Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-11-21
Dead Open and Shut,
Or the a0ay they Play an arkansas
BY TOM HARRINGTON.

the DrOa0 MlSSlsslppi DIT an cary uay
but what have heard with dread the
name of Gen. William Montgomery
and none, but knew the landing callet
"Montgomery's Point" which for 1T
location and peculiar advantages, wa'
hard to be excelled. Montgomery
himself was shrewd, quick witted
low bred fellow, who in roguish ex
PLOTS was seldom, if ever, equalled
He was the terror of the South. to al
who knew him, and as sportsman.
gambler, &C., was as notorious as was
the celebrated Captain Kid as a pi'
rate. The General was said to have
many redeeming qualities in his gam
ing transactions, which might be class
ed as follows:-
First-if he found a man naked, he
clothed him. IF he was hungry, he
fed him.
Second If he was thirsty and poor,
he gave him TO drink, and advised
him to leave for some more salubrious
cline.
And last, though not least, if he was
thirsty and rich. he made him drink
and then robbed him.
His notorious life was the occasion
of all gamblers yielding to his nefari-
Gus designs, who CHANGED to fall in
with him, and whatever the General
said, must Of course be right, and none
dared to gainsay him.
It was about the time when his no.
toriety had gained its height, that a
French gentleman, accompanied by a
huge Yankee, arrived at the ''Point,"
on their way to the head waters of the
Arkansas river. and, as there was no
other hotel in the place, put up with
the General.
Applications being made to him for
conveyance, he advised them to defer
their journey for a few days, as he
thought the prospect of high water
was in their favor. This proposition
was by no means welcome one to jon
athan, who had heard more than once,
of the desperate character of their
host; and he declared he would rather
walk, and make pack horse of HIM
self, than remain. The Frenchman
assured him, likewise, that his busi-
ness was very urgent. that he must go,
on foot even, if there was no other
conveyance. The General was not
pleased with the determined obstinacy
of the two, but could not well hit up
on "A plan whereby to detain. them
with their own consent, so he finally
agreed to take them through on horse
back as far as Fort Smith. The hor-
ses were accordingly equipped, and
the General, with his negro, the
Freedman and the Yankee, at length
set out. making quite respectable
looking caravan, for the Arkansas will
dcrness.
Ere they mounted, however, the
General began running his "soft saw
der" on the Yankee, about the many
advantages he possessed over multi
tudes Of the Southern people, which
were no other, than being sufficient 10
strength to answer as his own pack
horse, and though he might have bush
els OF wooden nutmegs. and horn gun
hints, to pack through the State. he
could always accommodate himself.
The Yankee felt somewhat chagrin'
ed at the insinuation, for fear that the
Frenchman might consider him a man
of that character. After their leaving
the General still caused Jonathan nc
small uneasiness, by his continual at
tacks upon his nativity. &c. The
Frenchman soon discovered the an
noyance the General was giving the
Yankee. and insisted that he was too
hard in accusing his honest friend Of
having to do with anything Of so base
character. At this the General
laughed, and told him his accusations
were no ways erroneous. The Yam
kce ground his teeth and remarked
"It's tarnal we'll for YOU that ain't
at hum; for If / was, I'd give il TO yei
darn quick tew."
.sDon't you see,'' said the General
turning to the Frenchman. with an in
sinuating glance, "MOnsieur believe:
it too true to be a joke"
Al this the Frenchman assured the
six foot Down Easter that the General
aYou are as much mistaken" re
,,;ed tho General. "as ifyou had burn