Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-24
CRAPS, FLOOD. AND BLOOD.
The Tragic End of = Romance OF the
mississippi Valley.
81. Louis Rpu6ile.

~. L0Hb hrpuotc
"Come 'er seben."
Mines my pint, en- h'ar II Gums"
who's fadin' me dis timer"
"Pse fadin' yer for quarter. Rattle
dem bones"
Two bits more Use right"
1.-TWO bits yer ANT.
The above conversation took place on
a steamboat coming up the river not
long ago between two negro rousta-
abauts, Joe Henry and Tom Singleton.
They had been paid of. and while the
boat was running and nothing for them
TO do they began shooting craps under
the electric light on the freight deck.
Tom "passed" nine times aud was roll
ing the dice for the tenth. Five dollars
was staked against him that he would
lose, and he lost. Luck then termed
against him. and he lost and lost until his
pockets were empty, when he sadly
left the table and walked 20 the edge OF
the boat and looked out into the dark
ness. The game kept on, and finally
the players became so excited and bols-
ferrous that the mate had 70 demand less
noise. When the boat landed at the
foot OF Market street Joe Henry had the
wages Of all the other deckhaEds ia hts
right-hand pocket and he was happy.
Tom Singleton, or BLACK Tom" as
he was called, was the last one TO leave.
He turned his footsteps toward tho
home OF his sweetheart on Morgan
street. The music OF banjo and the
shutting OF feet attracted his attention
on Eleventh street, and he looked 10.
There he saw Joe Hemp with his
Amanda, whom he had started 10 see,
keeping time with their feet 20 the tune
OF the fshermAn's hornplpe. He tried
10 speak 60 her. but she gave him cut
ting glances that made his heart sick.
He went away with vengeance In his
heart and blood in his eve.
Time went on and Joe and Amanda
were married. Joe quit steamboating
last March and took his dusky bride TO
his native home in Chicot county, Ar
kansas.
BLACK Tom" grew sad and despond-
dent. No sunshine seemed 70 brighten
his life, and. weary and heArtsick, be
turned his face once more toward his
old plantation home ia Washington
county, Mississippi, which borders on
the river opposite Chicot county. 10
only remembered the girl that had tri-
fed with his affections with hate. He
knew not where she lived and did not
care ever 10 see her again, yet the blue
smoke that coiled out Of their respect
cabins was seen by each every day, aud
the same horn that called the time for
dinner was heard By Amands and Black
Tom.
When the high waters began % an
croach upon BLACK Toms" belongings
In Mississippi he moved out and found
home on the Arkansas side Of the river.
He Unexpectedly ran across his old-tims
sweetheart, but there was no cordialitY
In their greeting. he found q home
near by and worked among the cotton
and corn rows from early morning until
late in the day.
One night he SAT near his cabin door
looking dresmily out into the darkness.
The whlp-poor-wills were singing their
evening songs and an owl near by Waf
making the forest echo with his hootsl
Suddenly there was q sound OF rushing
waters and the screams OF men and
women, mingled with the sounds OF the
muddy waves Of the Mississippi.
The leyee had broken.
Toms house sat on knoll high mp
above danger. be listened 20 the cries
for help. bat was poWerlhss 20 do any.
thing. Presently familiar voices shout
ing for help drew nearer, and he heard
the splashIng OF the water near his
cabin, telling that human beings were
struggling 20 reach place OF safety.
He jumped into the water and swan
toward them. IL was Joe and Amanda.
All the bitterness and hatred OF his
heart rose up with uncomfortable fury.
he seized the girl and put her head IN
| der the water. When she rose
she gave plying cry
OF despair and sank 20 rise no more.
Then Joe and Tom came together Joe
was weak, but as Tom caught him he
had strength enough 10 open his rezor.
So did Tom, and then ia that awful
darkness, with the muddy waves carry
ing them along wieh terrific force, they
| fought and slsshed each other. II was
| like a battle between sharks.
The next morning their bodies were
found where they had been washed -
q pile Of driftwood. horribly Rashed. md
each was holding firmly 70 the inStru-
ment Of death. AmGndG's body/ has
| - haan fonnd