The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09

the Bensley brothers. You could step in
any night you liked to a faro game. $500
open. You could lay $500 on any card, a
thousand IL you wished. and II you won you
| won. and If you lost. you lost.
II was getting right too fast ! couldn't
stay quiet. In 1850 went to New Orleans.
l bought fourth interest in faro game
/ there run by Jim Scags. him as was the
richest gambler in the United States, owned
seven plantations and about a thousand
niggers.
Il remember planter came in one night
Had terrible bad luck. Nice gentleman, he
was. too. Well he dropped $1,000. and then
began to play for nigeers. Ordinary slave.
5000 Blaciismiths $500. He lost twenty
eight. two Of them blacksmiths. There I
was with twenty-eight slaves. and no PLAN
tation to put 'em on. But Jim Scags took
EN-. and paid me their price.
Polite Pettipin, he was Freach Creole.
He was u gambler born. Remember ono
night l bet him 5000 on the first jack
Ard he beat me too, walked Off with the
S. GOO.
Il was in New Orleans at the outbreak Of
the war. / stayed there all Of 1861. and
started up the river in 1862. l landed in
pany of Confederates. But never got into
active service. They sent me and two
others w the river, to try to reach St.
Louis and bring back quinine
81 was captured few miles above Cairo.
The Union men had the river blockaded.
and one dark night our little skift ran
plump into the guard. They took me down
to Cairo. where they came within an ace
of shooting me for spy. They .woufdve
done it. too, If 1t hadn't been for General
Macdonald. Macdonald was a friend Of
mine, and he got me released.
After that. 1 headed for st. Louis, and
when got here stayed until the war was
over. l opened up faro game and made
a pretty smart of money. 1t was shortly
after the South was whipped. that / lost
the largest sum / ever dropped at one sit
ting. 1t was in New York. SIS Broadway. I
had got 1t into my head that would visit
Ireland being the son OF an Irishman. and
something Of tarrier' at that myself.
II landed In Johnny Morrisey's place I
suppose you've heard of Morrfsey. He was
square and game gambler. Well. sir.
lost every cent l had on me. and had to
pass up the trip abroad But Morrisey
staked me and / soon was on my feet
again.
II fell in with a man by the name of J. F.
Doe. We made the circuit several seasons
together, playing faro game. Wed go to
Chicago, Cleveland, Rochester, Syracuse.
Utica and round UP at Saratoga. That was
in the summers In the winters was at
my old stamping ground In New Orleans
Occasionally. too. I'd make 4 trip on one
Oh TIC IlS0I OO6to. AA0SV yOh "a AAS
gambling right. remember that spent
two seasons on the old Alice Of Vivian.
Many's the bale Of cotton that win on
that boat.
ut was in 1876 that I began to lose out.
There was fellow by the name Of Johnny
Smith whom had befriended. picked him
up when he was down and kept him and
his family for two years. But he was fell
low like this Lord Darlington: he had no
gratitude. One night at Sixth and Elm
streets that fellow. thinking had 5000
on me, hit me over the head with his pistol
But I'd given 1850 Of the money to
friend to hold. and Smith got only $500
"Well. that blow crushed my skuf1 in.
and. though recovered, was almost blind
for three years. 1t was lucky that had
that $500 then, for It was all that kept me
going. Somehow. rye never been myself
since was hit. I've been . dead letter..
what became Of Johnny Smith. Kerr
asked q friend who had heard the old
sport tell his story.
II met him here in 81 Louis some four
years Afterwards" was the reply. "and
he died. Died on q steamboat. Was buried
In the pottef's deld at VlckSourI and no
didn't get any more than WAS coming to
him."
aHow did be happen to die on the steam
boatf''
Kelly McGue seemed reluctant TO tallr up-
on this point. but. after hesitating, he
answered:
sBecauss he wasn't fsslins WY well
when he went aboard"
Those who know Kelly McGus tell .
graphic story Of this hnaa reckoning BE-
tween him and TIE insEats. They ~ that
Chestnut streeta. WHARF. 4 occurred. Nc
Cue was standing n front Of the bar. They
relate that McGue drew his pistol, sd
vanced upon Smith. and heat him down.