Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-07-09
Erom..Bawcd Dick.

| along the river from st. Louis to New
Orleans. He was, in my opinion, the
greatest gambler that ever lived.
"In the matter Of money won and lost
the greatest gamblers of the present day
/ would be mere 'tin horns compared
with him. He always carried a large
sum of money with him, sufficient to
down any opponent in the terrible no.
limit game. He would generally bide
his time, select his game, and in few
hours he would be richer by several
thousand dollars, with may be a planta-
| ton or bunch of slaves to boot.
cone day took passage for New
Orleans just after Vicksburg had fallen.
At Cairo, Thompson came aboard, and
being old friends, we had little bottle
Of wine together, although he rarely
/ drank.
GLOW are chances?' he asked, look
ing critically ut the passengers.
81 hadn't played any, SO | couldn't
! tell him, but noticed that he singled
/ out IA pale, well-dressed young man who
| looked as if ho might be the son of Il
well to-do merchant or planter. That
night as | went into the cabin after en-
joying a cigar on deck, Thompson and
the young fellow were playing.
81 stopped and watched the play. 1t
was not heavy by any means, and for
an hour l hardly think $500 changed
hands. At last Thompson opened jack
pot with 500 and the young man stay
cd. sat behind him and saw that he
didn't have even a small pair.
81 was surprised, and perhaps eX.
pressed my feelings in my face, for Dick
looked ut me and smiled. Each drew
two cards, and the young man caught
nothing. The first bet was $500, and |
saw that Dicks victim meant to carry
his bluff to the end, which was certain
ruin, for Thompson never carried less
than $4,000 to 100000 in cold cash
with him.
''Raise after raise was made with be-
wildering rapidity, until the table was
covered with money. A crowd had
gathered, but neither of the players no.
ticcd it.
Both sat with set faces, hauling out
money and making their bets in low,
suppressed voices. Finally Thompson
exclaimed: Il see your $4,000 and go
you $780, 900 better 4 hush fell upon
the crowd looked at the young man
aud felt great pity yelling up for
him. III sat there is if stupefied, his
face white and pinched as from cold
while the muscles of his jaw worked
spasmodically.
"'Well, said Thompson, 'can you see
me, or do take the money!
"The victim gasped once or twice, but
said nothing until his cruel opponent
reached for the huge stack OF money.
Then he said, as if in great pain, Hold
on minute until | go to my ROOM
/ Thompson and l both looked at each
! other.
"'Stand by, Bill, with n pistol he
whispered, If lie comes back with Il
weapon
"Thc weapons that the victim brought
back in less than a minute were two
large vaises, nearly as big AS small
franks. Trembling so that he could
hardly lift them lie sat one after the
other upon the table. We all thought
he was crazy, but he wasn't. Looking
steadily at Thompson he said in clear
voice:
81 see your 100000 and raise you
100000
"Thompson's face was stuly. 1t
WAS his turn to get pale, but he braced
up with a sneering laugh and said. in
an insulting manner:
:" You lie: no man ever carried such
sum-
Gentlemen y exclaimed the young
man, open the valises aud count the
contents. You will find them 500 900
over $1,000 900
at was true. Thompson arose with
ont word, walked TO the bar and took
n drink, and sauntered out on deck. An
instant after there was loud report
and woman's scream forward. Just
outside the cabin door we found Iron
Jawed Dick lying with the brains ooz-
ing from a hole in his temple, and 4 red
stream flowing over the white dress Of u
woman who was holding him aad was
supposed to have teen his mistress. He
was left at Memphis.
Next day" said the old sport in
conclusion, Il was sitting near the
guards, when the pale young man saun-
tered up and dropped into a chair. I'm
able to restrain my curiosity, asked
him how he came to travel with such an
enormous sum of money.
{" Oh, that is easily explained he
said smilingly. Il am a paymaster in
the army and am carrying the pay for
the army around yicksburg. / had two
more valses back in my state.room If
they had been needed"
!