New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-26
RAFFL1Na FoR FREEDOM.
How a slave woman and Her Child
Gained their Liberty.


RAFFLING FOR FREEDOM.
How a slave woman and Her Child
GRined their Liberty.
We translate from German sketch Of
American travel the subjoined account Of
an incident alleged 10 have occurred on 9
Mississippi steamboat short time before
the war: L..-,- .5.
assembled the Mississippi, says the
hfriter, on a steamer, on board of wkich
were Judge - and General x, OF
Pennsylvania, with both Of whom was
sightlY 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 seef'
Let's go down and look on awhile, u
suggested the judge. T.sET
In the saloon we found four men seated
at table, around which crowd of spec
tators was gathered. The four were the
''heayy players.
The game was poker, and the money
changed hands rapidly. We had not been
looking on long when one of the players,
middle-sged man, who learned was a
cotton planter, bet his last dollar against
Tic bahA Vi VIC VI LIE hubnkOnlhLbs Liz
latter showed four kings, while ha had
)nly four queens. He was ''cleaned out,
md rose as though he were going to leave
he table.
care you broke, colonel?' asked one of
he men.
Dead was the laconic reply.
NJ Never mind, I'll lend you.
Nm; 1 can make a raise, reckon.
Here, Pomp"
Here, massai" responded an old negro
as he emerged from one corner OF the
saloon s4 E4 sta
Bring that girl and her youngster here
that ! bought in Natebez 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 mulatto woman about thirty-dve
years old. Her ''youngster" was a fine,
1ntelligent-loOking boy eleven or twelve
years old, whose complexion showed him
70 be much more nearly allied to the white
yaoe than to the black.
Here, gentlemen" said the planter, as
they entered, 'you see this girl and her
b,y-two as fine niggers as you can find
anywhere. ! paid $500 for them. IN
NstOhsz. WHO will give me 5000 for
'%w you sell them separate ?" asked
some one.
''No, can't do 1t; promised not to-
The girl swears she'll take her life il she's
separated tom her boy, and her old
master aAia that he was snre 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 Tor bothY'
The plAntes waited smoment for re-
ply, and then said:
''Well, must have some money. Come,
what say you toa raffie-thirty chances at
so chanceS Outswith your cash, gen
tlemen- The FIRST on the list has the tirst
throw
This proposition ersatea decided 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
IS rapidly as eplanter could write down
the names and take the money. Then
there was slight pause. The planter
himself nov took two chances and he was
followed by his three fellow-players, who
each Cook one more chance Finally three
more chances were taken by the specta-
tors, when the planter cli d out:
Two chances still, gentlemen Who
Will have them?'
General Il whispered something in
Judge is ear, and then went to the
table and laid tive sehsdQesr geld pieces
Name. sir. please.
Never mind the name, i down