The evening times., 1896-03-04
A FAMOUS POKER GAME.
Story Of the Old Days Of Card-Play ing
on the Mississippi
Cincinnati Tribune

Cincinnati Tribune.
Talking about this fascina ting game of
| poker, for instance. ;" remarked gentleman
| in the rotunda OF the Grand Hotel the
| other night, 1.-The first game of poker / ever
witnessed had a sequel so tragic that it is in
| variably recalled TO me every time l see Il
card.
THE affair occurred shortly before the
| war. Ny father, who was very heavy
| producer OF the fleecy staple, cotton, and
| whose interests were almost destroyed
| by certain proclamation which proved en-
| inently 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 O'Clock in the after
noon and fifteen minutes later there were
| four or five poker games in operation.
Nearly everybody gambled on board in
those days. Professional gamblers lived
on the boasts and made the trips very
profitable by the large amounts which
they won from the passengers The
cotton planters who came North to spend
their money often reached their dest inatioD
dead broke and were compelled 10 return
on the same boat.
Among the passengers on the trip were
two business men from the Crescent City
who were bitter enemies, but whom per-
verse chance had seated at the same table
"One of them had with him tall, ath-
letic, finc-looking negro, who acted as a
body servant, and who was never very far
from h is ma ster's side. The boy remained
in the cabin and watched the play, which
grew more exciting S the time went on.
Toward evening some Of the players,
after losing all their funds, had begun stalk
ing the cotton and other produce they had
on board for the st. Louis markets. Up
on deck the rousta bouts were shooting
craps by the smoky glare of pinc-knots
that cast weird shadows on the surging
stream. Morning came and found the two
merchants still playing. The big negro had
made one or two attempts 10 speak TO his
master during the progress Of the game,
andhad dbeen ordered out of the cabin. As he
came out on deck my father addressed him:
You seem to be greatly interested in
the game, boy said he.
al is, massa,' was the reply: 'I'ze de
stakes on dat han. an ef de kunnel doan'
win rze Massa Brooks niggah, suah. rze
nightly interested in dat ar game, for suah.
massa.'
Mr.. Brooks won, and l saw the colonel
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 i
companion and began to walk up and
down the deck, laughing and Joking. AS
they passed by where Col. Wallace was
sitting he stood up, and. addressing Brooks,
said violently:
You're a scoundrel and cheat!
Brooks seized chair and was about to
strike at the speaker, but his friend clutch
ed his arm and prevented any violence 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 ac-
counts between the parties. The thing was
quite common, and many a party of four
or five that left the boats for an hour were
one or two short when they returned.
1T was glorious night. The moon was
full and shed a 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 tumbled-dOwn houses make it
look now 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 n duel was about to be
fought.
Brooks new property, the negro, accom-
panied the party, and the winner lost noop-
portunity of making the unfortunate boy
understand that he had changed masters.
Under the bluffs from which the town
takes its name OF Natchez-Under-the'Hn
the party halted, fifteen pace were counted
off, the colonel and Brooks faced ca ch other,
pistols in hand.
Ready One-two-threev
1.-THE last word was lost in the report of
Brooks weapon. He had fired without
waiting for the word to be completed.
1.-The 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 it on his arm.
1.-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 conc along with me-