Wichita daily eagle., 1886-04-17
A GAMBLING INCIDENT
ILLUSTRATIVE OF ACTUAL LIFE IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF CALIFORNIA.

ILLUSTRATIVE OF ACTUAL LIFE IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF CALIFORNIA.
Pre6sssaonals ss Work in . Steamboat
Cabin-A Quiet Gams Of Euchrs-Big
Stakes Risked on . Single Throw Of
the Diee-Caught Cheating.
Il was in the winter OF 1850 that the writer
made the acquaintance Of young merchant
| of San Francisco, who had been up in the
mines to settle up some accounts with certain
Ladingpo keepers he was on his way
back to San Francisco, carrying with him .
large amount Of gold dust, which he bad col
iected for the firm Of which be was the junior
member After having selected our state
room in the steamer Senator and seen to the
afety Of our baggage we took stroll on
deck and through the cabins. We found our
selves in company with number Of gamblers
who had drifted from the eastern cities TO the
golden state, which was at that time the
Mecca for all such characters. They had
been plucking the miners, and were now
bound to San Francisco with full purses
As soon as We were under way the imple-
uents OF their trade were brought forth.
Faro, rouge G: noir, and various other games
were exhibited 10 tempt the unwary to risk
their money. At first, many of the gentle
men on board objected to having the cabin
klrned into gambling hell, but the profes-
sionals loudly protested that they played only
On the square, and furthermore declared that
should any Of their number be detected cheat
Ing the stakes should be forfeited, and he be
put on shore. After this no more was said,
and the numerous games went On without in
terruption.
For some time the young merchant firmly
declined all invitations to try his luck.' But
after the supper table had been cleared,
yielding, as he afterward told me, to q
natural love for the excitement Of play, he
consented to make one OF party Of four who
were about TO sit down to a game OF cards
for small stakes, lust to pass away the time"
The players took their seats; the cards were
iealt, and tie game began For while my
interest in the fortune Of the merchant in
iuced me to remain at his side and watch the
the chances Of the game; but as the sums
k1ked were bu: small, and the parties seemed
evenly matched in point of skill, soon tired
of such uninteresting employment and re-
tired to a distant par Of the cabin to anuse
myself with book-in the contents of which
almost Immediately became absorbed.
RIsKISG THE LARGEST STAKES
read on for some time, probably for an
hour; but while pausing to cut the leaves the
book was a new one) became conscious that
an unusual stiffness pervaded the room
There was no longer to be heard the rattle Of
dice, tine sharp click of the ivory faro checks,
or the subdued murmur Of the players Rails
iv,yv tf bar eou1d ha tbe ~
this unusual silence, saw that all the sbanksr
had been deserted and the players were stand
ing motionless round the table at which had
left Harris and his companions engaged at
suchre.
Wondering what could induce men who
were accustomed TO risk the largest stakes ON
the turn Of . card to take such an interest in
80 small a game, threw down my book, and,
approaching the party, soon made my way
close up to the table / saw at once that q
great change had taken place since had been
looker-on- The stakes were largely in
creased, and two of the party, either unable
Or too timid to risk such large amounts, had
withdrawn from the table. Harris and one
Of the gamblers, however, still retained their
ssats and with eager faces and shaking hands
shufiled and dealt the cards. Fortune seemed
to favor Harris, for jus. as l reached the spot
he marked the last spot in closely contested
game, while the professional, with a fierce
oath, dashed down the cards and challenged
him to give him his revenge with dice, to
which proposition, after . moments hesita-
bon, Harris assented.
The dice and cups were procured and the
excited gamesters again bet their money, but
no longer with the same result. Harris good
luck seemed to have deserted him, and his an
tagonist won stake after stake. Harris
seemed now wild with excitement He doubled
avery time until at last no less than $40 900
lay upon the table to be won or lost at q sin
gle throw of the dice. Again was the gam
bier successful Harris now sprang from his
chair, and calling for his antagonist to remain
where he was, repaired to his stateroon, and,
returning in few minutes, he dashed down
upon the table a bag Of gold dust. saying at
the same time to the gambler: "You have al
ready won from me over $4,000 This bag
Of gold dust represents double that amount;
dare you risk like sum- and let the owner
Ship of the whole be decided by single
rastr
The gambler expressed his willingness to
do so. There was large carving fork lying
near Harris, which the waiter had neglected.
to remove when he cleared the table that
evening. This Harris, with a careless move
ment of his arm, drew close to bis side.
PINNED FAST TO THE TABLE
All drew near in eager expectation Harris
seized the cup. and. shaking the dices yio-
lently for a moment, dashed them down be
fore him l could scarcely repress cry Of
exultation when saw that he had thrown
double fives, within two of the highest num-
hat, i 70 oto Tba
fessionals cast uneasy glances at each other
but Harris antagonist only smiled scornfully
and drew the ivory cubes toward him Just,
however, as hs wss plscing them in the box
they slipped through his fingers and fell upon
the floor. He stopped and recovered them in
an instant. but aS he reached forth his hand
to take the cup Harris seized the fork, and
with movement as quick as that of rattle
snake, stuck the sharp prongs through his
wrist, pinning it to the table. At the same
time he presented q cooked revolver full at his
head There was yell from the wounded
man and volley OF imprecations burst from
his associates dozen weapons We're
pointed at the breast of Harris He was equal
to the occasion. Not a muscle Of his face
mo-eA, and his voice was not raised the least
wbsn he spoke
have just declared that should one of your
number be detected in foul play, the stakes
should be forfeited and he sumnarily pun
ished II the dice under the hand now hold
imprisoned be not false, then do with me as
You will II. however, prove correct in rny
demand the fulallment of ycur
threat"
By this time they had all collected around
the table, and the gamblers saw they were
not 70 be trifiei with. So they were forced |
70 admit the truth Of what Harris had said
Tho gambler was held in his chair, the fork |
end the dice examined and found |
10 be locded The true pair were concealed |
In his eieeve. His fate was sealed The arms
of . dose3 miners stripped him Of his |
weapons. forced him into boat, and rov.ed |
him 70 the nearest land, which happened to |
b de northern point Of Angel island which |
was at that time bleak and barren. wi;hous |
. Engie inhabitant Upon this island. OF
ths: dark and stormy night, deaf to his pit.
oors sppexIs, they forced him, and tie |
5seaHer resumed her oourse down the tay
Ian FfancieCo World
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