The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-09
THE FATE OF FIFTY GAMBLERS.


cue 81 tlchsDurS from CuC-tnrOdts'
1t is because l was in Vicksburg when
the event which l am about to describe
occurred that am able to give the ex-
act facts of what was the most exciting
epoch in the history of that city up to
the war. This occurrence, l believe,
has never been described-at least
have never seen it-and it furnishes per-
haps better than anything else an idea
of the state of society as it existed at that
period in the wild Southwest. On the
Fourth of July, 1885, there was grand
celebration in honor of the national hol-
iday. The town was gayly decorated,
were evidences on every hand that the
day was one of general rejoicing. A
barbecue-a favorite feature of the
Fourth of July celebrations in the South
was the event of the day, and to this
everybody was invited. For the time
the utmost good feeling reigned. Even
the vengeance sworn against the gam
blers was forgotten, or, if not forgotten,
at least suspended. Eminent speakers
had been invited from other States, and
among those there on that day
were Alexander McClung, of Kentucky,
with Foote and Prentiss and others
equally well-known in that day, if not so
well remembered in this. One table, had
been reserved for invited guests and the
other eminent persons present, and at
this we're seated some thirty-fve or forty
men. In such mixed assemblage as
the barbecue attracted there was not
unnaturally large number of gamblers
professional gamblers-of whom it
was estimated there were not less than
$50 in the city at the time. These gam
blers had their headquarters in a colony
of their own, or rather in three houses,
known as the "Kangaroos, Nos. l, 2
and 81 With them were associated
the most abandoned wretches of both
sexes to be found in the whole South
west. Some of the notorious among
these gamblers were known in every
State along the Mississippi, among them
being George Blackburn, Frank Cabler,
Bill Esken, Alexander Mccoy, jim
Hood and Tom Carr. The military had
turned out and were under arms as part
of the attractions of the day. While the
speech-making was going on the gam
bier Blackburn, who was present in
company with Cabler, his partner, both
being seated at table apart from
the speakers, began an interruption,
Blackburn remarking that he was go
ing to have some fun, if he cleaned out
the whole table" Somebody shouted
to blackburn to sit down and not cause
a disturbance. 1t was no use. He was
bound, he said, to start the fun, and, so
saying, he jumped on the table.
THE FUN STARTED IN EARNEST.
AS he did so several of the soldiers
jumped from the table where they were
sitting and demanded that he sit down.
Blackburn refused and defied them.
Presenting their guns, the soldiers jam
med them against Blackburn and pushed
him off the table. He struggled fiercely,
but was finally Overpowered and cut in
the struggle. Cabler, who attempted
to assist him, was also mastered. Both
men, bleeding. but still defiant, were
then bound, a canoe was got, and they
We're placed in it and pushed from the
shore. In another moment they were
floating down the Mississippi, being
rescued by their fellows some half mile
below. The gamblers were furious and
threatened revenge, making no secret of
the threat that they would burn the
town down during the night. The bar
becue broke up. 1t was known, every
body felt, that the gamblers meant bust.
ness and that the lives and property of
all respectable people were in the most
imminent danger when night came.
Nobody thought of anything but safety,
and the widest excitement prevailed.
Citizens everywhere were seen arming
themselves to await the struggle that all
felt was at hand. In the midst of all
the commotion, however, there were
some people who did not lose their
heads. One of these was DR.. William
Bodley, of Kentucky. He quietly Sc
lected a number of men, formed them
into a vigilance committee and placed
himself at their head. This done, the
vigilance committee assumed the often
sive and sent word to the gamblers that
they only had five hours to leave Vicks-
burg or -! Many of them did so.
But in the meantime five gamblers were
not idle. They were North, Helms,
Dutch Bill Haines, John A. Murrell and
duobuOi hah WhOSO haitiO nave lOLSOb-
ten. These men had gathered at North's
gambling rooms, near the river. Here
they barricaded themselves, and at the
command to leave, swore that they
would not move and would kill any man
who interfered with them. DR.. Bodley,
hearing of this, went down to North's
place, as he said, to make one last effort
to convince them of the folly of resisting
the people. He made his last effort
he had hardly got within speaking dis
lance when shot from one of the gam
blers was fired and DR.. Bodley fell dead
in his tracks. He never breathed again
The result may be imagined. The
peace-loving citizens, who but an houl
before were simply bent on self-protec
ton, were transformed for the time int
blood-thirsty mob, and reckless O
danger they charged on the house, ant
breaking down the barricades captured
the five gamblers.
TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION.
The Kangaroos" were separatet
from the city by a bayou, which wa
crossed by q wooden structure know
by the suggestive name of the "Bridg
of Signs" Across this the now frenzie,
people hurried the captive gamblers
On the other side trees were selected
and in less than an hour after the muir
der of DR.. Bodley the five gambler