The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-07
River Gamblers Were Baffled
Dealt Wrong Tried Steal Resulting
Two Old Friends.

I'M o." said a ST. Louis merchant,
IN one night last week 20 a party of
friends. when they had finished
dinner in one of the hotels, after being
to the races that day, II did not bet on
the horses' and never bet on anything.
profit by the experience of others. IN
tell you how:
While it is true that the day OF the
| -alSslsSippi river steamboat has passed
SIM the frequent entertaining stories
appearing in the press and magazines
pear witness to the memories still lin
ger1ng with those who frequently chose
us sometimes broad and other times
narrow channel for means of transit
But all that has been written CANNOT
convey to the uninitiafed the absolute
sense or peace and quiet that was TO be
round on a Mississippi packet 1t is
rue tnat poker games hourished aboard
the ooats, and these same games were
the cause of marring what would other
wise nave been uninterrupted content
ment And just why men should prefer
10 gamble in a room below decks in
preference 10 sitting in the shade on a
beautiful summer afternoon. or niov-
ing the moonlight in the evening nrob-
ABLY VIII always remain 8 mystery. The
scenery was ever changing. Sometimes
the boat would be so close 10 the shore
that one could pluck leaves from the
II
channel so willed, you would be in the
center OF a stream two miles wide
me steamboat Bright Light was one
OF The large boats that made the run To
81. Paul, the head of Mississippi navi-
cation. and during one of these trims
am otherwise delightful time was
marred by the usual cause of so many
uisIurpanceS, the game of poker In
TINS instance, however, while creating
excitement and confusion, the game
Hn -sar--
choms INTO closer friendship.
Leaving St Louis on a warm day in
me Hlddie or August, a most pleasure
apIe time was enjoyed. The river was
low and the boat had the usual difficult
ties IN ascending the stream. The pas
senger list was light, including among
its number a young man named How
ara Riggs, who had come from New
Orleans At st. Louis he changed boats
and booked ON the Bright Light for ST.
Paui: As afterward shown he carried
considerable money from his firm in
New Orleans. Two other men changed
boats also. gamblers, as was afterward
SHOWN, for the purpose of following
Riggs. Young Riggs had conducted
himself from New Orleans to ST Louis
with discretion, enjoying the day on
deck and retiring early to his stateroom
IN the evening. From St. Louis to Du-
Duque, Ia, he formed the acquaint-
ance OF the two gamblers. but did not
play AIler leaNlng DUBUQUE the cap
tain remarked that the trip had been
uneventfui and pleasant but a little
slow, as the river was at low water.
Among the passengers taken aboard at
dubuque was man named Oliver
Hamilton Both Riggs and Hamilton
! mad been applicants for the position
| held by Riggs and when the appoint
ment of Riggs had been made a few
words passed between the two former
friends and Hamilton went north So
IL was after nearly a year that the two
men met on board the boat at Dubuque.
and Whatever check Riggs had put OIL
himself between New Orleans and the
Iowa town was either thrown TO the
winds or forgotten in the excitement of
meeting Hamilton and knowing he
would be passenger for the remainder
Of the voyage.
That evening he played cards with
the Two gamblers. He met with no
losses, in fact, was allowed to win a
little, and the next night he was again
successful. Hamilton. though aware
that Riggs was in danger forbore
speaking to him until the last night
before the boat reached St. Paul. Early
that evening, seeing another game
about to commence, he spoke to Riags.
/ telling him he knew the character OF
his newly found associates, and advised
him to refrain from further play The
interference of Hamilton angered Riggs