The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-10-21
Gamblers Career,
.eadYiIle sunday Herald.

bSaufAliO 5hhuaJ AIlalA'
Walking slowly up Larimer street,
yesterday morning, leaning on the arm
of his friend, was Dick Hargraves, a
gambler whose name and reputation
has been well known to the citizens of
Chicago, Cincinnati and ST. Louis for
some years-a tall, finely formed, ele-
gantly dressed man, with light blue
eyes and pale, grave face, on which
may still be seen the remnants of o
strongly marked individuality. Late
hours and dissipation have evidently
brought the once elegant Dick down
TO a mere wreck of his former self, and
it was plainly to be seen by the pass
ers-by that his ancient vigor has de-
parted, and despite the invigorating
atmosphere Of Colorado his life is near
ly ended.
He was accompanied by his friend
Red Jack, who is a person of similar
ilk, but of more common kind, who
supported him with all the tenderness
of woman. HargraVes is an English
man, about forty-five years old, aud
came to this country when only sixteen
years of age, landing at New Orleans.
lowed the Mississippi river for num-
ber of years. He soon became skillful
at cards and was accounted the best
short card player that ever sat down to
table. His first big winning was from
Louisiana planter named DupuY,
$50, 900 coming into his possession by
that transaction, and ever after that
luck seemed TO come his way Every
thing he touched turned to gold, and
at one time he was reported worth over
two millions, He lived high, sported
diamonds, was the faYorite of women,
but his word was as good as his bond,
and he was liked by everybody,
A little Spanish woman, the wife OF
an old New Orleans banker named
Arroyes, became fascinated with hand
some Dick; and the upshot Of the mat
ter was that the old man challenged
Dick to fight duel, and was killed for
his pains. Bill Yedal, brother Of Mrs.
Arroyes, then sent Dick word that he
would kill him on sight. They met ut
Natchez under the hill. and Bill fell
mortally wounded This last occur
renee seemed to cure Mrs. Arroyes Of
her mad infatuation for Hargrayes, for
she idollzed her brother, and when she
next met him she plunged dagger in
to his breast, and thinking she had
killed him, took dose of poison and
Joined her husband and brother. Dick
recovered in time, and during FIRE.
one night at Mobile, Alabama, OF the
risk Of his own life rescued little girl
from the flames and atterWard married
her. She was of good family and has
done great deal to sober Dick down.
bnt his is a restless spirit that chafes
at restraint, and nothing will still him
but death.
When the Cubans revoIted against
Spain Dick was ONE Of the FIRST to
esponse The cause of +" the gemsof the
Antilles" !" and for two years he TONIGHT
for Cuban supremacy. he was captllfed
and confined in Castle Nero, and SEN
tencei to be sho,. The night before
the day set for his execution he. IN
company With three Americans and
two Cubans, escaped from their dun
geon by picking the lead from around
the end IF bar of iron ihnt formed
one of he gratings Of fheir cell The
only thing ihs men had 10 work with
was The tine of d steel fork. which VAS
found In the seeli. Alter their escape
they went to Haya, and from PoTt-Gn-
Prince went to VI. Augustine Florida