The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-08-30
SHARPERS.

In the fall of the year 1856 found my.
self on board one of those floating palaces,
a Mississippi steamboat, on my way from
New Orleans to Cincinnati. The Sultana
was a mammoth boat, designed for both
freight and passengers, and she was su.
perbly appointed in every respect.
In the days to which we refer the pas.
senger accommodations were upon what
we should term the hurricane deck, con-
sisting of long hall running fore and aft
from which opened the state rooms, much
like the Long Island steamers of the pres
ent day. Here the table was set for the
passengers a. meal time, and when cleared
away series of short tables were left,
covered with green cloths, about which
card parties spent hour after hour at their
favorite games.
Indeed, there were professional gam
blers who lived on these steamers, paying
passage like any other travellers, but whose
business it was to pick up any unwary
person who might be ON board, inducing
him to play, and after gaining his conf
dence to a certain extent, they managed to
"clcan him out" a. the term was, of every
dollar he possessed.
noticed of this class of men one set of
three, who we're 30 evidently sharpers that
few persons, however unaccustOmed to
meet such, were liable to be deceived by
them. Though very neatly dressed and
very courteous in manner, there was still
something about them which betrayed the
nature of their calling. They were pro-
fessional gamblers. They had more than
but had uniformly declined, and the last
time so pointedly that felt satisfied they
would make no further attempt a. far as
was concerned.
They had played, however, with several
different individuals by the close of the
third or fourth dav, of course with the
usual result. At first they would lose in.
considerable sums, in order to lure their
victim on and to lull any possible suspi-
cion; but before they finished with their
victim they were sure TO take his last dol
lar. One poor fellow, who had been thus
victimized, became so disconsolate at his
losses, which were very large in the aggre-
gate, that really thought he would throw
himself overheard. He acknowledged to
me that the money he had lost was not his
own, but intrusted tO his care as a mes.
senger of st. Louis bank.
l hac noticed, from the first day, .
young and gentlemanly. appearing person,
who selected nearly the zane seat every
day, near the port bow Of the steamer,
u
ahead of tue course in which we were
steering. and also could take in at a glance
both sides of the river. He invariably
had book in his hand, between which
and the attractions of the ver-changing
scenery he divided his attention. He
seemed to be quite alone and to have no
friends on board.
He had q mild, quiet expression Of
features, and, as thought, Just little
dashed with melancholy. / tried hard to
place him, . the saying is-that Is, to i'm
agine to what class of society he might
belong and what were his probable associ.
atoms or business. But l did not arrive
at any successful conclusion - itregar1ed
these matters. He might be young Law
student or young clergyman. % entirely
respectable and modest did he appear: q
all events he seemed 70 BE- . gentleman.
and his hands - delicate ~ those Of Z
fine lady.
fancied that the gamblers had beer
watching this young man, and comics!
that felt some little repidation lest they
should succeed In enticing him to cit down
with them. OF course knew very vel
there could be but ono result 70 such An In
terview-hc would only be tie NH q
sixth victim thus iAr, On the up-tivef trip
TO that rascally trio. / W not su1e thu
they had their eyes On him, but somehow
it appeared to me that It was 20. 1 seemed
to feel it instincsively.
1t was the evening Of the fourth day
since we left New Orleans. had beeS
down below upon the engine-de 70 ~
the busy aspect of life which such place
exhibit. After q hour spent below, I 10
turned to ~ uppoe cabin, and int . mn
head came A60sS the stairs that landed Il
the main salooa, my eyes fell ppon Il,
table where he tAreo &AMble3 Goaally
sat, and there I saw slfiing and playing
cards the young stranger to whom havi
referred. s# sES&
It was Just whae lad feared. HersA
another victim. said 10 myself. A sor
. of fascination drew me to the tabla wher
theT 1stsrnd soon became interssted L
looking Upon the game. The .younl
stranger seemed to play avery taf hand
he was cool and quiet; II H Lost q Wol
it really did not seem to excite him, bu
at that time th0:1tA&e6 w4uD0 Nnail tie
ii wss quite unimportant; dollar ot tn
mosss11au seey iitsis dii5seence 10 sifhe
of the party. .ssgvssssf as.