The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-04-22

rites are forced to content themselves
with quiet games of poker. The others,
of the class contemptuously known as
ashoestrings,' Tin horns, ""crap-shoot-
ers" etc., lead a precarious existence
in the fleeing of boys and dinner
pail" workmen. Stakes of a nickel are
stopped to by these petty swindlers.
The old-time gambler, who played be-
cause his blood was riotous with chance,
and who often staked on the turn of a
card as much money as the stealings
Of one of the modern "shoestrings'
mounts to in year, has left for other
countries. The true gambler is as
scarce as the crapshooters are plenti-
ful.
number of years ago IA boys consti-
tuted class in a school in Joplin, Mo.
Three of them had been born in Baxter
Springs, Kan, in the days when that
town was the "front" of the Fort Scott
road. 1t was ''hot town." in which
dozen city marshals were shot to death
IN year, where gamblers were an i'm
portant part of the population, and
where money was plentiful. These
three boys had the gambling instinct
as truly as the colt of a turf sire has the
faculty to trot. And out of the class of
u, ten boys grew into gamblers. They
were accomplished in all the novelties
Of their trade before they were out of
fehool. s- -. ~.
OF the ten, three became leaders. Sam
Parks was perhaps the most desperate
and successful. jeff Davis was edu-
Gated for priest. Bob Cummings was
lawyer as well as gambler. All three
arc the heroes of adventures that would
make bookful of stirring stories.
This is the story of how jeff Davis
assisted in the stirring events in the
Central American country of Guate-
mala that resulted in the death of Presi-
Gent Barrios in 1885. Barrios and his
fon were on visit to New York. Davis,
then slight, reticent, dark-eyed youth,
had gone there to practice his calling.
lie met young Barrios in little game
IN one of the small hotels and was in
uoduced to the Central American pres
ldent. In Spanish-American States
gambling is looked upon much more
lenlently than in the United States.
oarfios was at the time a great friend
M americans, and fostered their i'm
migration to his country. To Davis he
said:
Events may so shape themselves that
may give you gambling privileges in
ny country that will be exceedingly
saiuaoie. at all events, shall be glad
naye you come to San Jose de Guate-
nala."
laws saw the advantages he would
nave IN the favor and protection of the
PRESIDENT. Shortly afterward he sailed
aof uaatemala with a friend named Nc
tune. Barrios was as good as his word,
ana Davis soon had two games running,
oue al Champerico, on the coast, in
nafge OF McCune, and the other at
0sn Jose de Guatemala, the capital,
Nilh himself in the lookout"
for several months all went well and
- .e ihaae money like mint. The eX-
s,uS'seness of his privilege drove all
.Ae ehance money to his tables and he
nas soon On the road to opulence. Then
narrios issued his famous proclama-
uon OF the union of Central American
s'ases and Davis was promised the
gambling privileges of the union. As a
consequence he turned the stream of
1ls wealth toward the Golfers of Bar
.'os and his dollars helped to equip
sne army. War was declared. and on
1srch 80 of that year Gen. Barrios
marched On the frontier of Salvador
with $4,000 troops to punish his treach-
s1ous friend Zaldivar, who had prom.
,sea 70 come into the union and at the
. moment declared his enmity. On
ap1'l the Guatemalans attacked San
.s.,o ,snzo and the next day, when the at
~ was to be repeated, Barrios left
- tent to assume command of his
~ and was killed by sharpshoote,
s.o'a a tree. Meanwhile the battle had
san, and in short time both sides