St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-20

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those days was heavy even in the Cum
berland, and old river men retain recol-
lections of them which they never tire
OF repeating to choice coteries, but it
was on the Mississippi that the ideal
gambler flouriShed.
For years gambling on the Mississippi
mas been theme written upon and read
with interest. How the ideal planter
got through with his patrimony; how
sixty or seventy bales of cotton or tif-
teen ,colored people changed hands in a
few hours: but the gambler is always
portrayed as slender. 1.-the and we'll
formed youth, with black hair, dark
eyes, high boots and dirk, dashing
caVailer sort of fellow that would
brook no insult. The bluff, good
natured, go-easy man of about thirty
i've, that did the winning. has been ig-
nored. Gambling was heavy, and all the
large cotton and passenger packets had
forward of the cabin room about 20 by
% feet. called the social hall. This hall
was lifted up in the most luxurious
style. with bar, chairs and card-tables.
AT these tables all day and night the
planters, river merchants and officers
were wont to tempt fortune. The favor
lie game was draw poker; but in those
tiineS the gentlemen would bet on any
thing, from what kind of a fish a man
would catch on his line to a steamboat
race. and the more man lost the big
ger hon he was. Even now gambling
is carried on to great extent on ali
rivers, especially on the Red and Illi-
nOiS rivers.
Inc most successful gamblers in ante
beilum days were George Brooks and
Bulletneck' Green, so-called from
6ullet that was lodged in his neck. This
latter gentleman played at and won in
tle biggest game ever played on the
Mississippi. 1t was a game of draw
poker between himself and three other
planters. Green had about $4,000 on
board the boat, but the other fellows
had diversified his pile, and the game
was 500 ante with no limit. Green held
remarkable hand, and had staked his
last dollar, but still no one would ''call''
MIN. SO, mOtiOning the captain of the
vessel to him, he asked for a loan,
as he did not want to run out of the
game: 10 this the captain assented,
knowing Green to be a very wealthy
man, and he told the clerk to let him
have any amount. When these prelim-
lnaries were settled the players went on
raising the stakes until $500, 900 was on
the board, when one OF the players
called, and Green deliberately laid the
caIuS lace down on the table and said:
.'Boys, If L win this pot l will never
turn another card;" then showed up''
four aces and a king-a hand that can't
be beat-as a matter of course, winning.
1t is estimated that this man won over
S250,000 at cards.
The gambler in the days of slavery
seldom cheated, and when ne did and
was discovered at it, he could be found
few minutes after with bowie knife
or bullet in him, more likely the former,
for then it was favorite weapon, used
with great deXterity, being thrown by
experts over twenty feet and driven
through mark on two-inch plank.
1t was very seldom game was played
without every participant having his
revolver or bowie Oh the table; but now
the players are on the bunkO order, and
the ones they swindle less nervy. Who
that have lived in those years and the
present will not declare for Monte Carlo
days?