The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-16
Vancouver Independent.
OPTICAL PAPER OF CIrY AND COUNTY.
Vancouver. Clarke County, Washington
Territory.
A Famous Game.

In0 river, 1mmeuldleiy DcloEc tuc
war;" the speaker continued, was a
great gambling house. The splendid
steamers plying between New Orleans
and the north were loaded with men
whose interest was deep in games OF
chance. The planters were the most
reckless gamesters. They seldom had
any ready money, but would lose their
live stock and niggers with equanimity.
I went down on the Belle Key, in 1859,
from Memphis to New Orleans. At
Natchez great planter got aboard with
fifty slaves. He Clipped into game
with porthern judge, New York mer-
chant and an army officer. The stakes
mounted up to fine proportiens-some-
thing like Sc, 900 in one pot--wLen
saw the Judge win. He held the best
hands, and, before we reached the Cres-
cent City, owned forty of the planters
niggers, valued at from $1,000 to $1,000
each.
But by all odds the most interesting
game ever saw was played on the Belle
Lamar, in 1857. There we're circum-
stances connected with it which made it
an all absorbing event to the people who
understood what it really meant. The
players were two only. They are both
dead, and probably all their descendants
have followed them to the grave, so l
mention their names and tell You about
the train of events which led to that
game and its attendant tragedy. In 1856
there lived in small town in Kentucky
q beautiful girl named Alice Crayton.
She had a number of suitors, but only
two seemed to meet with passing favor
in her eyes. One was rich young
planter named Horace Ellison and the
other a young lawyer, recently from the
north. named Converse. Ellison had
the advantage of his rival in looks and
accomplishments. He had travelled
extensively, was we'll read, polished,
and bore the reputation of being q
daredevil in affairs of gallantry, and
Was said to be not over upright and hon
orable in his affairs with women. He
Vas the sort of Q man to attract most
girls. But Miss CraytOn preferred q
plain young fellow, and finally married
him. Ellison, after swearing to be re.
venged, went abroad. In the course of
year Converse and wife went to New Or
leans to live. Two years after the mar
riage, Converse, retu' ming home on the
Belle Lamar, after business trip north.
discovered his old rival, Ellison, among
the passengers. All feelings of resent
ment had died out in his heart, and he
greeted Ellison heartily, the latter re-
turning his hand shake with we'll simu-
lated warmth. For day the two men
chatted together agreeably, to all ap-
pearance good friends. The next even
ing Ellison proposed little draw to
while away the monOtony of the voyage.
Converse readily assenIed, and they
started the game in q large stateroom.
Four or five others we're present, but
they didn't join it. At first the ante was
triAing. As Converse steadily lost, he
insisted on raising it with each deal, and
began drinking, q rare thing for him to
do. His i'll .fortune continued, and after
Q seance of two hours he began to Dor
row money from his friends in the room,
having lost all his own to Ellison. The
seldom spoke, and then in cutting ac'
cents, which added to the fast growing
enmity his opponent felt toward him.
Perhaps if Mr.. Converse would finger
his glass less and his cards more, his
game would be more interesting and
less easy to beat Ellison remarked.
Mr.. Converse can take care of himself
under all circumstance Converse re-
torted.
Yes, he demonstrated his faculty fol
looking after his own interest two years
ago, when he won . great stake, and moi
by fair play
I saw Converse's face flush. He IN
derstood the allusion to the old rivalry
betwes him and Ellison and its cover
insinuation. he started as though Il
ssy something. but stopped. The game
won't on and soon after Converse hsG
lost every penny and his watch and dia
mond pin.
Ellison laughed sneeringly. Mr.
Converse should apply his methods il
love-making to card playing he said.
What do you mean, sir?'
What you please. Shall We continu
the gamer
Converse was white with fury. Tn
gam bling spirit, mingled with hate an,
rage, was upon him. Al il TO answer hi
unspoken thoughts. Ellison said, in hi
cold, exasperating tones: You lack
stake. I will hazard all my winning
against the nightkey Of your house. W
vii play three hands in i've for it,
This monstrous proposition struck n
al dumb. Converse bounded from hi
chair and gasped. He was speechless
In fact, the emotions Of this great expert
eEce had deprived him of the rover @
words. Ellison alone was unmoved. II
L.. III Il L.