Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-20
A Rattle for Freedom.
From Appleton's Journal for June.

cuTTcu OH MISSISSIPPI SteamDOaJ
short time before the war
II ascended the Mississippi" says the
writer, on 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 cab
in stairs. There's some of them down
in the saloon playing high game
How men could be such fools, | could
never seer
Lets 90 down and look on awhile,
suggested the Judge.
In the saloon we found four men
seated on table, around which crowd
OF spectators was gathered. The four
men 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. |
learned was cOtton-planter, bet his
last dollar against 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 were going to leave the
table.
care you broke, Colonel?' asked one
of the men.
s'Dead!' was the laconic reply
Never mind; I'll lend you"
"'NO, [ can make raise, | reckon
Here, Pomp!
Here, massa! responded an old ne
gro, as he emerged from one corner of
the saloon.
Bring that girl and her youngster
here that bought in Natchez. Wait a
few minutes, gentlemen, I'll raise some
money
THE old negro went on his erand
and soon returned with the girl and her
youngster. The girl proved to be a
stately mulatto woman about thirty
five years old. Her youngster' was a
fine, intelligent-looking boy, eleven or
twelve years old, whose complexion
showed him to be more nearly allied to
| the white race than 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. I paid eight hundred
dollars for them yesterday in Natchez,
Who will give me six hundred for
them?'
"'Will you sell them separate? ask
ed ssme one;
The girl swears she'll take her life if
she's separated from her boy, and her
old master said he was sure she'd
keep her word. But don't you all see
that the girl is worth more than | ask
for both Of them? Come, who will give
me six hundred for both?'
THE planter waited moment for a
reply, and then said:
- must have some money. Come
what do you say to ratfle-thirty
chances at twenty dollars chance?-
Out with your cash, gentlemen. The
first on the list has the first throw
''The proposition created decided
stir among all present The three play
ers at the table led off by taking three
chances each. The example was follow
ed by the spectators, and twenty chan
ces were taken as rapidly as the planter
could write down the names and take
the money. Then there was slight
pause. The planter himself 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
table and laid two ten-dollar gold pieces
on it.
"'Name, sir, please
"'Never mind the name. Putt down
for the woman.
"Eh-What! Do you mean for the
girl herself?'
Eyes, certainly; let's give her a
chance"
"'All right One for Ninette And
"'Thats for the boy, said Judge j,
quietly, as he laid twenty dollars on the
table
"'Good hravol bravoF cried the plant
or and several of the bystanders. One
for Tommy, which makes the thirty.
Now, gentlemen, let's see whom luck
favors.'
''The dice was brought and the throw
ing began. Each chance entitled the
holder to three throws.
''Thirty-six was the highest thrown
until the holder of the eleventh chance
threw. He scored forty=two. Then a
less number was thrown, until number
twenty one scored forty-nine.
'VThe excitement now became intense.
Forty-nine was hard to beat; the high
est throw possible being nine sixes-fff-
ty-four
Again and again the dice ratified in
the box, until it came to number twen-
ty-nine.
"'Come, Ninette-Its your turn now.
AS the poor woman came forward,
her hands crossed and pressed eonvul-
sively against her breast, it was truly
painful to witness her agitation.
"'Won't the gentleman that took the
chance for me please throw? she asked,
in a low, tresaulous tone.
"'No; let your boy throw, replied the
General; perhaps he would have more
luck than |.
"'Come, Tom, said tho planter.
'Tom came forward and picked up the
hox. The woman pressed her lips firm
" together and clasped her hands as if
in prayer. The boy trembled like an as
pen-leaf, but shook the dice and threw
three!
"For moment he stared at the dice
as though he could not believe his eyes,
then he put down the box and stepped
back with a detected air.
"'Come, Tommy, throw again, urged
the planter.
forty,nine now.'
True, true. But you have your own
chance. Throw that
Certainly, said Judge j, that
one waa your mothers. Now throw for
yourself on the chance | gave you.-
Have stout heart, my boy, and may
Heaven smile on yOu!'
gain the boy returned to the table
and took up the box, He pressed his
lips together and did his best to control
his trembling limbs, Not sound was
to be heard in the saloon but the rat
tling of dice. For moment every mar
seemed to hold his breath.
He threw.
1.-TWO fves and six-sixteen! sale
the planter, putting down the number
while a murmur OF satisfaction raj
through the crowd.
"Qpe Of the bystanders gathered NJ
the dice and put them in the box, anl
the boy threw again.