Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-06-13
ARAFFiE FOR FREEDOM.

We translate from q Germ an
sketch Of American travel the sub
Joined account Of an incident alleged
TO have occurred on a Mississippi
steamboat short time before the
war.
II ascended tbs Mississippi" says
the writer, "on steamer on board
of which were Judge J-and Cen
eral X, OF Pennsylvania, with
both Of whom 1 was slightly ac-
quainted.
"a hard set, these Natchez men, -
sud the captain, who met us on tie
cabiu-stairs. There's some of
then down in the saloon playing a
high game. How men can be such
fools. / could never see I"
Lets 60 down and look on a
while," suggested the Judge.
I'm the saloon we found four men
seated at a table, around which a
crowd Of spectators was gathered.
The four were the ''heavy players. -
The game was poker, and the
money changed h ands rapidly. We
had not been looking on long, when
one of the players, a middIe-aged
man, who I learned was a cotton
planter, bet his last dollar against
the hand OF one Of his antagonists.
The latter showed four kings, while
he had only four queens. He was
cleaned o2t, " aud rose rs though
he wersgoing to leave the table,
Ara you broke, colonel % asked
one Of the men. -.
Dead ~ was the iaconic reply.
Never mind I'll lend you"
mo can make aralse, I reck
on.-Here, Pomp -
Here, mass - responded an old
negro, as he emerged from one cor
ucE Vi the Saioon.
bring that girl and her young.
ster here, that bought in Natchez.
Wait few minutes, gentlemen.
III raise some money.
''The old negro went on his er-
rand and soon returned with the
girl and her youngs:er. The "girl"
proved to be stately mulatto wo
man about thirty five years old.
Her ''youngster" was fine, lntelli-
gent-looking boy eleven or twelve
years old, whose complexion showed
him to be much more nearly allied
10 the white race than to the black.
Here, genblemen" said the plant.
CT, rs they entered, ''you see this
girl and her boy-two as line niggers
rs you can ind anywhere. l paid
eight hundred dollars for them yes
terday IN Natchez. Who will give
six bundled for them ?"
"Will you seit them separate 70
asked some one.
''No can't do it l promised not
to. The girl swears She'll take her
life if sh;'5 separated from her boy,
and her old master said that he was
sure she'd keep her word. But
don't you ali see that the girl is
worth m IRE money than 1 ask for
both of them ? Come, who'll give
me six hundred for both =?
The planter waited a moment
for u reply, and then said
well, must have some money.
Come, what say you to a rattle
thirty chances at twenty dollars a
chance Olt with your cash, gen.
tlemen. The first on the list has
the first throw ~
This proposition created decid-
ed stir among all present. The
three players at the taJle led off Dy
taking three chances each. Their
example was followed by the speCta-
tors, and twenty chances were TAX
ell as rapidly as the planter could
write down the names and take the
none Then there was a slight
pause. The planter himself now
took two chances, and lie was fol-
lowed by his three fellow.players,
who each took one chance more.
Finally, three more chances were
taken by the spectators, when the
planter cried out
1T chances still, gentlemen !
Who y Ill have them ~
"GeceIa al k ghispered some
thing in Judge SIS ear, and then
went to the table and laid two ten
dollar goldpieces on it.''
Name, sir, please"
'NeVer mind the name. Put it
down for the woman-"
"Eh-what for the girl herself?"
"Yes, certainly /; let's give her a
chance"
"Au right One for Ninette.
And now"
"That's for the boy" said Judge
j., quietly, as he laid twenty
dollars On the table.
sc jod /! bravo bravo cried the