The Worthington advance., 1878-12-26
THE FATAL CARD.

oome years ago the 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 river, and left the
field to the freight boats, whose accom-
modations for passengers are by no means
palatla.. The former class Of steamers
were in many respects delightful, but
they never ceased to be objects of dread TO
t'mid people, Tor 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 comfert of steady-g 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 saloon
provided for the purpose in the Texas"
or officers cabin, situated on the hurrl-
cane deck: but the spc, ting gentry were
BY no means careful to obey this rule,
and 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'thlrds OF those on board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats tEelr 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
various members OF the ''crsft" seemed to
have their different steamers marked out
Tor them by common consent, so tnat no
one would tresPass on the domain of the
other. Ut course these men we're warm
friends of the officers of the boat, who
were either too sincere in their friend
ship to put q stop to the practice, or too
much afraid of the gamblers to care to
provoke quarrel with them. fer In those
days 1t was common affair for such men
10 resent any fancied affront with a pistol
shot.
One of the most remarkable men of
their class was named Daniel Sturdivant,
Frenchman, 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 a "gentlcman" by bis
aristocratic father, but upon coming of
age, aud finding his fortunes very bad,
had taken to cards as means of better
ing them.
His success in this field was 80 great that
he was induced to continue it, until at the
time of which I write he was one of the
mJst notorious gamblers between St.
Louis and New Orleans. He was forty
five years old, but had kept himself so
we'll that be looked much younger. He
was a man Of fine personal appearance
ana of great physical strength. he was
also noted for his personal courage. As
a gambler be was most expert and sue
cessful.
There were dark stories of deeds which
be had committed while under the In
duence of play and liquor, and it was said
by some that he had killed half a dozen
men in bis lifetime. Yet no one cared
to speak these stories openly. for No one
cared to bring upon himself the anger of
such man. There we're few who knew
him who really cared to play against him,
but they feared refusal to do 90 might
involve them in quarrel with him, and
rarely declined his invitations.
About fifteen years ago, the time of
which write, he had attached himself to
one Of the magnificent steamers plying
between New Orleans and Vicksburg, and
had publicly announced his determine
tion to shoots any man who attempted to
encroach upon his scene of operations
OF course this left him in undisputed
possession of the field, and be reaped q
golden harvest from it during the one
hrief year that ho conducted his opera.
tious there.
It was my lot at that time to be
compelled to make frequent trips between
New Orleans and Vicksburg, being heav
lily engaged in cotton speculations. pre-
ferred the steamer of which Sturdivan'
had taken possession, inasmuch as 1t wal
not only the most comfor able, but alst
the switest, aud time was of lin portauc,
to me. It was known that Iscarried larg,
sums Of money with me-, and I was Away
apprshsnsive lest sturdivant should asl