Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-09-17
AN OLD TIME GAMBLING
EPISODE.
HNANNNaSa...x.sA.s..M.
[Original.l

Cincinnati l was delicate. We had
relatives in New Orleans. and at one
time l was sent down there for my
health, The only route was by the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and
made the trip in one of the big steam
ers of that day. The main feature
that | remember was seeing men sit
ting in the cabin playing cards, with
beautifully colored chips Why they
used the chips l was too young to I'M
derstand. In this connection | also re-
call their leaving the tables occasional
ly to go to little box about the size
of a Punch and Judy" show, placed
forward in the cabin, where they
drank drinks of Ito mel beautiful col
ors.
The Mississippi was one vast gam
bling resort from Cairo to New Or
leans. There were fatboats fitted up
for the purpose that foated slowly
down the river tying up at any point
where there were people to be fleeced,
and wherever there were planters there
were victims. One afternoon one of
these flatboats descending with the cur
rent was seen from the shore not far
below Memphis to be turning in to
shore. The only power aboard was in
the arms of men and a couple of long
sweeps or oars on either side. Those
on the starboard side flashed in the
sunlight, while the tiller oar left a rip
pie astern. The boat in this way was
brought ashore, and a hawser was got
out and tied to a stump upon the river
bank.
That night Julian Maran, a young
planter, stepped aboard the boat and,
with one or two of his friends who
were already there opened the game.
Maran had sold his plantation and ne
groes and was going to Baton Rouge to
marry his sweetheart and take M mis-
residence there. The money he had re-
dollars, with which he proposed to
amuse himself on the fatboat. He
added considerably to his hundred dol
lars during the evening and, being a
chivalrous fellow, considered himself
bound to go back the next day and give
the bank chance for revenge" In a
few days the fortune he had in bank
was every cent transferred to the
safe in the natboat.
That was curious age. If there are
chivalrOus professional gamblers now,
we hear nothing Of them. There were
chivalrous gamblers then, and they
made their influence felt. Perhaps it
was because gambling had not then
been left so far behind other means of
making a living as it is now. The
gambling propensity has developed
into more legitimate forms. Be this as
it may, as Maran was parting with the
remnant of his fortune, Gustavus Ster~
ling a professional gambler, who had
once been a respectable planter, board
ed the f1atboat 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 to the river bank
with him
Permit me to say subj" he said to
Maran, that / have seen many fools
in my life, and yo' ar one Of the big
gest. Even when a gambler plays faf
the advantage is with him. The men
on this boat are of the lowest kind of
swindlers."
Maran, maddened, was about to re-
tort angrily, when Sterling pulled
roll of bills from his pocket and con-
tinued: "Yo go down tha' tonight with
this and start in again. Don't play to
win. Play only to be in the game. I'll
be thai 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 fiat
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 a jackpot was opened,
and the pile on the table grew enor-
mously. Suddenly Sterling clapped one
hand down on the money and whipped
out a 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 raking off the money into his
hat. Then, setting the hat on a chair
he went to the owner of the boat and
began to search him.
"H-mr he remarked, drawing sew
eral aces held by a 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 pack of cards from his peck
ct. 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,
- ,,,1;+oI,. ocIyoJ tho pxvpor for thn