Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-05-19
THE FATAL CARD.

Years ago the Mississippi river was
famous for its Floating palaces" as the
large steamers plying between New Or
leans and the ports above were called.
Now the railroads have driven all the
boats off the river. The former class of
steamers were, in many respects, de-
lightful, but they never ceased to be OBJ
jects of dread to timid people, for if
the racing, which was on that river re-
duced to system, did not result in the
loss Of the boat, there was sure to be one
or more encounters between the more
lawless portion of thetravelers, in which
pistol bullets would fly rather too thick
for the comfort of the steady going
people.
The cause of such disturbance was
generally a quarrel over the gaming
table. The regulations of the boats
usually required that all such amuse-
ments should be conducted in a saloon
provided for that purpose in the Texas
Officers cabin, situated on the hurricane
deck, but the sporting gentlemen were
by no means careful to observe this rule,
and the gaming was most commonly
carried on at the dining table in the
main saloon of the steamer, to the great
annoyance of two-thirds of those on
board.
Many professional gamblers used to
make these boats their homes, travelling
back and forth with them, fleeing all
who were foolish and verdant enough to
fall in their clutches.
One of the most remarkable men of
this class was named Daniel Sturdivant,
Frenchman, the son of broken down
scion of nobility who had settled in New
Orleans before the transfer of Louisiana
to the United States. Sturdivant had
been raised gentleman" by his aristo-
cratic father, but on coming of age and
finding his fortunes very bad, had taken
to cards as means to better them. His
success in this field was so great that he
was induced to continue it, until at the
time of which write he was one of the
most notorious gamblers between st
Louis and New Orleans. He was mar
Of fine personal appearance and of grea
physical strength. He was also notet
for his personal courage. AS a gamble
he was most expert and successful
There were dark stories of deeds whicl
he had committed while under the infu
ence of play and liquor, and it was SAT-
by some that he had killed half dozel
men in his lifetime. Yet no one dare
to speak these stories openly, for no on
dared to bring upon himself the ange
Of such man.
He had attached himself to one of th
magnificent steamers plying betwee
New Orleans and Vicksburg, and ha
publicly announced his determination
shoot any man who encroached upon h
scene of operations. OF course this lei
: him undisputed possession of the fielt
: and he reaped golden harvest durin
$ the one brief year he conducted his o.
erations there.
1t was my lot at the time to be con
pelled to make frequent trips betwee
s New Orleans and Vicksburg, beir
e heavily engaged in cotton speculation
t preferred the steamer of which Sturd
want had taken possession, inasmuch
it was not only the most comfortabl
g but also the swiftest, and time was
n the utmost importance to me. 1t w
4 known that l carried large sums
;s money, and was also aprehensive lie
: Sturdivant should ask me to play.
had fully made up my mind to I
fuse him, and if he attempted to dra
me into quarrel to shoot him witho
70 mercy, as | knew that the only chan
i for my life lay in getting the advanta
u of him. Strange to say, he did not ma
,r any such proposition to me, and l ga
g him no chance to do'so.
). One night we had started out fro
vicksburg, and were heading merr.
down the river, when Sturdivant cal
t. up to the group which had gather
n. around the stove. He had been driI
- ing All made way for him. ----
J. Saur & Balsley the druggists, desire us
: publish the following testimonial as ti
he handle the remedy and believe to be rel
"a BILE.
70 / bought so cent bottle of Chamberlai
e. Pain Balm and applied it to my lin
which have been afflicted with rheumati
at intervals for one year. At the tim
bought the Pain Balm was unable to wa
10 can truthfully say that Pain Balm has CO
es pletely cured me. R. ii. Farr, Holywo
:. Kan. Mr.. A. B. Cox, the leading drugs
y, at Hollywood, vouches for the truth of
Of above statement. IL