The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-18
WATCHED BY
GAMBLERS.
A Story of Early Life Among
People Oh Stockton Slough.
An Attack in the Dead of Night by Three
Gamblers Who Turned Robbsrs-A Duel
in the Dark" Two OF Them Dead"

IAN the summer of 1851 l was employed
fS by merchant named Wagner at
~ Big Oak Flat, in Tuolumne County,
to haul his freight from Stockton. He
carried on an extensive business and
bought most of the gold obtained from
the mines in that locality. About the
first of June l drove down to Stckton to
meet Wagner, who had been to San Fran
cisco to exchange his gold dust for coin and
to purchase supplies. On the arrival of the
steamer we spent most of the afternoon in
loading our wagon and then drove two or
three hundred yards out of the town and
camped on the south bank of what is known
as Stockton Slough. That evening we
visited several saloons. The third one we
entered was long two-story frame struc-
ture which served as mammoth gambling
hall and saloon combined.
Cloth-covered tables occupied half the
spacio us room, and around these were con-
gregated forty or fifty persous. At one of
the tables tine-l0Ok ng ana richly dressed
young Mexican was dealing monte, and had
large sum OF gold IN front of him. His
broad brimmed sombrero was pushed back
from his forehead, and he was careessly
pulling a newly made cigarette Wagner
stopped in front of him and asked for
layout The dealer gave another Whit
at his cigarette, and then threw down a
couple of cards. My employer drew
doubloOn from his pocket saying to me,
Jim, | am going to win or lose 500 before
we 90 out to the wagon" ~ on are more
likely to lose than win," was my answer.
but will stay and see the fun" In those
days nine out of every ten men in Califor-
MIA gam0led; almost every game was
played, faro, French monte, Mexican monte,
rouge ct NOR, twenty-one and lansquenet
being the principal ones.
The merchant was by no means a novice
at any game and laid his gold upon card
with much confidence in his ability to
select the one that would win. In this in
stance 1t took but moment to convince
him that he had guessed wrongly.
Try again" said the gentlemanly dealer,
lifting the gold piece and throwing 1t upon
the large stack in front of him.
a second doublOOn Immediately followed
the first, and thought that hundred dol
lars Will soon be gone" AT that moment
Wagner took a seat alongside of burly,
administered fellow, who, during the day,
had peen pointed out to us as an Australian
convict. The merchant drew handful of
gold coin from his pocket and asked:
rs THERE ANY LIMIT TO THE GAME?"
None, senOr," was the bland reply of
the smiling Mexican, pushing back the cuffs
OF his velvet Jacket TO give greater freedom
to his hands; bet as much as You please"
The Australian glared fiercely at Wagner,
ctCLlluE " NO IL no III du1Oul lUdl lIlt UCM
Corners bets exceeded his own.
The next lay out was king and Jack,
and the merchant laced Si00 upon the for
mer. saying, 4" A king ought to beat knave
every day in the week." giving me sly
wink, as much as to and, that Sidney cove
is the knave | mean"
At the third card Drawn the jack won,
and the urbane banker added the gold to
the stack in front Of him, repeating once
more, Bet as high as you please, senor."
Another hundred was by this time staked
and lost. and the administered man, who
had also been losing, fairly bristled with
rage. Wagner paid no attention to him,
but drew from his pocket all the money he
had-sOme S250-and placed it upon a
queen, but his venture was again losing
one.
By this time rumors of high betting had
attracted attention. and our table was sur
rounded by large number of spectators.
The stout Australian had but a dollar or
two lett, and seowled sayagely at the man
beside him. as though he was the cause Of
his own i'll luck. The brawny frame Of the
merchant probably confined him to these
silent manifestations of his i'll will.
My employer paid no attention to the
actions of the fellow, but reaching inside of
his shirt unbuckled belt or purse that he
wore strapped around his body, and placed
IL upon the table in front of him. 1t was
heavy with gold and must have contained
at least 5000. The Mexican maintained
&c
stout man underwent sudden change.
he eyed the gold with a longing look, and
seemed 10 dislike seeing the merchant risk
IL upon the cards. He still had a dollar or
two left but held the money idly in his
hand without stalking it, his whole attention
for the time being riyeted upon the mer-
chant and his bag of gold. Wagner counted
out $500 and said to the banker: Give me
new deal"
The latter lighted his cigarette. gave it
wbiH or ftro nd aFt Oh
king and a jack once more upon the cloth.
L VIII try the king again, said Wagner,
and placed the coin upon the card he named.
BY this time the tables were almost de-
serted, while throng of Americans, En-
ropeans, MeXicans and even negroes craned
their necks and stood upon tip-toe to see
the cards. Luck was still against the mer-
chant, and the nonchalant banker lifted the
gold and placed ii upon his side of the table
as though bets OF that size were everyday
affairs. he next laid an ace and ten in
front of the other, and Wagner without
hesitation counted out $1,000 and placed ii
upon the ace, completely covering the card
with the coin. Neither he nor the dealer
seemed as eager as many IN the motley
crowd around us. The red-whiskered man
was especially interested and his eyes
seemed fairly glued upon the deck in the
dealers hands. Card after card was drawn
with skill and dexterity. though after five
or SIX mad fallen his motions were much
an exclamation it was from the stout fell
low Z; an ace was in sight
wAGNER's LUCK HAD TURNED.
The suppressed emotions found vent in
buzz Of conversation, while some half dozen
or more lounged off to the bar to stimulate
themselves with liquor. While the dealer
was shufllng his cards for another layout
tall one-eyed man bent over the stout fel-
lows shoulders and whispered something
in his ear. The latter nodded assent with
out yenturIng a reply.
The Mexican now threw two cards upon
the table in front of the merchant. as if
challenging him to bet again. He had his
choice OF five and an eight, and turning to
me lie said:
50 Jim, if l lose / wont have so much to
carry home, but | am only even now. |
VIII make one more bet" lie took the
$1,000 he had won, and divided it into little
stacks of ten dOubioons in each, and placed
them In circle around the five spot, adding:
Let's see II there Is luck in odd numbers"
Ii the interest had been great before it
was intense at this moment. The crowd
pressed closer than ever, men peered over
each others shoulders, stood upon tables
and chairs, and one enterprsing fellow
mounted the stove. The Mexican drew off
the cards with the same ease and grace that
had hitherto marked all his motions. One
by one the bits Of painted pasteboard
fell upon the table, and every eve
closely scanned the next one appearing
to see if the winning card could
be detected Half the deck had been drawn
before the desired card came. a regular
shout Indicated its appearance before it was
half uncovered. Once more Wagner had
wOn-the bank was broken. The Mexican.
without sigh of regret, paid over the full
amount of the bet, though it took almost
the last piece of money that he had. He
laid the heap of gold in front of the lucky
merchant, merely saying, Luck is upon
your side Tonight"
The red-whiskered man and his COM
panion abruptly left the table and at once
hurried from the room. Wagner replaced in
his purse or belt the money he had taken from
1t, and handed me the remainder, saying,
"Nlll You carry that. Jim l have now nn me