The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-31
A Game of Poker.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.

From the San francisco Chronic'e
81 have seen many game OF poker"
said gentleman at the Palace hotel, San
Francisco, to a reporter, but the first |
ever saw had a tragic ending tnat i recalled
to my mind every tine see card"
DO you mind telling the story
''Would YOU care TO hear lts The affair
happened before the war. Nv father who
had large cotton interests, whica were al
most destroyed by a certain proclamation
that made the south shudder, too6 me on a
trip which he made from New Orleans 10
St Louis. The Mississippi steamer Belle OF
Memphis was crowded with passengers,
nearly all of whom were men. we iert
New Orleans at o'clock in the afternoon,
and fifteen minutes later there were four
or five games of poker in progress. Nearly
everybody gambled on the steamers. Many
men lived On the river and made the trips
for the money which they could get out OF
the passengers. The colt n ralsers, who
went to ST. Louis to spend their funds, often
reached that town without penny, and
were forced to return ON the same ooat.
Among the passengers were Two planters
no were avOwed enemies, but oy some
fate hal sat down at the same table. They
we're bushes; men of New Orleans, and
tho i'll feeling between them was known to
many on board the Belle of Memphis. One
of them had with him a large, fne-looklng
negro, who acted as body servant and VINO
was seldom absent from his masters SIDE.
The boy remained in the cabin and watched
the play, which grew more exciting with
every revolution of the steamers wheels.
edward night some Of the gamblers had
lost all their cash and were betting t 10 cot
ton or other merchandise they had on board
for the St Louis market. Up on deck the
roustab outs were playing craps by the
light Of torches, that lit up the river in
weird way. Morning found the men still
,Nlo phe wat
ter very earnestly, and after speaking to
him once or twice was ordered out of the
cabin, As he went on deck my father
spoke to him.
"'You seem interested in the game,
said he
"'I is was the reply. TIE the stakes on
that ham. an ef Coh'nel Gihoux doan' win
TIE Wahdon's niggah. rze nightly inta-
hested in that game.
'Wardon won, and I saw the colored boy
turned over to him by Giroux who rose
from the table dead broke. He went n
deck, and number of people watched him
to see whether he would shoot himself or
Jump into the river. He did neither.
After while Warden appeared with a
companion, walked back and forth, laugh
ing and joking. They approached Giroux.
YOU'RE cheat said the loser to War
don.
''The latter jumped toward the speaker
but his friend prevented any violence. The
boat was nearing N1tchez-under-tn5-Hi
and it was arranged that the time the Belle
waited at the wharf should be devoted to
squaring accounts. That was a common
thing. The river boats stopped at Natchez,
and many a party of four or five men that
went away for an hour lacked one or two
of the number when they returned.
at was a beautiful night The moon
was almost full, and shed bright, white
Gybt Wy N1i1i oh fall ha ina u
| your watch. NatcheZ was astir when we
| reached the wharf. 1t was one of the bust
est of the river towns but its disman led
| hotel and tumble-down houses look now
| like ghosts of its former prosperity.
'When the party of men left the Belle
some Of the citizens followed, as they knew
| a duel was about to be fought. Wardon's
new possession, the negro, accompanied the
| party, and the winner lost no opportunity
| of letting the unfortunate boy Understand
that he had charged masters.
Under the bluffs, from which Natchez
takes its name, the men came to halt
| fifteen PAGES were marked off; Giroux and
| Warden faced each other pistol in hand.
"'Ready9 OAe-two-threep
"Tne last word was lost in the report of
| Wardons pistol Giroux dropped, his
weapon still loaded. The colored boy and
| a number of persons went to the side of the
wounded man. He was unconscious and
never spoke The negro took his pistol
| from his hand and raised his head No
sign of recognition was given. After a
minute or two: He's dead the colored
| boy said
| "'Throw him down and come with me, >
cried Warden, as he started for his steamer
1.-The negro laid the dead mans head on
the ground, arose to his feet, and hurried
after his new raster Within the minute
pistol shot was heard; Warden was dy-
| ing when the mon reached his side. He
could not tell who had shot him, but Cir
ouxs negro had Disappeared, and some of
valy lie niggab.'
1.-The men were left at Natchez-under-the
| Hill, and fifteen minutes after the Belle of
Memphis left the wharf half dozen games
of cards were ia progress. l never play
| cards"