I started out one night on the _Crystal Palace_. This boat left
New Orleans about 6 o'clock in the evening. After supper I opened
monte. There were some rough customers from Greenville, and I knew
if they lost their money there would be the devil to pay; but I
took the chances, and caught some of them for a few hundred dollars,
and there were some two or three of the passengers who also lost.
After the Greenville killers had lost their money they commenced to
fill up, and I knew there would be war soon. I closed up, slipped
around and got on another suit of clothes, put on my plug hat and
gold glasses. Then I gave my valise to the porter and told him to
have it ready to go off at Donaldsonville. I walked out in the
cabin; they were all standing by the bar holding a consultation
how they could get the money back. One said: "The first time the
boat stops he will get off." "Well, if he does he is a good one,
for I will fill his hide full of lead if he tries that," says
another. The boat blew her whistle to land, and you ought to have
seen them break for the lower deck, gun in hand. I walked out
through the cabin with my plug hat, white necktie, and gold glasses.
You would have bet $500 I was a preacher. You ought to have seen
those fellows make room for me to pass by. My partner remained on
board, as they were not on to him. I got a boat soon after and
went to Baton Rouge, where my partner was waiting for me. He said
they raised the d---l after I got off.