The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-05-15
AN OLD RIVER GAMBLER.
Incidents In the Life Of Daddy f"
Reagan, the Sport.
Fortunes Won at Cards and Lost in Spec.
ulntion-He Fought for Girl who
8ccamo His wife-IIer
Sad End.

The members of the sporting fratern-
ity in St Louis have already raised a
largo sum of money towards q monu-
ment to Daddy" Reagan. When he
died in hospital recently tho career Of
one Of tho most famous American gam
blcrs came to nm end.
Sam B. Reagan was born in RUSSELL
villo, KY, siXty-two years ago. His
father was u Clergyman and was prom
inent in his section. Sam was the eldest
son and was we'll educated for boy Of
those days in that somewhat unsettled
region. His father vas man of some
wealth. and among his possessions wero
several thoroughbred Kentucky horses.
In these animals sam found his greatest
delight, and as q boy nc soon became
clever horscnan and noted throughout
tho vicinity as u daring rider and an ex-
pert judge of horsencsh.
It was but natural that his taste
should turn towards tho turf. and before
he was out OF his teens he had adopted
the life of professional turfman.
Shrcwd at Il bargain. he is said to have
made several thousand dollars with the
few horses he owned before he had at
tanned his majority. But bad luck camc
to him soon aftcr and he was soon seen
ut tho Gaming-tablcs. When twenty-five
years old he linked his fate as gam
bier with ain old professional named
Morton. IIc and Morton raa up and
down on tho Mississippi river steamers.
occasionally getting over on the Red
river boats, and many adventures bcfell
dad" during all those years. Back in
1852 dad" came to st. Joseph, then
the gateway to tho Far West
The first story told of Dad" is Of q
gamo of poker ho had with man
named Edgcton, sly" gambler, on tho
steamer La Belle Creole while on run
to New Orleans. dad" was "squaro
sport" Hc never stopped to trickery,
while tho man Edgcton was directly tho
opposite in his mothcds of play. There
was big Jackpot and every one but
Edgeton and Dad" had dropped out.
The amount of money in tho pot is not
stated, but 1t was sufficient to excite
both men. dad" had a full hand, and
kept raising each raise made by his op-
ponent, who sat opposite to him. There
was call, and Dad" lay down his
hand, while Edgcton dropped four aces
on tho table, and started to rake in tho
| pot AS he did so, fifth ace was OK
posed in his left hand. Quick as a
flash Dad" whipped revolver from his
pocket and, firing, knocked tho illegit-
innate piece of pastcboard from tho
gamblor's hand. Then discharging his
Colts revolver twice in rapid SUCCESS
ion, he pierced both of Edgeton's cars
with bullet. The wounded man drcw
an old-fashioned pistol and fired, the
ball grazing Dads" brow and injuring
him seriously. He reached ovor tho ta-
bio, and taking tho money and chips,
put the winnings into his pocket and
thcn fell to tho floor of the cabin un-
conscious.
In 1858, on the Crescent City, a plant
or named Ross, living near Knoxville,
Tenn, was on his way up tho river from
New Orleans, where he had beon selling
some of his products. Ilc had with him
between $4,000 and $50, 200 in cash, and
got into gamo with dad" Ross had
been drinking heavily and was in no
condition to play the cards. He was
reckless and ready to bet his pilc on q
pair Of dcuccs. But such mon were con-
sidered tho legitimate prey of tho river
gamblers, and dad" was not reluctant
In pulling in tho shekcls OF the ine-
briated planter. In on hours time dad"
had every cent Of tho S30,Oo0, and then
Ross realized what he had done. There
was no gotting the money back. On tho
steamers money won at poker was as
square as money made by the legal sale
of property. Ross arose from the Ia
BILE, his eyes bloodshot and his face hag-
gard.
"Well, old man." said ho, ''you have
now every cent l have in tho world,
and have wife, mother and several
children. That money was to pay of
the debt on my plantation, but it is gone
and they must starvc. But you won II
square and I'm not kicking. Say good
byc to them for me;" and as he said
these last words he put his hand around
to his back pocket.
"Dad" and others, divining his inten-
ton, sprang forward, but too late. A
bullet had crashed through his skull
and he sank down on the floor dead.
dad" had his body taken to an under.
takers at Memphis and accompanied the
corpse to tho plantation. He attended
tho funeral, and Bill Harding-an old
friend Of "Dad's"-says, gave tho widow
every cent no had won from Ross. Then
he went back to Memphis, caught the
next boat and continued gaming.
1t must have been about this time
1s5s-that Reagan met the girl that he
afterwards made his wife. Like all the
other incidents Of his life, 1t was ro
mantic meeting, courtship, marriage ant
parting. According to Bill Harding
and Bill Is the only sport left who
knows the story of "Dsd's' lifo, no me-
the girl y shis way; II was in hous.