Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-01-10
nanth TnoE q Hand.

Perhaps the most soul-haTFoWing seeEs
that ever took place at gambling table
transpired at a public house in Port au-
Prince some years ago. Several parties
were waiting about the room for the
anne to commence. Among the crowd
Of loiterers was a Captain st. Every, a
noted gamester, deadly duellist and well
known man of pluck.
Some one spoke up, who'll play ?"
Il will play" said the captain of
French frigale which had Just arrived in
harbor, and, seizing the dicebOx, threw
10 win or lose the amount of q small
sum of money that then lay on the table.
He was ignorant of the stake to be
played.
Monsieur Commandant, you have
Won," said Captain st. Every, pushing
towards him several piles of gold.
Astounded at the sight of so much
wealth the Captain said: Gentlemen.
should be wanting not only in common
honesty but even in good manners were
to appropriate the sums the winning
of which l never expected in the least
degree, for / thought was playing for a
trifiing stake lying on the table. I can
not, therefore, take the enormous sum as
my own right"
"Sir," said Captain St. Every, "you
must take it, for if you would have lost
you would have been obliged to pay the
same sum-"
"You are mistaken, sir, if you think
so. do not conceive my honor endan-
gered in reference to paying debt Of
honor which l never contracted, nor in
refusing to accept of so large a sum
which never expected to win"
Monsieur le Commandant," shrieked
Captain st. Every, raising his voice to
the highest pitch, "if you had lost you
should have paid. would have made
you do So"
This was FIRE to the gunpowder, in
tended to provoke a challenge, and it
accomplished its purpose. "Sir," said
Captain st. Every, Il don't wish to take
any advantage of you, which my acknowl-
edged ability in the use of the sword and
pistol gives me, so l offer you terms Of
equality.
"Bring q pistol here at once, load it,
and the chance of the dice shall determ-
inc which shall blow each others brains
out"
"Agreed," said the nothing daunted
frigate commandant.
A shock of horror ran through the
veins of the assembled crowd at the bar
barity of the bloOd-curdling affair. Some
shrank from the room; others more
hardened il sights of horror, crowded
near the galning-tablr, perfectly cogni-
zant of the desperate character of st.
Every, and inwardly lauding the bravery
Of the unknown.
Each party examined the pistols. The
naval captain first threw the fatal dice.
He threw eleven.
ga good throw" said St. Every, hold
ing for moment his own; "the chances
are now in your favor, but listen. If it
turns out as it appears to ME it will, that
fortune favors. you and not me, wish
neither mercy nor pity, as should think
either a coward who would spare the
other"
"Sir, need your impertinent remon-
strances to back me neither now nor at
any other time" replied the command
ant.
St. Every took the box and threw ff-
teen.
The company were paralyzed with
horror.
NJ. le Commandant arose. "Your life
belongs to me sir" said st. Every, throw
ing down the dice on the table.
"Fire, sir" said the commandant,
placing his hand on his heart, "an hon
est man is never afraid to-
St. Every's ball scattered the brains
and blood of the unlucky commandant
over the clothes and person of the by
standers, as his lifeless body fell to the
salon floor.
st. Every deserted to the English, and
soon after fell mortally wounded at the
battle of Irois as the English were car
rying the day.