Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-09-27
RAFFLE FOB FREEDOM.

We translate from a German sketch of
American travel the subjoined account of an
incident alleged to have occurred on a Missis'
sippi steamer short time before the war.
| assembled the Mississippi, says the writer,
on a 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 play.
ing high game How men can be such
fools, could never see"
"Let's 60 down and look on awhile" sug'
gested the judge.
In 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 chang
ed hands rapidly. We had not been looking
on long. when one of the players, middle
aged man, who learned was cotton-p planter,
bet bis last dollar against the hand of one OF
his antagonists The latter showed four kings,
while be had only four queens. He was
CLEANED out" and rose as thoug h he were 60
ing to leave the table.
"Are you broke, colonel ?" asked one of the
men.
Dead" was the laconic reply.
"Never mind I'll lend you"
"No; I can make raise, I 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 I bought in Natchez. Wait few min
utes, 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 wo.
man about thirty.6ve years old. "Her "yeung'
ster" was fine, intelligent'looking boy 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 anywhere.
paid eight hundred dollars for them, yester-
day, in Natchez. Who will give me six hun
dred for them9"
"Will you sell them separate ?" asked some
one3'
mo, can't do it; promised not to. The
girl swears she'll take her life if she's separa.
ted 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 six hundred for both ?"
The planter waited a moment for reply
and then said:.
"Well, I must have some money. Come,
what say you to raf1e-thirty chances at
twenty dollars a chance7 Out with your
cash, gentlemen. The first on the list has the
first throwr
This proposition created decided stil
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 we're 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 bis three
fellow-players, who each took one chance
more. Finally, three more chances were ta
ken by the spectators, when the planter cried
out: -,
1.-TWO chances still, gentlemen Who vii
have them ?"
General K. whispered something in Judge
Us ear, and then went to the table and lal6
two ten.dollar gold.pieces on it.
! "Name, sir, please I"