Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-05-19
THE FATAL CARD.

river was noted for its FLOATING
palaces" as the larger steamers
plying between New Orleans and
the ports above were called. Now
the railways have nearly driven al
the fine boats off the river, and left
the field to the freight boats,
whose accommodations for passen-
gers 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 timid people, for if the racing
which was reduced to a system, did
not result in the loss Of the boat,
there was sure to be one or
more encounters between the law
less portion of the travellers, in
which pistol-bullets would fly
rather thick for the comfort of
steady-going people. The cause
of such disturbances was general
" a cause over the gambling-table.
The regulations of the boats US
ually required that all such amuse-
ments should be conducted in a
saloon provided for the purpose
in the "Texas" or officers cabin,
situated on the hurricane deck I;
but the sporting gentry were by
no means careful to obey this
rule, aud the gaming was most
commonly carried on on the dining
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,
travelling back and forth with them
and fleeing all who were verdant
enough 70 fall into their clutches.
So well, indeed, was this system
managed that the various members
of the "craft" seemed to have their
different steamers marked out for
them by common consent, so that
no one would trespass on the do
main 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 a quarrel with
them, for in those days it was 0
common affair for such men to re.
sent any fancied affront with Q
pistol shot.
One of the most remarkable men
of their class was named Daniel
Sturdivant, a Frenchman, the son
of broken down scion Of nobility
who had settled in New Orleans
before the transfer Of Louisiana Il
the United States. Sturdivant hat
been raised as a gentleman" by
his aristocratic father, but upor
coming of age, and finding his for
tune very bad, had taken to card
as means of lettering them.
His success in this field was 81
great that he was induced to con
time IL, until AT the time of which
/ write be was one of the mos
notorious gamblers between 81
Louis and New Orleans. He wa
forty-6ve years old, but had KEEP
himself so well that he locke,
much younger. He was man q
fine personal appearance and G
great physical strength. He wa
also noted for his personal courage
As a gambler he was most exper
and successful.
There were dark stories Of deed
be had committed while under tn
influence Of play and liquor, and
was said by some that he had kill
ed half dozen men in his lifetime
Yet no one cared to speak thes
stories openly, for no one cared t
bring upon himself the anger {
such man. There were few VIII
knew him who really cared to pla
against him, but they feared a re
fusal to do so might involve thei
10 q quarrel with him, and rarel
declined bis invitations.
About fifteen years ago, the tim
of which ] write, he hal attache
himself to one of the magnificier
steamers plying between New o
leans and yicksburg, and bad pull
licly announced his determinatio
to shoot any man who attempte
to enroach upon his scene Of opc
atoms. OF course this left hi
in undisputed possession Of u
field, and he reaped golden ha
vest from IL during the one bril-