The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-03-27
AN OLD RIVER SPORT.
George Devol. . Once Famous Gambler
ON the Mississippi Steamboats,.

George DevOl, . Once Famous Gambler
ON the Mississippi Steamboats,.
A representative Of generation
fast dying out was in Memphis the
other day. 1t is q generation of men
that nourished and decayed with the
steamboat interest on the southwest
ern rivers, aud though not commend
able from the moralist's point of view
they were an interesting part of life
from Cincinnati to New Orleansa score
or two years ago. The visitor was man
of 60, well preserved and stoutly built,
with hairy, muscular hands; big
head, from which time is plucking
the strands of sandy hair; short
beard of the same color tinged with
gray, and gray eyes, with the quick,
keen glance peculiar to men who have
carried their lives in their hands and
who search in that swift moment the
features Of people they meet for the
first time. 1t was George Devol, an
Ishmaelite of the Ishmaelites, for
forty years the king of river gamblers,
who in his eventful career has seen
more Of the seamy side Of existence on
and along the Mississippi than any
other living man, and whose name Is
as familiar as pig tracks to people
who have travelled on the great river
before and since the war.
Everybody gambled," he said, as
sat in the office, and all had stuff to
lose. handled every sort of tools
them days-monte, faro, roulette,
short cards and everything you want
ed to bet on. I had the privilege on
all the big boats runnin' out of Or.
leans, and it wasn't much of q week
when didn't ] draw out five or ten
thousand. Now I'm glad to get hun.
dred sellin' book. It was the monte
that used to slay the most lambs,
though. It was SO simple, you see, and
they all just knew they could beat it.
It caught the fellers with the big wal
lets that thought they could bust any
little machine IKE that. Did they
ever bust it9 Well. not as remem-
Der. Itwasnt built that way. Yes,
I've been pretty hard one.
"One thing l can say that lots of
men that think they are better than
me can't never beat q friend, or
anybody that I knew and liked. l
never would give up money that ]
won when there was o bluff made,
but many's the thousand dollars I've
given back to men that couldn't af-
ford to lose it, and many's the time
I've given back diamonds and such to
ladies on boats when their husbands
would lose 'em to me. Fights7 Well
rather.
1--WE been cut and slashed and shot
all over, but I'm here yet you see.
Look at that cash on my throat; see
that wrist shot all to flinders; and
there's plenty more signs where you
can't see 'em. Ny main holt in
rough and tumble fight was buttin'. I
win most of my fights that way. ]
never wanted but one pass at man
and had him. My heads as hard as
iron. I'll bet money that can split
the skull of any niger in America,
and there's mighty few doors can't
bust in. Of course, wouldn't be here
if the steamboat men hadn't been my
friends. / stood in with the barkeep-
ers and mates and pilots, and the Off
GERS liked me and wouldn't see me
hurt by q mob if they could help it.
Still, I've had to take water moro than
once to save my bacon when there
was a gang after me.
There are just as many suckers on
the big Atlantic liners as you can find
anywhere on earth, and they are gen.
orally well fxed-tour of Europe and
all that, you know. I've worked 'em
many time to the queens taste. The
purser stood in with me. I'd go aboard
and put my tools in his office and he
would point out to me the passengers
most likely to be worth my while.
always put q stock of good liquor,
wines and cigars in my state room
and after got acquainted I would in
vite the fellers in to sample 'em, and
then l had the game in my own hands"
Memphis Avalanche.