Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-25
AN OLD RIVER GAMBLER
Incidents in the Life Of Daddy
 Reagan, the Sport.
rortunss Won 1t Cards and Lost in spoC ulation-He Fought for Q Girl WhO ReO0n0 Ills wlfe-Hor
 Sad End.

rortuA0s Won 1t Cards and Lost in spoC
 ul.tion-He Fought for a Girl whe
 Becaas His wHe-Hor
 Sad End.
 The members of the sporting fratern- large sum of money towards a monu- nent to Daddy" Reagan. When he lied in hospital recently the career of sne of the most famous American gam olers came to an end.
 Sam B. Reagan was born in Russell ville, Ky, sixty-two years ago. His ather was clergyman and was prom nent in his section. Sam was the eldest shose days in that somewhat unsettled region. His father was Q man of some wealth. and among his possessions were ,everal thoroughbred Kentucky horses. In these animals Sam found his greatest delight, and as boy he soon became . slever horseman and noted throughout the vicinity as daring rider and an ex- port judge of horseflesh.
 It was but natural that his taste ,hould turn towards the turf, and before ne was out of his teens he had adopted the life of a professional turfnan. Ehrewd at bargain, he is said to have made several thousand dollars with the lew horses he owned before he had at sained his majority. But bad luck came 10 him soon after and he was soon seen It the gaming-tables. When twenty-two years old he linked his fate as a gam | bier with an old professional named Morton. He and Morton ran up and Town on the Mississippi river steamers, occasionally getting over on the Red | .iver boats, and many adventures befell | Dad" during all those years. Back in | 1852 ''Dad'' came to St. Joseph, then !he gateway to the Far West.
 The first story told of Dad" is of Q game of poker he had with g man named Edgeton, "fy" gambler, on the steamer La Belle Creole while on run to New Orleans. "Dad" was 'square sport" He never stopped to trickery, while the man Edgeton was directly tho opposite in his methods of play. Thcro was big jackpot, and every one but Edgeton and "Dad" had dropped out. Tho amount of money in the pot Is not stated, but it was sufficient to excite both men. "Dad'' had full hand. and kept raising each raise made by his op- ponent, who sat opposite to him. Therc was call, and Dad" lay down his hand, while Edgeton dropped four aces on tho table, and started to rake in tho pot. As he did SO, fifth acc was ex- posed in his left hand. Quick as flash Dad" whipped revolver from his pocket and, firing, knocked the illegit- lmate piece of pasteboard from the gamblers hand. Then discharging his Colts revolver twice in rapid success lon, ho pierced both of Edgeton's ears with bullet. The wounded man drew an old-fashioned pistol and fired, the ball grazing "Dad's" brow and injuring him seriously. He reached over the ta- ble, and taking the money and chips, put the winnings into his pocket and then fell to the floor of the cabin un- conscious.
 In 1858, on the Crescent City, a plant CT named Ross, living near Knoxville, Tenn, was on his way up the river from New Orleans, where he had been selling some of his products. He had with him got into a game with 'Dad." Ross had condition to play the cards. He was pair of deuces. But such men were con- . ! gamblers, and "Dad" was not reluctant in pulling in the shekels of the ine- briated planter. In an hours time "Dad'' had every vz nt of the S20, ,0o0, and then Ross realized what he had done. There was no getting the money back. On the steamers money won at poker was as square as money made by the legal sale of property. Ross arose from the ta- 1> l,h ia gard.
 now every cent I have in tho world and have wife, a mother and several children. That money was to pay of and they must starve. But you won il square and I'm not kicking. Say good bye to them for me-" and as he sait these last words he put his hand around to his back pocket.
 Dad" and others, divining his inten tion, sprang forward, but too late. bullet had crashed through his skull and he sank down on tho floor dead ' takers at Memphis and accompanied tn, corpse to the plantation. He attended the funeral, and Bill Hsrding-an olt : friend of 'Dad's"-says, gave the widov every cent he had won from Ross. The1 he went back to Memphis, caught tn next boat and continued gaming.
 It must havo been about this time }. 1s5s-that Reagan met the girl that h. afterwards made his wife. Like all tn other incidents of his life, it was Q re
 mantle meeting. courtship, marriage an
 parting. According to Bill Harding and Bill is the only sport left wh knows the story of Dads" life, he me
 the girl in this way: It was in a hous
 In New Orleans that they first Saw eac | -:- LADIES -:-
 Do not miss seeing the grand display of
 MILLIN FRY