The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1892-06-02
THROWING DICE FOR S64, 1000.
A Historic Transaction in the Flush Times
at Petroleum Center.

A Historic Transaction in the Flush Times
at Petroleum Center.
A difference of but two in the up
turned dice dots, but each dot repre-.
sented 49,, 200, and the winner was
made that much richer by his single
throw. The details of this occurrence,
recalled in contemplation of the fast
departing traces of other and better
days in the town where it occurred, may
be of interest
From the time of its first Importance
as an oil town Petroleum Center was
known as a famous place for gambling.
There was, however, no particular
place in which the gambling was car
ried on. An engine house, saloon, office
or private room-any place served the
purpose, and riclzety table, a greasy
writing desk or board laid across the
head of an old barrel answered as we'll
as the equipments of a gambling pal
ace.
In 1S6S-69 the vicinity of Petroleum
Center was the richest in the oil regions,
and one of the richest in the world. The
lands all about the town We're making
Of property was the Woods farm, lying
up the hill to the west of the place. Its
big productions at that time were sell
ing at from So to S. barrel.
Samuel A. Woods was the owner of
this rich deposit of oil, and his royalty
from it yielded him princely income,
He was then about So years of age, and
was as full of fun as he was of business.
He dressed we'll, wearing daily dia-
monds worth from S., 900 to IS, 900, lived
high and was foremost in all the enter
prises in oil developments. In 1868 he
built the largest and first complete iron
tank, 10000 barrels, then along Oil
Creek, and into it his farm poured it's
liquid wealth
Woods had a noted fondness for throw.
ing dice and was usually LUCKY. He
was ready at any time to throw for
stakes ranging from $50 to 500, $500 OF
ST. 900. 1t was seldom that he would
throw for less than the frst-named
sum. One night in the winter of 1S69-69
he was spending the evening with a
party of friends in the Rochester House,
at Petroleum Centre. Among the party
was Col. Brady, another rich producer,
man who had earned his title upon
the battlefields of the rebellion. In the
course of the evening Woods said to
him:
Colonel, I'll toss the dice with you
for $50"
"All right" was the coloners prompt
reply.
The first throw Brady won, continu-
ing to do so until he had won $3.50 of
Woods money. This trif1e just whetted
their appetites and the chance contest
then began in earnest. The amount of
the stakes was increased from time to
time, and Woods losses rapidly crept
into the thousands. Luck was against
him, but as he was perfectly sober and
| the friends present knew that he would
| regard as little less than an insult any
suggestion that it was time to quit,
| feeling abundantly able to pay any
amount he lost, all they had to do was
to watch the two men with increasing
| interest.
To pass on from the process to the
result, when one of the morning hours
was ushered in Woods had lost S32, OoC
and Brady held his check for that sum.
At this juncture Woods said to the
colonel: Now, l am willing to double
the amount and let each of us take but
one throw, and the highest takes the
stakes. You already have my check for
the S32, 900; if I lose I will write you
another for the full amount here to-
uight, and it will be cashed at the bank
tomorrow"
"All right" again replied Col Brady;
II accept"
The interest of the bystanders was
now worked to the highest notch
Woods had the first throw. Elever
spots turned up as his count Col
Brady then threw and but nine black
dots turned up to be counted Woods
therefore, saved good-sized fortune or
the throw, for had he lost that S64, ,00t
would have been paid with as mucl
promptness as though it had been par
of legitimate business transaction
Woods then proposed that they start il
anew, with $40 as the amount of tn,
stakes. The colonel readily responded
about So, 000-was transferred to tn
pockets of Woods.
Here, Colonel" said Woods, sis sec
can't see man go away dead broke
And so the greatest game of dice o.
record in the oil regions came to close
Petroleum Center has gradually fal
len into decay, until but few scatter
ing buildings are all that is left of wha
was once fiourishing oil town of full
five thousand inhabitants.
Samuel A. Woods, too, is gone fror
this life, with host of others who wer
his associates in the production of OF
and who, with him, made many nigh
merry quarter of a century ago.
Philadelphia Times.
The Migration of Squirrels,
Accounts by early writers show ths
squirrels must formerly have bee