The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-01-16
THE FATAL CARD.


THE FATAL CARD.
Some years ago the Mississippi riv-
or 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 accommodations for pas
sepgers are by no means palatial. The
former class of steamers were in many
respects delightful, but they never
ceased to be objects of dread to tlmid
people, for if the racing, which was re-
duced to q system, did not result in
the. loss of the boat, there was sure to
be one or more encounters between
the lawless portion of the travelers,in
which pistol-bullets would fly rather
thick for the comfort of steady-going
people. The cause of such disturb
ances was generally cause over the
gambling-table. The regulations of
the boat usually required that all such
amusements should be conducted in q
saloon provided for the purpose in the
sTexas' or officers cabin, situated on
the hurricane deck; but the sporting
gentry were by no means careful to
obey this rule, and the gaming was
most commonly carried on on the di-
ming tables, in the main saloon of the
steamer, to the great annoyance Of
two-thirds of those on board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats their home, travel
ing back and forth with them and
fleeing all who were verdant or fool
ish enough to fall into their clutches.
So well, indeed, was this system man
aged that the various members of the
scraft seemed to have their different
steamers marked out for them by COM
mon consent, so that 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,
for in those days it was a common af.
fair for such men to resent any fancied
af1ront with a pistol shot.
One of the most remarkable men of
+ their class was named Daniel Sturdi-
want, q Frenchman, the SON of bro
sken-down scion of nobility, who had
settled in New Orleans before the
transfer of Louisiana to the United
States. Sturdivant had been raised
As q gentleman by his aristocratic
father, but upon coming of age, and
finding his fortunes very bad, had ia
ken to cards as q means of betterlng
them.
- His suecess in this field was SO great
that he was indnced to continue it,
until at the time of which 1 write he
was one of the most notorious gam
blers between st. Louis and New Or
leans. He was forty-fve years old,
but had kept himself SO well 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
cessfui.
There were dark stories of deeds he
had committed while under the influ-
ence of play and liquor, and it was
said by some that he had killed half q
dozen men in his lifetime. Yetno
one cared to speak these stores open.
ly, for no one cared to bring upon
himself the anger of such q man.
There were few who knew him who
really cared to play against him, but
they feared refusal to do so might in.
volve them in a quarrel with him, and
rarely declined his invitations. '
About fifteen years agO, the time o.
which write, he had attached himself
to one of the magnificent steamers ply
ing between New Orleans and Vicks
burg, and had publicly announced his
determination to shoot any man who
attempted to encroach upon his scene
of operations. OF course this left hin
in undisputed possession of the field
and he reaped golden harvest from
it during the one brief year that ht
conducted his operations there.
1t was my lot at that time to be com
PEELED to make frequent trips betweeE
New Orleans and Vicksburg, being
, heavily engaged in cotton specula
tions. 1 preferred the steamer OF
vhichSturdiyanthad had taken possession
inasmuch as it was not only the most
I comfortable, but also the swiftest, and
time was of importance TO me. 1,
Vas known that 1 carried large sums
of money with me. and 1 was always
apprehensive lest Sturdivant should
ask me to play. had fully made up
NV mind to refuse him, and if he at.
tsmpted to draw me into a quarrel tc
shoot him without mercy, as knew
that the only chance for my life lay in
getting the advantage Of him. Strange
to say, he did not make any such
proposition to me, and Igave him nc
chance to do so. inll 1li5 500,
One night we had started out from
Vicksburg and were heading merrily
down the river, when Sturdivant
came up to the group which had gath