Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-05

which are not traceable to any good
foundation, like this, but here is one
he delighted in telling, and for which
he youched for the truth:
~ was always an ardent race-coarse
better, and followed the Kentucky
stables for many a season. My last
racing was the season McGrath's great
horse Tom Bowling broke down. was
breaking up myself then. We were in
Saratoga, and Barron, the negro min
strel singer, came into Morfissy's club
house one night with party, and some
body proposed that he give us a song.
John Matthews, the actor, was with
him, and urged Barron to go'ahead. he
acceded and sat down to thelpiano. The
boys turned round from them game, and
then Barron, striking few ci lords, with
out further prelude, struck up:
Here sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bow
ling,
The darling Of our crew.
"He sang it through with seeling and
expression and I looked down on my
cards, and by Jove, there was tear
right on the ace. Just then in burst
McGrath. He caught Barron by the
hand and pressed it fervently, trying to
say thank YOU but he couldn't. All
he could calculate as he wentout Of the
door with his eyes full of fears was,
two baskets of wine.' 1t was not until
we were well into the second basket
that we lost our impression of the most
pathetic scene-one that moved more
sporting mems hearts to pity than l
ever witnessed in gambling house."
| All relations concurred that. the great
steamboat race between the r. E. Lee
and Natchez from New Orleans to st.
Louis broke old John Watts heart, de-
pleted his purse and even uneettled his
mind. He stakcd every dollar he had,
some twenty thousand dolldrs, on the
Natchez and lost it. He took state.
room on board his favorite to make the
trip and see the race, but he never occu'
pied it. Night and day for five days
!. and odd hours tho race lasted he
4 stood on the upper deck leaning on thu
rail. lust where he wanted The cham
, pion trophy placed when tha Lee hat
, shown that she was only the secont
best boat on the river, watching tht
contest of Leviathans. When the Nat
chez fell back and the Lee swept by ant
passed on SO far ahead that there wa
no longer any hope, and old John, TO
he had come to be known as old, stamp
ed, raved andswore, and finally rushed
down to the bar and took the first drinl
of liquor that had ever passed his lips
: He paid up his losses and came East ant
took up racing as a betting event. Il
his early life he married young Obi
!. girl, whose heart it is said, was broke
when she discovered his vocation. Sh
did shortly afterwards, leaving him on
son, whose. education was carefully care
. for. The schools of Europe contribute
to his learning, and the old man stoppe
. no expense in advancing his sons welfar
and position. The boy was not migrate
full, for when age and adVersity ha
brought the old gambler to the thresl
hold of want, his son came forward an
= cared for him lovingly and tenderl.
For nearly a year the old maa has bee
e in Philadelphia receiving .treatmer
from a great specialist in nervous affe'
tions. The old gambler preserved ii
. the day Of his death the pack of card
with which he learned to play poke
and all-fours. They were worn an
dirty, but he would have no others, an
~ it was with many game Of solitail
y with these old cards the paralytic ol
, gambler solaced the last days Of b
:. life. He was "a years of age, and |
y used to say he was the first white chi
=, born west of the Mississippi.