Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-06-28
RAFFLING FOR FREEDOM.
An Exciting Scene on Mississippi Steam
boat--How Slave Woman and Her
Child Gained Their Freedom.
From Appleton's journal for June.l

American travel the subjoined account of al
incident alegedto have occurred on a Mis-
sissippi steamboat short time before th'
war:
ascended the Mississippi, says the writer
on a steamer on board of which were Judge
j. and Gen. 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 could never see."
''Let's 90 down and look on awhile" sug.
gested the Judge.
In a saloon we found four men seated at a
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
middle. aged man, who learned was cotton
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
were going to leave the table,
"Are you broke, Colonel:" asked one of
the men.
Dead" was the laconic reply.
''Never mind will lend you"
"NO; l can make raise, reckOn-here
Pomp?'
"Here, massa. - 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 min
utes, gentlemen, Ill 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 fine, intelligent looking boy of eleven
or twelve years old, whose complexion
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 any,
where. Ipaid $500 for them yesterday in
Natchez. Who will give me $500 for them ?"
"Will you sell them separator" asked some
Oneb
''No, can't do i; promised not to. The
girl swears q ell take her life if she's separa-
ted from her boy, and the 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 l ask for both of them? Come, who'll
give me six hundred for both?''
The planter waited moment for reply,
and then said:
''Well, I must have some money. Come,
what say you to aratfle-thirty chances at $50
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-players, 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:"
Gen. K whispered something in
Judge J"-'s ear, and then went to the
able and laid two ten-dollar gold pieces on it.
"Name, sir, please" '-
''Nevcr mind the name. Put it down for
he woman"
"Eh-what for the girl herself z"
''Yes, certainly; let's give her chance
'All right! One for Ninette. And now"
''That's for the boy" said Judge j.,
luietly, as he laid $40 on the table.
'Good bravo bravo!" cried the planter |
md several of the by-standers. Zone for |
Tommy, which makes the thirty. Now gen. |
lcmen, let's see whom luck favors."
The dice were brought and the throwing !
egan. Each chance entitled the holder to |
hree throws.
Thirty-six was the highest thrown until the
older Of the eleventh chance threw. He
cored forty-two. Then less number was
brown, until number twenty-one scored
orty-nine.
The eXcitementnow became intense. Forty
inc was hard to beat; the highest throw
ossible being nine sixes-tifty -four.
Again and again the dice ratified in the box,
ntil it came to number twenty nine.
''COme, Ninette it's your turn now!'
AS the poor woman came forward, her
ands crossed and pressed convulsiyely against
er breast, it was truly painful to witness her
citation.
s'Won't the gentleman that took the chance
,r me please throw - she asked in low,
emulOus tone.
''No; let your boy throw" replied the
eneral. 'perhaps hAwould have more luck
IAN l.
'sCome, Tom," said the planter. |.
Tom came forward and picked up the box.
he woman pressed her lips firmly together
Id clasped her hands as If in prayer. The
~ trembled like an aspen leaf but shook
e dice and threw-three
For q moment he stared at the dice as
Ough he could not believe his eyes; then he 1