The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-21
AN OLD TINE GAMBLING
EPISODE.
IorLKlnall

health. The only route was by the
Ohio ana Mississippi rivers, and
made the trip In one OF tho biz steam
ers OF that day, The main feature
that | remember was seeing men sit
ting In the cabin playing cards, with
beautifully colorcd chips, Why they
used the chips was too young to I'm.
dcrstand. In this connection alao ~
call their leaving tho tables occasional
ly TO go TO Il little box about tho slso
OF a punch and Judy" show. placed
forward In tho cabin, where they
drank drinks OF to mel beautiful col
ors,
The Mississippi was ono vast gam,
bling resort from Cairo 10 New Or
leans There were natboats fitted up
for the purpose that noated slowly
down the river. tying up at any poin,
where there were people 10 DO heeced.
and wherever there were planters there
were victims one afternoon one of
these iiatboats descending with the eur.
rent was seen from tho shore not far
below Memphis to be turning In to
shore, The only power aboard was In
the arms OF men and couple OF long
sweeps or oars on either side. Those
on the starboard side flashed In tho
sunlight, while the tiller oar loft rir
pie astern. Tho boat In this way was
brought ashore, and q hawsor was 90,
out and tied to stump upon the river
bank.
That night Julian Maran. q young
planter. stepped aboard the boat and.
with one or two Of his friends who
were already there. opened tho game
Maran had sold his plantation and no.
groes and was going 10 Baton Rouge to
marry bis sweetheart and take up his
residence there The money he had 70
ceived was In bank except hundred
dollars, with which he proposed to
amuse himself on the datboat Hs
added considerably 10 hia hundred dol.
lars during tho evening and. being a
chivalrous fellow. considered himself
bound TO 70 back the next day and give
the bank q chance for revenge" In q
few days the fortune he had In bank
was every cent transferred to tho
safe In the hatboat
That was curious age. II there are
chivairous professional gamblers now.
we hear nothing OF them. There werc
chivalrous gamblers then. and they
made their influence felt. Perhaps II
was because gambling had not then
been left 80 far behind other means OF
making a living as II Ia now. Tho
gambling propensity has developed
into more legitimate forms. Be this an
Il may. as Maran was parting with the
remnant OF his fortune. Gustavus ster'
ling. a professional gambler. who had
once been respectable planter, board
ed the fiatboat. He had left 'the pro
fession" and with his winnings had
bought Maran's plantation. When Ma
ran had parted with his last dollar,
Sterling walked up on 10 the river bank
with him.
Permit me to say, suh," he said to
Maran, "that l have seen many fools
In my life, and yo' ar one Of the big
gest. Even when gambler plays fat
the advantage Is with him. The men
on this boat are OF the lowest kind Of
swlndlers."
Maran, maddened. was about to re.
tort angrily. when Sterling pulled q
roll OF bills from bis pocket and con.
tlnued: "Yo' 90 down tha' tonight with
this and start In again. Don't play to
win. Play only to be In the game. I'll
be tha'. and take hand myself. Have
a gun In yo pocket. sub"
Maran tried to express his gratitude,
but Sterling turned away and went to
seek a few OF the formers friends,
That evening Maran. Sterling and two
others whom Sterling had asked to be
present opened the game on the hat.
boat. The owner of the outfit and two
assistants were OF the party, making
seven In all. They had played an hour
or more when jackpot was opened,
and the pile on the table grew enor-
mously. Suddenly Sterling clapped one
hand down on the money and whipped
out gun with the other, At the
same moment Maran and his two
friends drew their weapons and COW
cred the three professionals. The coup
was effected SO quickly that not one Of
the latter was able TO draw.
"Put yo' arms on the table," ordered
Sterling. raSlng of the money into his
hat. Then, setting the hat on chair,
he went to the owner Of the boat aud
began to search him. .'+t
HIM be remarked, drawing soy.
eral aces held by clasp attached to
a rubber cord In his sleeve. "A cheap
device, but good enough to fool asses
with" Then, going to the next man,
he took a pack of cards from his pock.
et held them up to the light and
continued;
MARKS big enough to see In the
dark. All the court cards are plain
on the back as on the face"
After going through the three men
and finding evidence Of fraud on all,
he politely asked the owner for the
key Of the safe. The man, having n