Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-04-02
A GAME FOR A LIFE.

S/WN mining communi-
4 Hg ties in the west,
I " IN are square gam
bling games per-
~ mitted. The real
.,., gamblers left in
0'.cs are forced to content themselves
win quiet games OF poker. The Others.
oI the class contemptuousIy known as
shoestrings," tin horns, "crap-shoot
ers' etc., lead precarious existence
IN the fleeing of boys and dinner
pairworkmen. Stakes of nickel are
S.ooped to by these petty swindlers.
ne oid-time gambler, who played be-
cause his blood was riotous with chance.
ana who often stakcd on the turn of n
card us much money as the stealings
OF one OF the modern "shoestrings.
mounts to r4a year, has left for other
countries. ; true gambler is as
ful.
A number of years ago IA boys consti-
suted class In 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 a
dozen city marshals were shot to death
IN q year, where gamblers were an i'm
portant part Of the population, and
where money was plentiful. These
'nree boys had the gambling instinct
as truly as the colt of turf sire has the
faculty to trot. And out of the class of
IL, ten boys grew into gamblers. They
were accomplished in all the novelties
OF their trade before they were out of
school. Y. -.
OF the ten, three became leaders. Sam
Parks was perhaps the most desperate
and successful. JEFF Davis was edu-
Gated for apriest. Bob Cummings was a
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-
dent Barrios in 1885. Barrios and his
son 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
troduced to the Central American pres
ident. In Spanish-American States
gambling is looked upon much more
leniently than in the United States.
Barrios was at the time great friend
of 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
my country that will be exceedingly
valuable. At all events, shall be glad
to have you come to San Jose de Guate-
niala."
Davis saw the advantages he would
have In the favor and protection of the
president Shortly afterward he sailed
for Guatemala with friend named Nc
Cunc. Barrios was as good as his word,
and Davis soon had two games running,
one at Champerico, on the coast, in
charge of McCune, and the other at
San Jose de Guatemala, the capital,
with himself in The lookout"
For several months all went well and
Davis made money like mint The ex-
clusiveness of his privilege drove all
the chance money to his tables and he
was soon on the road to opulence. Then
Barrios issued his famous proclama-
ton of the union of Central American
states and Davis was promised the
gambling privileges of the union. AS
consequence he turned the stream OF
his wealth toward the Golfers of Bar
rios and his dollars helped to equip
the army. War was declared, and on
March 30 Of that year Gen. Barrios
marched ON the frontier of Salvador
with 10000 troops to punish his treach-
erous friend Zaldivar, who had prom
lsed to come into the union and at the
last moment declared his enmity. On
April 2 the Guatemalans attacked San
Lorenzo and the next day, when the at
tack was TO be repeated, Barrios left
his tent to assume command OF his
ormy and was killed by a sharpshootel
from n tree. Meanwhile the battle had
bepun. and in short time both sides
withdrew from the field, but not until
successful effort had been made by
the Guatemalans, with loss OF 25 lives
"a recover the body of Barrios Gen
vcrancio Barrios, son of the president
was also killed on the same field, TO-
gctber with 1000 of his comrades.
Thus was the attempt to unite Cen
trail America brought to nothing. Davis
waS without friends. He was knowI
N have made large sums OF money ant
70 have aided Barrios, and in the con
f,,s;on that followed both he and Nc
Cune were arrested, tried and con
demned to death.
The property of Davis was conhsca,es ,
aud he was thrown into prison. Nc
rune was promptly hanged outside th'
walls of Champerico and his pody iliie'
with bnllets. Then began the battle o
wits to save the life OF Davis.
n,y;s with the true instinct OF tn
gambler, had bought unset unset d,imond h1s %od,
"ndsr his clothes he wore broad bel
S,led with them. This he took toprisol
with him. oa,,,,,onde,
n'e ,,. ,ood oraces Of the goyerno
- n The prison and he was INTRODUCED
=, ths @ Governors wife, who became in
~ od W. IN the slight, good-lookini
young American. At the ,n.l.h ,ps' a;ampn, opP0s
tnnity he presented her WIN ,,a., a'at,o' ann IN
from his belt and proposed 'na' '.i, sne III ~
. .ist in keeping him alive until M
friends f could come to him. nm. ,,o,n.r !
The governors wife @, @, was ,,1,saovdn q woman So .
,,ood wit and she liked dinnonos - on -