The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-20
tst. Louis Republic,


The new woman Is not of this day only.
She has always existed in one way or
another From time to time she has
made herself conspicuous in vocations
which were considered mems sole pre-
rogative. There have been female cow
boys" and horse thieves in the Western
plains. Cattle raising has been success
fully carried on by women, and fem
ininity has not been an obstacle to good
mining hauls either as actual stakers
of claims or shrewd spectators. But
there has never been a woman in this
broad land who equaled Nine. Mus
tache" as a gambler Many have at 4
tempted it, but it was only temporary
makeshift for something better or worse
to turn up.
For over twenty years Nine. Mus
tache was known in every mining camp
from Utah and Idaho to California, and
even to-day, though nearly a score OF
years have passed since she ended her
| life, her name is mentioned by the old
timers with pity and affection, and In
every miners memory is stored anec-
dotes of the little French woman whom
he ran across often in his rough mean
behring's in search for the yellow stuff.
! The real name of Nine Mustache
was Dumont, and from the mines of
British Columbia to those of California,
and as far east as the Black Hills, the
restless little French woman followed
the uncertain growth Of mining camps
In the pursuit Of her profession Of gam
bling. The first known Of her was in
Nevada City in 1854. She arrived one
day on the stage coach-a pretty, fresh.
dark-eyed woman, apparently about 20
years Of age-and her stylish appear
ance created as much Of stir among
the rough, inhabitants of the town as
that Of the widow in the "Danites" The
madame at once rented from the pro-
prietor Of a large gambling establish
ment a table, at which she started
game of "vingt-et-un." The novelty
Of pretty woman dealing game at
tracted many players to her tables, and
as she paid strict attention to her bust
ness and was very lucky, she soon had
quite capital.
Dave Tobin, the most notorious Of
! Nevada City's gamblers, was then alive.
Tobin recognized the business ability
and tact Of the madame, and formed
business partnership with her. They
opened an immense establishment and
ran dozen games day and night. He
managed the large games, such as~faro
and keno, and she superintended the
small games. ''twenty-one," "chuck-a-
luck" ETC., and of the two she made
the most money.
Nine. Dumont became a great favorite
with the miners, for she was always
agreeable and smiling, and accepted
her losses with careless shrug and a
smile, while pocketing her winnings
with the gamblers indifference. The
madame and Tobin continued Their
partnership for about year. when To-
, bin went to New York, where he died
soon after the war, leaving large for
tune.
The mania for gambling and the love
for gambling were Unsuitable in the
madame and for the next ten years she
wandered from camp to camp, always
successful and always the pet OF the
rough miners. 1t became a saying OF
: theirs that there was more satisfaction
. In playing against the madame's game
and losing than In winning at any
. other game She possessed peculiar
power over even the toughest Of hel
customers.
One time In Phoebe the room In which
, she was dealing her game became fillet
with a noisy, quarreling crowd of min
ers, maddened with drink and flourish
\ Ing pistols. They seemed bound t,
: have free fight. The barkeepers ant
i, faro dealers were fruitlessly trying t,
e quiet the crowd, when Nine. Dumont
, observing their dismay, quietly ap
( preached the noisiest and. looked a
them for few moments without sayin,
. a word. Then she reproved them laugh
; lngly for their ungallant conduct, an,
Y succeeded in clearing the room an,
e avoiding bloody conflict. The insti
0 gator Of the row she asked to remain
Y with her as sort of protector unit
: the others had dispersed. and thus sepa
d rating him from the quarreling crowd
e the others got away in peace
Among the sporting fraternity she wa
chiefly admired for her "rustling" quail
! tiles. AS an instance Of the latter quail
; lily, rare accomplishment In mimi,
{ camps, 1t Is stated that once In Boi
= City, Idaho, she succeeded In raising
stake with which to capitalize her bank
when other well-known gamblers re
: manned sadly stranded for the lack 0
funds. No luckless miner ever cam
broke to a camp where the madame wa
o installed and asked her for a Rtak
y without receiving 1t. Despite he
. strange surroundings and un1ls1al mod