, as he laid twenty dollars
on the table. " m
@Goodi bravol bravoi" cried the
planter and several Of the bystanders
@One for Tommy. which makes the
thirty. Now, gentlemen, let's see
whom luck favors."
The dice were brought and throw
ing began. Each chance entitled the
holder to three throws.
Thirty-six was the highest thrown
until the holders Of the eleventh
chance threw. He scored forty-two
Then q less 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
nine sixes-fifty four.