Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-09-26
THE FATAL CARD.


between New Orleans and the ports
above were called. Now the rail-
ways have driven nearly ali the fine
boats off the river, and left the field
to the freight boats, whose accom-
modations for passengers are by no
means palatial. The former class of
steamers were IN many respects de.
lightful, but they never ceased to be
subj cts of dead 10 timid people
for if the racing which was reduced
to system, did not result in the
loss of the boat. there was sure to be
one or more encounters bttween the
lawless portion of the travellers, in
which pistol bullets would fly rather
too thick for the comfort Of steady
going people. The cause of such
disturbances was generally q quarrel
over the gambling-table, The regu-
latlon of the boat usually required
that all such amusementS should be
conducted in a saloon provided for
that purpose in tie "TeXiS, or Off
GERS cabin" situated on the hurri-
can deck but the sporting gentry
were by no means careful to obey
this rule, and the gaming was most
commonly carried Cp in the dining
tables in the main saloon of the
steamer, to the great annoyance of
two-th;rdS of those on board.
Many professional gamblers used
to make these boats their home.
travelling back ana forth with them,
and fleeing all who were verdant or
foolish enough to fall into their
clutches. So well, lindeed. was this
system managed, that the various
members of the ''craft" seemed to
have their different steamers mark.
ed out for them by common consent,
soSthat no one would trespass upon
the domain of the other. OF course,
these men were warm friends to the
officer of the boat, who were neither
too sincere in their friendship to put
a stop to the practice, or too much
ofruia of the 5rr=zahfero- TO earc co pro
woke a quarrel with them, for in
those days it was a common affair
for such meE TO resent any. fancied
sffront with a pistol-shot.
One OF the most remarkable men
of their class was named Daniel
Sturdlvant, q Frenchman, the son
of a broken-down scion of nobility,
who had settled in New Orleans be-
fore the transfer of Louisiana to
the United States. Sturdiyant had
Teen raised as gentleman" by his
aristocratic father, but upon coming
of age, and finding his fortunes very
bad, had taken TO cal ds as a maen
Of betteriIg them. HIS success in
this field was so great that he was
induced to continue in it, an1 he
was one Of the most notorious gam
blers between st. Louis and New
Orleans. He was forty-fVe years
cid, but had kept himself SO well |
that he seemed much younger. ne |
was a man Of fine personal appear
ance aid great physical strength. |
he was also noted for his personal |
courage. AS a gambler he was most |
expert ard successful.
There were dark stories of deeds
viii ;h be had committed while un-
der the infuerce of play and liquor,
and it is said by some that he had |
killed half dozen men in his life
time. Yet no one cared to state
these stories openly, for no one car
ed to bring upon himself the anger
Cf such man. There were few
who knew him who really cared to
llly against him, and rarely declin-
ed his invitations.
About fifteen years ago, the time
Of which l write he Lad attached
himself 10 one Of the magnificent
steamers plying between New Or
Jeans and Vicksburg, and had pub
licly announced his determination to
shoot any man who attempted to en-,
crouch upon his scene OF operations.
OF course this left him in indisput-
ed possession of the fieli, and he
reaped golden harvest from it dur
ing the one brief year that he con.
Quoted his operations there.
1t was my lot at that time to be
compelled to make frequent trips be-
tween New Orleans and Vicksburg,
being heavily engaged in cotton
speculati0ns. Ipreferred the stea
er of wlIich Sturdivant had taken
possession, and time was of import
ance to me. 1t was known that l
carried large sums of money with
me-, and was always apprenensiye
lest Sturdivant should ask me play.
| had fully made up my mind to re-
fuse him, and if he attempted to
draw me into quarrel to shoot him
without mercy, as [ knew that the
only chance for my life lay in ge5t-
ing the advantage of him. Strange
to say, he did not make any such