Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-19
TWO LIVES LOST ON THE GAME.
Duel and Murder Follow the Playing of
Poker on the MississIppi.

Talking about the fascinating game
OF poker, for instance, remarked a gen
tleman in the rotunda of the Grand
Hotel the other night, to Cincinnati
reporter, ''the first game of poker | ever
witnessed had sequel so tragic that it
is invariably recalled to me every time
/ see a card.
The affair occurred shortly before
the war My father, who was a very
heavy producer of the feecy staple, cot
ton, and whose interests were almost
totally destroyed by certain proclama-
ton which proved eminently disastrous
to owners of Southern plantations, took
me with him on a 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 Or
leans about two o'clock in the afternoon
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 boats and made the trips
very profitable by the large amounts
/ which the won from the passengers
The cotton planters who came North to
spend their money often reached their
destination dead broke and were com
PEELED to return on the same boat.
Among the passengers on the trip
were two business men from the Cres-
cent City who were bitter enemies, but
whom perYerse chance had seated at
the same table.
One of them had with him a tall
athletic, fine looking negro, who acted
as body servant, and who was never
far away from his masters side. The
boy remained in the cabin and watch
ed the play, which grew more exciting
as the time went on.
Toward evening some OF the players,
after losing all their funds. had begun
stalking the cotton and other produce
| they had on board for st. Louis mar
kets. Up on deck the roustabouts were
shooting craps by the smoky glare of
pine knots that cast weird shadows on
the suTging stream. Morning came and
found the two merchants still playing
The big negro had made one or two at
tempts to speak TO his master during
the progress Of the game, and been or
dered 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.
u is, massa,' was the reply: TIE de
stakes on dat han, an eff de kunnel
doan' win Ize Massa Brooks niggah,
suah. lie nightly interested in that
ar game, for suah, massa.
Mr.. Brooks won, and / saw the col
onel 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 not shoot himself
or jump into the river but he showed
no signs of doing either.
After awhile Brooks came out with a
companion and began to walk up and
down the deck, laughing and joking.
AS they passed by where Colonel Wal
lace was sitting he stoop up. and, ad-
dressing Brooks, said Violently
you're a scoundrel and cheat!
Brooks seized a chair and was about
to strike at the speaker, but his friend
clutched 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
landed at the wharf should be utilized
in squaring accounts between the par
ties. 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 a 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 in that time
but its dismantled hotels and tumble
down houses make it look now like a
mere ghost Of it's former prosperity.
when we left the steamer and moved
up the wharf. several citizens followed
us, as they knew that a duel was about
to be fought
"Brooks's new property. the negro
accompanied the party, and the winner
lost no opportunity of making the I'M
fortunate boy understand that he had
changed masters.
"Under the bluff from which the town
takes its name of NatchezU Underline
Hill the party halted, fifteen PAGES were
counted off, the Colonel and Brooks
faced each other, pistols in hand.
Ready, One-two-threep
"The last word was lost in the report
of Brooks's weapon. He had fired
without waiting for the word to be
completed.
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.
THE Colonel was unconscious, gave
no sign of recognition, and never
spoke. After a moment or two, the
negro said:
Hes daidr
"'Drop him and come along with
me, Brooks cried brutally, and he start
ed to return to the boat
The negro laid his dead masters
head softly down, rose to his feet, and
after picking up the Colonels 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 tc
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 Coloneps boy
was a mighty valuable niggah, sab,
that's what he was
1.-The bodies of the Colonel and his
opponent were left at Natchez, and in
fifteen minutes after the Belle of Men,
phis had left the wharf half a dozen