Year: 1878

NV Il N<Aot Soh Ns


some wears ago the Mississippi River
was noted TO- its - floating palaces" F" as
the large steamers plying between New
Orleans and the ports above were called.
Now the railways have driven nearly
ali the fine boats off the river, and left
the field TO the freight boats, whose
accommodations for passengers are by
no means palatial. The former class OF
steamers were IN MANY respects delight
full, but they never ceased TO be subjects
of dread TO timid people, for if the racing
which was reduced to system, did not
result in the loss of the boat, there was
sure to be ole or more encounters be-
tween the lawless portion of the trave-
lers, in which pistol-bullets would fly
rather too thick for the comfort of
steady y-going people. The cause of such
disturbances was generally quarrel
over the glamblipg-table. The regula-
lion of the boat usually required that
all such amuSements should be conduc-
ed i'm a saloon providided for that pur-
pose in the Texas, or officers cabin, :"
situated on the hurricane deck; but the
sporting gentry were by no means care
ful to obey this rule, and the gaming
was most commonly carried on in the
dining-tables in the main saloon of the
steamer, to the great annoyance of two
thirds OF those on board.


Many professional gamblers used OF
make these boats their home, travelling
back and forth with them, and fleecing
all who were verdant or foolish enough
to fall INTO their clutches. So well, in
deed, was this system managed. that the
various members of the craft seemed
10 have their different steamers marked
out for them by common consent, so that
no one would trespass upon the domain
of the other Ofcoursc, these men were
warm friends OF the officers of the boat,
who were either too sincere in their
friendship to put stop to the practice,
or too much afraid of the gamblers to
care to provoke a quarrel with them,
for in those days it was common affair
for such men to resent any fancied
atfrOnt with pistol-shot.


One of the most remarkable men of
their class was named Daniel Sturdiyant
a Frenchman, the son of broken-down
scion of nobility who had settled in New
Orleans before the transfer of Louisiana
TO the United States. Sturdiyant had
been raised as gentleman" by his
aristocratIc father, but upon coming OF
age, and finding his fortunes very bad,
had taken TO cards as a means of better
ing them. His success in this field was
30 great that he was induced to continue
in il, and he was one of the most motor
ious gamblers between st. Louis and
New Orleans. He was forty-five years
old, but had kept himself so well that
he seemed much younger. He was
man CT fine personal appearance and
great physical strength. He was also
noted for his personal courage. As a
gambler he was most expert and sue
cessful.


There were dark stories of deeds
which he had committed while under
the influence of play and liquor, and 1t
was said by some that he had killed half
a dozen men in his lifetime. Yet no
one cared to state these stories openly,
for no one cared TO bring upon himself
the anger of such man. There were
few who knew him who really cared to
play against him, but feared refusal
TO do so might involve them in quar-
rel with him, and rarely declined his
invitations.


About fifteen years ago. the time oil
which | write, he had attached himself
to one of ofthemagnificen steamers plying
between New Orleans and Nicksburg,
snd had publicly announced his deter
mination to shoot any man who attempt
ed to encroach upon his scene OF opera
tions. Of course this left him in undis-
puted possession of the field, and he
reaped a golden harvest from il during
the one brief year that he conducted his
operations there.


1t was NV lot at that time to be COM
PEELED to make frequent trips between
New Orleans and Nicksburg, being
heavily engaged in cotton speculatlons-
preferred the steamer of which Sturdi-
want, had taken possession, inasmuch as
il was not only the most comfortable,
but also the swiftest, and time was OF
importance to me. Itwas known that
carried large sums of money with me,
and was always sapprehensive lest Stur-
divant should ask me TO play. had
fully made up my mind to refuse him.
and If he attempted to draw me into
quarrel TO shoot him without mercy, as
knew that the only chance for my life
lay in getting the advantage of HIM.
Strange to say, he did not make any
such proposition to me, and gave him
no chance TO do so.


One night we had started out from
Vicksburg. and were heading merriiy
down the river, when Sturdivant came
up to the group which had gathered
around the stove. He had been drink
ing, and was smoking fine cigar as he
approached. All made way for him.


well, gentlemen," he said, in an
49, i H. n Il.