Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-07-09
HIS LAST HAND.
DEATH or AN OLD RIVER GAMBLER.
A Little of the Exciting History Of John
Matts. who Use to Travel on the Mis-
sissippi River Steamboats, In Ante
Belium Days, Playing Poker
From New Orleans TO
louisville

ueIIum DAYS PLAYING Poker
From New Orleans to
Louis'h'e.
rLo phl.aolnhia Ty.,ss oe n recent
a. Ia,o;is =, no,ad ohar.
aa.e, a "us ~ Wv 49,
"'se oid 1ohn s Watts was n gambler bv
no,,ro @ Wa wonld bet on evorvtbing
nad % M h,nad.w lima Io,h when he |
a d;od - h;s I;,;ls room an Tenth street |
u,oN .ho ,na, ~ A,s ,.a,.ds ID ho ut,srod ware al
Ia, a ,a' . ! ,,o, walI There ware no |
takers for bis son. a respected and |
able physician practicing in New Jersey |
stood by his bedside and watched over
the dying man only to alleviate the
pains of DEATH not with any hope OF
saving life. They carried Watts out
to Mount Morlah yesterday, and the
humble little funeral cortege that paid
the last token of respect to the gam
blers memory passed out OF the gate
of the cemetery as the long line OF
mourners that came to bury Major
Mcguire filed in ostentatious hundreds
up the road from the railroad station.
Watts was not known much in Phila-
delphia, but more than score Of years
ago his face was much seen on the
Western river steamboats,, and his
name was as well known as any mans
in the Mississippi Valley. he was the
typical river gambler. Elegant of ad.
dress, unexctable, calculating, skilled
at cards and willing to bet on anything
in the world, he lacked nothing that
could distinguish him in his calling.
RIVER GAMBLER.
TT. nae ono &c ,ho man who traveled
n1 "ao oa o"S w;a.;as;nr; Il, ts n ante beIlum
Ja,s Ja ."o uIen hen tho sn,;re long cabins Of
WuaS WS ., 49, "nsn Wv 'nora ivan nm 40 card
,,S eno ssealne ,an,.n. ho;ra M ,he;r aame I and
ipa E .I s,aLes ,housands n was in those
sno s'"as aIs IL a;a,nl ond how;o Ln;sa
ca,ne in as referee in discussions over
the game, but that occurred only when
somebody did a mean thing with an
ace or filled q pair by stealing card,
or doing some such little pleasantly in
n way SO shameiully bold and unskill-
full that detection could not help but
ensue. Watts would not do that, it is
salu, no p.ayeu pt. M Thot ,hose enconn.
ters were not Of unfrequent occurrence
with him two bullet holes in his cheek,
others in his body and knife wounds
~ nraater or less dimension all over
him gave testimony. For many years
he travelled on the New Orleans, st.
Louis and Louisville line of boats. His
popularity of travelling was that he
always made the full trip; for instance,
if bound for st. Louis on one steamer,
if there was no play, or If luck went
against him he would not drop off at
Memphis, Vicksburg or Cairo and try
a new Law. He was always the best
dressed man on the river.
corurs puou REGENT STREET.
ia. ;,,.., no. rnos,a,tations and
, | ,II"e ,ha ,a,sst fasb;on,f He
n's ''v.neo ~ .n.o -, W. =, poil,s IN I,ondon.
) nad nad ,ha, ,v V Psasnt street artist supplied
anu a; ''1' siI ta;lor in Nav Orleans
MIN MN, so1;o;,ed a S@S Watts for an order and
f ;mUor,nnaS U,'Vs rv him 40 that he finally gave
~ !. nPVu W. yss ,rora - the clothes for some
~ "As's ,,'"S i'll a,noh ~ and !, terms n,
'S .lnI ana ano;s" .a ns ,har hrt refnsed 10 nav
{ nlsn p,"'.o IN, So, - ' nrassnted Rv ihis
i .n .no IN H. Tn sannd b;msels a defendant In
0 : 'sa' sa;, as S' law [ h,t setting mn the ples
, a. sun ~ ~ nnnaasosnd;ng NV 0a 10 wear IN,
5 ia,L.n shai -, ha vandsred ,he tailor full value
n t,o'aSI S'o add;nr 20 The reputation of tn,
Q W au hrs w Won his case Although
,Iaa. Wa,,s nros,,ssed =. s 10 be a man Of homo
s "a.'S a,,S P'oI' ~ : ,ambler--he was by n,
s -,aaus ~ The very hest of morals, anc
o he did not object to take advtantag,
g of his fellow-man in this way. TO
Q instance With his friend and accom-
r plice he would board the boat at Louis
y vile, and scanning the passenger list
+ pick out for his victims some old card
1 players Of wealth With whom he wa
o personally acquainted. 10 these pee
a. pie he would go very quietly and sal
% Of his own accomplice; "There is
Y, man who plays high, and we can 6ea
a him you join with me and wen a
es it." The victim agrees, the party
fe made up, but Watts always succeeue
is in regulating success the wrong wa
m for his victim, and thus the wonld'o
m bitter was often bitten.
N $4,000 AND A LIFE.
g Ono time he was accused of swim,
le d,;n@ IN that way the charge bein
as made I in the heat of play BY ma
a. from @ whom Watts accompIice had jul
y, =, won slO 600. SIS that your opinion
:. bc quietly asked. "Yes, sir that