Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-11
IT'S TRAGIC SEQUEL.
A STORY OF THE POKER PLAYING
DAYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

A STORY OF THE POKER PLAYING
DAYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
A Game ON the Belle of Memphis That Re
suited In Duel and the Death of Twt
Players-A Colored "Boy" Was Staked
In the Play, but Disappeared.
''Talking about this fascinating game
Of poker, for instance" remarked {
gentleman with whom q Tribune mar
was conversing in the rotunda of the
Grand hotel the other night, the first
game of poker I ever witnessed had a
sequel SO tragic that it is invariably re-
called to me every time see card.
''The affair occurred shortly before
the war. My father, who was very
heavy producer of the feecy staple, cot
ton, and whose interests were almost
destroyed by certain proclamation
which proved eminently disastrous to
owners Of southern plantations, took
me with him on trip which he made
from New Orleans to st. Louis. Our
steamer, the Belle of Memphis, was
crowded with passengers, nearly all Of
whom were males. We left New Orleans
about 2 O'Clock in the afternoon, and 10
minutes later there were four or five
poker games in operation. Nearly every
body gambled on board in those days.
"Among the passengers on the trip
were two business men from the Cres-
cent City who were bitter enemies, but
whom perverse chance had seated at the
same table.
Zone of them had with him tall,
athletic, fine looking negro, who acted
as his body servant, and was never very
far from his masters side. The boy
remained in the cabin and watched the
play.
"Toward evening some of the play
ers, after losing all their funds, had be-
gun stalking the cotton and other prod
uce they had on board for the st. Louis
markets. Up on deck the roustabouts
were shooting craps by the smoky
glare of pine knots that cast weird shad-
ows on the surging stream. Morning
came and found the two merchants still
playing The big negro had made one
or two attempts to speak to his master
during the progress of the game, and
had been ordered out of the cabin. As
he came out ON deck my father ad-
dressed him.
"'You seem to be greatly interested
in the game, boy, said he.
"'I is, massa, was the reply. 'I'ze
de stakes on dat han an eff de kunnel
doan' win Tze Massa Brooks niggah,
suah. I'ze nightly interested in dat ar
game for suah, massa.'
"Mr. Brooks won, and saw the colo
mel throw down his cards and turn the
negro over to his opponent, rising dead
broke.
''He went ON deck, and people
watched him to see if he would shoot
himself or jump into the river, but he
showed no signs of doing either.
"After awhile Brooks came out with
companion and began to walk up and
down the deck, laughing and joking.
As they passed by where Colonel Wal
lace was sitting he stood up, and ad-
dressing Brooks said violently:
"'You re scoundrel and cheat!'
Crooks seized chair and was about
to strike at the speaker, but his friend
olutched his arm and prevented anyvio-
1ence for the time being. but as the
Belle was now nearing Natchez it was
quickly arranged that the time the boat
remained at the wharf should be utilized
in squaring accounts between the par
ties. The thing was quite common, and
many party of four or five that left
the boats for an hour was one or two
short when it returned.
It was glorious night. The moon
was full, and shed clear light over the
scene.
"Natchez was all a-rush when we
reached the wharf. 1t was one Of the
busiest of the river towns at that time.
but its dismantled hotels and tumble
down houses make it look like a mere
ghost Of its former prosperity.
"When we left the steamer and moved
up the wharf, several citizens followed
us, as they knew that duel was about
to be fought.
Brooks new property, the negro. ac-
companied the party, and the winner
lost no opportunity Of making the un-
fortunate boy understand that he had
changed masters.
"Under the bluffs from which the
town takes its name of Natchez-under
the Hill, the party halted, ID PAGES were
counted off, the colonel and Brooks faced
each other, pistols in hand. tt
Ready. One-two-three!
'The last word was lost in the report
Of Brooks weapon. He had fred with
out waiting for the word to be COM
pleted.
tThe colonel's pistol, still loaded,
fell from his hand. He staggered,
pressed his hand to his side and fell
backward.
"The negro ran to his side, raised his
head and rested 1t on his arm.
'The colonel was unconscious, gave
no sign of recognition and never spoke.
After a moment or two the negro said:
"'He's daid.
"'Drop him and come along with
u0, DTOOkE CTl0u Urutdl1ys oAu A0
started to return to the boat.
= "The negro laid his dead masters
head softly down, rose to his feet, and
after picking up the colonel's undis-
charged pistol hurried after his new
master. Almost instantly came the re-
port of a pistol, and the party hurried
forward and found Brooks lying upon
the ground and the negro nowhere to
be seen. Brooks was dying when they
reached him, having been shot through
the back of the head, and he could not
tell who it was that had done the deed,
but some of those in the crowd were
heard to remark that the colonel's boy
was a mighty valuable niggah, sab,
that's what he was.
tThe bodies Of the colonel and his
opponent were left at Natchez, and in
Is minutes after the Belle Of Memphis
had left the wharf half dozen games
of poker were in full blast. 1t is game
I have never learned to play. Gin
cinnati Tribune.
a story is told down east of comical