Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-26
THE FATAL CARD.

SUING years ago tue mississippi river
was noted for its floating palaces" as
the large steamers plying between New
Orleans and the ports above were called.
Now the railways have driven nearly all
the fine boats off the liver, and left the
field to the frei ght boats, whose accom-
modations for passengers are by no means
palatia:. The former class Of steamers
were in many respects delightful, but
they never ceased to be objects of dread TO
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 two more encounters between
the laWless portion of the travellers, in
which pistol bullets would fv rather
thick for the comfort of steady-going
people. The cause of such disturbances
was generally quarrel over the gamb-
ling table. The regulations of the boat
usually required that all such amuse,
ments should be conducted in a saloon
provided for the purpose in the "Texas"
or officers cabin, situated on the hurri-
cane deck; but the sporting gentry were
by no means careful to obey this rule,
ana the gaming was most commonly car
ried on on the dining tables in the main
saloon of the steamer, to the great annoy
ance of two-thirds OF those on board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats their home, travelling
back and forth with them and fleeing
all who were verdant or foolish enough
to fall into their clutches. So well, in
deed, was this system managed that the
~ ~ g. IN
have their different steamers marked out
for them by common consent, 80 tnat no
one would trespass on the domain of the
other. Of course these men were warm
friends of the officers of the boat, who
were either too sincere in their friend
ship to put stop to the practice, or too
much afraid of the gamblers to care to
provoke quarrel with them, fer in those
days it was common affair for such men
TO resent any fancied affront with pistol
shot.
One of the most remarkable men of
their class was named Daniel Sturdivant,
Frencbman, the son of broken-down
scion of nobility, who had settled in
New Orleans before the transfer of Louis
lana to the United States. Sturdivant
had been raised as gentleman" by his
aristocratic father, but upon coming OF
age, and finding his fortunes very bad,
had taken to cards as means of better
ing them.
His success in this field was so great that
be was induced to continue it, until at the
time of which I write he was one of the
most notorious gamblers between st.
Louis and New Orleans. He was forty
five years old, but had kept himself SO
we'll that he looked much younger. He
was man of fine personal appearance
and of great physical strength. He was
also noted for his personal courage. As
a gambler he was most expert and sue
cessful.
There were dark stories of deeds which
he had committed while under tine in
fluence of play and liquor.and it was said
by some that he had killed half a dozen
men in his lifetime. Yet no one cared
to speak these stories openly, for no one
cared to bring upon himself tho anger OF
such man. There were few who knew
him who really cared toplav against him,
but they feared refusal to do so might
involve them in quarrel with him, and
rarely declined his invitations.
About fifteen years ago, the time OF
which l write, he had attached himself to
one of the magnificent steamers plying
between New Orleans and Vicksburg, and
had publicly announced his determine
ton to shoot any man who attempted to
encreach upon his scene of operations
OF course this left him in undisputed
possession of the field, ana be reaped a
golden harvest from it during the one
brief year that he conducted his opera
tons there
1t was my lot at that time to be
compelled to make frequent trips between
New Orleans and Vickshurg, being heav.
lily engaged in cotton speculations. pre-.
ferred the steamer of which Sturdivant
had taken possession, inasmuch as it was
not only the most comfor able, bnt also
the swifest, and time was of impor ,ance
10 me. 1t was known that carried large
sums OF money with nae, and ] was always
spprehensive lest Sturdivsnt should ask