The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-04-25
LOUIS BROKE THE BANK.
Col. Cole Martin Relates an Exper
enCe While Gambling.


Early settlers of Redwood Falls
will remember Louis Robere- or
Roberts-as he was known in Eng
lish. He was Frenchman having
several Indian agencies over Min
nesota, and one of them was located
in Redwood Falls. Long before the
population of the town reached a
hundred he had erected two-story
building for his own use on a lot on
Second street, above Washington,
about 60 feet on this side of where
II. C. Bakers feed store is now
located. The building was torn
down by Geo. Brown couple OF
years ago, and part of it is in use in
building on Mr.. Browns farm.
Mr.. Robere conducted thriving
business at the place during the
early days, trading wares brought
in on boats and by team to the In
dams then located around Redwood
Falls, the latter giving furs in ex-
change, which Mr.. Robere sold at
st. Paul and made big money. When
the Indiane departed Mr.. Robere
gave up the business here, and the
old building was afterwards used
for various purposes. Merchandise
and machinery we're sold from it.,
and the second floor was often used
for travelling theatrlcals. The safe
which Mr.. Robere used for keeping
his books and currency is still lay
ing on the lot, a relic of better days.
Col. Cole Martin of Washington,
at one time bold gambler and
keeper of gambling houses, and
quite friend of Mr.. Robere's, re-
Gently told the following story OF
his connection with Mr.. Robere:
''Previous to my removal to
Washington in 1858, I lived in ST..
Paul, and ran one of the biggest
places in that then frontier city. II
l had kept the real estate I took in
payment of small gambling debts,
would to-day be millionaire ten
times over. Indeed one piece
turned over to Senator Rice for a
small loan could not be purchased
today for a quarter of a million dol
lars, yet I lifted only $1,000 on it,
and thought I made good deal.
Thirty thousand dollars was the
amount of my last bank note in St.
Paul. It was a great game. !
dealt for Louis Robere. a French
man, who had five Indian agencies,
and more money than he knew what
to do with. Louis was a great
friend and admirer of mine, and on
his.return to St. Paul from his Wis
it's to his agencies, he always went
against my bank. The game in
which he broke me occurred in the
early part Of 1883, and lasted As
hours. The bank was at one per-
iod of the game $50 600 to the better
of Louis roll, but the Frenchman
was game, and played to my finish.
"A few days after he had broke
me, he called around and ordered
me to open up, giving me credit at
the State bank for $4,000, without
note or security Of any kind.
s'When in 1858 l finally deter
mined to leave St. Paul, Louis
called on me and offered to put me
in charge of his Indian agencies at
a handsome salary with a fine OPP
portunity to make money on the
side. { hesitated, and he urged
me to accept. He went over The
whole gamut of the gambler S ups
and downs and uncertainties, anc
predicted my finish at a penniless
old age if I lived long enough.
finally refused the good old fellow
offer, and in 1862, the man WIZ
took the position I declined lost hi:
life in the terrible Indian MASSACRE
of that year.
ssThe Sioux and Winnebagoe
massacred over 5000 men, womel
and children in Minnesota in 1867
and every one of my friend Loui
Robere S agents fell in the massa
ere. So that, after all, I am ahea'
of the game 3S years, and I hav
probably seen more in that tim
and in this world than | could Sc
or probably care to experience i
that bourne to which the poor fe1
low went who took the job | refused
Mr.. Robere, | am glad to state, es
capped the massacre and died som
years ago millionaire. A goo