The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-05
ACARD SHARP.
One of the Few Remaining Figures OF
the g River"


For 40 years a professional gambler
and, though he has quit the cards for
good, unashamed. That is the record OF
George H. Devol. one of the few re-
naming picturesque figures OF the rlV-
err crowd in the times "befoa the woa,
says the St. Joseph. Mo. correspondent
of the New York World.
Devol is entirely frank about MS
checkered past. He tells OF his many
and varied exploits with freedom ana
a cheerfulness that are beWiidering 10
the ordinary person.
But the life of this self-confessed
card sharper is intensely interesting.
His career is full Of incident. and ne
relates it with breezy relish that u
at least picturesque
Devol IS visiting St.Joseph after many
years of absence He once ran a gahiD-
ling house here, and he has, or nad,
many friends He returned 70 IN, ny
many of the old-timers who had been
cronies of his dead and buried: A par
ticular chum was Elisha GLADDEN., ana
his visit was especially to see MN. ne
was met at the station with the news
that GLADDEN. had been buried less IMAM
fortnight before.
The old gambler finds it the same
everywhere The old river men whom
he knew before the war and IN the Dese
DAYS of the steamboat trade are rap
/ idly disappearing. =
before. Mr.. Devol talked to the CORES
nondent of the Worlds Sunday Maya
zine about his experience today.
You want to know how happened 70
become a gambler" he asked. ! don |
/ know that 1 can tell. l think It was
natural to me. 7 was inclined toward
games of chance when boy.
Il was born at Marietta, Ohlos IN
August, 1929, where my father was
shin carpenter and built boats for the
river traffic L will have to admit tnat
I was a bad boy. People used 10 say
mat I would be hanged if lived to DC
Fl years old.
as a cabin boy at 81 month AI1el
that I shipped on the Walnut Hsn ane
the Cicero and several other boats ane
when the Mexican war broke out VIZ
almost a man. 1 was at Plttsburg a
the time. but went on a boat pouno To-
'ii son the way down a man, who's
name l do not know. taught me Z
( stack the cards so that could dea
him a good hand BY the time "
reached New Orleans I was gambler
and I have been at it ever since
vent with the boat to the Rio eraha
and PLAYED cards there with the Sol
diers until I tired OF It; Dut WhSh
returned to New Orleans had abou
- 700 and I was not quite II years Ole
I decided to go home. and Went up o
1.-THE old boat Montgomery as Tar q
Cincinnati. There bought ABOUT 90
worth OF 8COAS am AoDHN e-- : =
II remained at home year ana DC
cided that I would never gamble agar
{ went to Cincinnati again, where N
fi brother Paul was working at calkin
: steamboats,. L remained with him an
T learned the trade and we used 10 MAJ
r 81 each daV- I was PLAYING faro a
/, the time and when Monday mornin
came 7 never had any money. The
game has always had a peculiar Ease
nation Cor me If it had not been 4
faro I would be rich now, but alwae
= lost all I could make at It.
{ aOne CAV I kicked my tools into =
: river and told my brother I would new
+ work another hour as long as 1 i've
Il went to a gambling house and "a
the game Of 'rondo. In six months y
were taking ia $500 a day and VI
taken IN as a partner. It was gre
deal Of money my share OF #. Tor
q boy. The fines becames so heavy tn
we were compelled to quit. then we