Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-20
GAMBLING ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
A Recollection of How They Played Faro
on the River Steamers.
CWashingtOn POst)

II was In the month OF April, 1854 in
the city of New orleans. hat the writer
then a youngster just out OF his teens,
was one of the pcrty that took passage
on the Robert J. Ward. one Of the finest
steamboats, that ever hoated upon the
bottom Of the Mississippi river.
The great T. lr-mile race for a purse
OF $4,000 over the Meta race-cOurse mad
been run and won by the Kentucky horse.
Lexington. In o straight heats.
The season had come and gone. tie
great race had been run and won. and
the great army of rack-track sports. the
successful gamblers. faro-dealers, and
sports who made their annual visit to
White Sulphur Springs In Virginia and
New York city. many going as far as
Saratoga. were looking out for the best
steamboat, and when II was announced
that the Robert j. Ward would be In
port in n few days everybody waited Tor
her. 1t had been passed around among
the high-rOlling sports that several OF the
leading faro-dealing firms would open Il
big game on board.
The boat had not left New Orleans be
fore the games were opened the tables
spread, and the play commenced In dead
earnest. for all the passengers were
sengers I'm another sense were gamblers
and all had some money. Many OF them
had big sums Of money they had accn-
INFLATED in gambling or horse-racing.
The white checks were of the iinest
ivory, and worth s. each, the RED cheCks
So. and the blue represented Slv Inc
players handed in their bundles or state
bank notes in sums of hundreds ana
Thousands Of dollars. and quietly but de-
terminedly placed their bets upon the
turn of card. Not an expression oil
disappointment at their loss upon turn
Of a card nor an expression OF eNu''a'
ton escaped them at winning. III was as
uuict as a social game i'm "A private par
lor Not "a harsh word not rbald ex-
pression escaped any one as the play went
on. but the calm, silent determination oil
che players to WIN, TO beat the banks,
was plainly To he seen in the faces oil
those whose winnings showed them To De
in luck. while determination bordering
almost upon desperation was plainly Vlsi'
bic in the losers.
And now as the boat through all the
silent watches OF the night. is ploughlns
her way the gamblers continue their deS-
perate play.
Thousand-dollar bills on the Cana
Bank Of New Orleans and SJoO-bills Issued
hv the Bank Of Kentucky, or their rep
rcsentative value I'm the 'ivores," changed
owners upon almost every turn OF the
cards
Brand-new $50 gold pieces were more
plentiful in the pockets of the sports IMAM
Bland silver dollars are to-day. Ana as
some of the players would feel as II q
particular bank was dealing in big luck
they would change Off TO another table
Several OF the dealers, when not dealing
at their own table. would try few thou
sand against other tables.
No wine or other stimulents were I'M
bibed by the players to brace up tneli
nerve for they were all Napoleons OF the
green cloth. and played to win. They
knew what they were doing-they knew
! how they had made their money-and now
before them were seated men OF the same
] experience OF great capital, and mef
/ who could and would lose their thousands
/ of dollars. and give the loss only mo-
| mentary reflection till another town was
reached and another waterlng-piace Oh
! another racing season was opened. anc
az time passed on, and the vicissi'udes oil
/ the game returned to them In their retro
! spective moments. IL must have appeared
| TO them as an Aladdin's dream; for the
unsuccessful ones on that trip In after
wears must have dropped sigh OF regret
for their i'll luck. while the successful
| ones saw their wealth of that day
! dwindle into the thin air of business mis-
/ takes