Year: 1877

GAMBLING ON THE MISSISSIPPI.


In the Fall of the year 1857, I found my.
self on board one of those floating palaces, a
Mississippi steamboat, on my way from New
Orleans to Cincinnati The "Sultana" was
mammoth boat, designed for both freight and
passengers, and she was superbly appointed
in every respect.


In the days to which We refer, the passen-
ger accommodations were upon what we
should term the hurricane deck, consisting OF
a long hall running fore and aft from which
opened the state rooms, much like the Long
Island steamers of the present day. Here
the table was set for the passengers at meal
time, and when cleared away series of short
tables we're left, covered with green cloths,
about which card parties spent hour after
hour at their favorite games.


Indeed, there were professional gamblers
who lived on these steamers, paying passage
like any other travellers, but whose business
it was to pick up any unwary person who
might be on board, inducing him to play, and
after gaining his confidence to certain ex-
tent, they managed to "clean him out" as the
term was, of every dollar he possessed


noticed of this class of men one set OF
three, who were so evidently sharpers, that
few persons, however unaccustomed to meet
such. were liable to be deceived by them.
Though very neatly dressed and very cour-
teous in manners, there was still something
about them which betrayed the nature Of
their calling. They were professional gam
blers. They had more than once invited me
to sit down with them, but had uniformly
declined, and the last time so pointedly that
felt satisfied they would make no further
attempt so far as | was concerned.


They had played, however, with several
different individuals by the close Of the third
or fourth day, of course with the usual result
At first they would lose inconsiderable sums,
in order to lure their victim on and to lull any
possible suspicion; but before they finished
with their victim, they were sure to take his
last dollar. One poor fellow, who had been
thus victmized, became so disconsolate at his
losses, which we're so very large in the aggre-
gate, that / really thoug ght he would throw
himself overheard. He acknowledged to me
that the money he had lost was not his own,
but intrusted to his care as messenger of
st. Louis bank.


had noticed, from the first day, young
and gentlemanly-appearing person, who se-
lected nearly the same seat every day, near
the port bow of the steamer, where he could
command fine view ahead of the course in
which we were steering, and could also take
in, at glance, both sides of the river. He
invariably had a book in his hand, between
which and the attractions of the ever-chang-
ing scenery, he divided bis attention. He
seemed to be quite alone and to have no
friends on board.


He had mild, quiet expression of features,
and as / thought, just little dashed with
melancholy. l tried hard to place him, as the
saying is-that is, to imagine to what class Of
society he might belong, and what were his
probable associations or business. But did
not arrive at any successful conclusion as
regarded these matters. He might be young
-raw sruurur, or q yuuug cIer yindn, 30 entneiy
respectable and modest did he appear at all
events he seemed to be gentleman. His
features were remarkably handsome, and bis
hands as delicate as those of fine lady.


fancied that the gamblers had been watch
ing this Young man, and l confess that felt
some little trepidation lest they should sue
ceed in enticing him to sit down with them.
= Of course knew very well there could be
but one result to such an intervew-he would
only be the fifth or sixth victim thus far, on
the up-river trip, to that rascally trio. was
not sure that they had their eyes on him, but
somehow it appeared to me that it was so. l
seemed to feel it instinctively.


It was the evening of the fourth day since
we left New Orleans. had been down be-
low upon the engine-deck, to see the busy as
spect of life which such places exhibit. At
ter an hour spent below, returned to the up
per cabin, and just as my head came above
the stairs that landed in the main saloon, my
eyes fell upon the table where the three gam
blers usually sat, and there saw sitting and
playing cards, the young stranger to whom l
have referred.


1t was just what I had feared. Here's
another victim, I said to myself A sort of
fascination drew me to the table where they
sat, and soon became interested in looking
upon the game. The young stranger seemed
to play very fair hand; be was cool and
quiet; he lost or won it really did not seem
to excite him, but at that time the stakes
were 80 small that it was quite unimportant !;
dollar or two more made very little differ
ence to either of the party.


But understood the game these sharpers
were playing. They were entcing and lead
ing the young fellow on, and the first time he
sat down with them, when the game was over,
he was the winner to the extent of twenty or
thirty dollars, even at the small stakes which
they had mutually risked upon the game.
He seemed to be one of the most unsoPhisti-
Gated persons l ever saw, and even took up
his winnings with some hesitation. The gam
blers knew very we'll what they were about :;
they saw profitable customer in this young
and unsuspecting person.


I was anxious about the young man.
had not yet spoken to him. Somehow he was
so retiring and yet so quietly digni6ed in his
manner, that one would hesitate to speak to
him abruptly, or without a manifest excuse
for doing So After he had closed this first
game, l saw him resume his book at the old
seat near the bow of the boat, and he was soon
evidently deeply interested in the pages be-
fore him. 1 did not fail to observe the snis'
ter smile which the three gamblers inter
changed with each other.


The impatience experienced in desire tc
warn this young man against those profess
ional rogues, fairly made me nervous. Ex
actly how to do this did not know, but dc
it resolved would, sooner or later, before
another day should have passed. | could
only watch for an opportunity, trusting thai
some chance would favor my design. l failed
in my object that night, but had it so much
at heart to save the trusting youth from these
sharpers, that actually dreamed about tht
matter half the night.


Though rose quite early on the following