Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-02-29
A RATTLE FOR FREEDOM.

The subjoined account of an incident
alleged to have occurred on q Mississippi
steamboat short time before the war is
from German sketch of American travel.
assembled the Mississippi, says the writer,
on a steamer, on board of which were
Judge J-and General K, of Pennsvl-
vania, with both of whom | was slightly
acquainted. ga hard set, these Natchez
men, said the captain, who met us on
the cabin stairs. ''Theres some of them
down in the saloon playing a high game.
How men can be such fools could never
see" "Let's go down and look on
awhile, " suggested the judge. In the
saloon we found four men seated at
table, around which a crowd of specta
tors were gathered. The four were the
"heavy players" The game was ''poker,n
and the money changed hands rapidly.
We had not been looking on long, when
one of the players, middle aged man,
who, | learned, was cotton planter, bet
his last dollar against the hand of one of
his antagonists The latter showed four
kings, while he had only four queens.
He was Cleaned out, and rose as though
he were goiag to leave the table. care
you broke, colonel?n asked one of the
men. "Deadln was the laconic reply.
"Never mind; I'll lend YOU" "No:
can make raise, Ireckon. Here, Pomp!"
"Here, Nasal" responded an old negro,
as he emerged from one corner of the sa-
loon. Bring that girl and her youngster
here that bought in Natchez. Wait
few minutes, gentlemen, I'll raise some
money" The old negro went on his er-
rand, and soon returned with the 'girl
and her youngster." " The Hgirl' proved to
be stately mulatto woman, about thirty
five years old. Her "youngster" was
a fine, intelligent-looking boy, eleven or
twelve years old, whose complexion
showed him to be much more nearly
allied to the white race than the black.
'Here, gentlemen" said the planter, as
they entered; "You see this girl and her
boy-two as fine niggers as you can find
anywhere. | paid eight hundred dollars
for them yesterday in Natchez. Who
will give me six hundred for them?"
"Will you sell them separator asked
some one. "No, can't do it; promised
not to. The girl swears she'll take her
life if she's separated from her boy, and
her old master said that he was sure she'd
keep her word. But don't you all see
that the girl is worth more money than
/ ask for both of them2 Come, who'll
give me six hundred for botha" The
planter waited for reply, and then said :
"Well, | must have some money. Come,
what say you to raffle-thirty chances,
at twenty dollars chance2 Out with
your cash, gentlemen. The first on the
list has the first throw n This propo-
sition created a decided stir among all
present. The three players at the table
led off by taking three chances each.
Their example was followed by the
spectators, and twenty chances were
taken as rapidly as the planter could
write down the names and take the
money Then there was slight pause.
The planter himself now took two
chances, and he was followed by his
three fellow-players, who each took one
chance more. Finally, three more
chances were taken by the spectators,
when the planter cried out, 1.-TWO chances
still, gentlemen2 Who will have them2
General K whispered something in
Judge J-'s ear, and then went to the
table and laid two ten-dollar gold pieces
on it. "Name, sir, please" ''Never
mind the name. Put it down for the
woman" ''Eh--what! for the girl her
self" eyes, certainly, let's give her q
chance" "All right One for Ninette.
And now z"That's for the boy. said