Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-04-12
Dead open and shut or the way they
play i'm Arkansas.
BY TOM HARRINGTON.

BY TOM HARRINGTON.
There are few, who travelled much on the
Mississippi at an early day, but have heard
with dread the name of General William Mont
eomery; and none but knew of the landing
called "Monlgomery's Point - which for It's
location and peculiar advantages was hard TO be
excelled. Montgomery, himself, was shrewd.
quick whued, low-bred fellow, who, in rogusb
exploits, was seldom if ever equaed. He was
the terror Of the Souh, TO all who knew him,
and as sportsman, gambler, &C., was as no.
,orious as The celebrated Capt Kidd for piracy.
The General was said 10 have many redeenHg
qualities in his gaming transactions, which
might be classed as follows:
First; If he found man ma ked. he clothed
him if he was hungry. he fed him.
Second II he thirsty and poor, he gave
him to drink, aud advised him 10 leave for some
more salubrious cline.
And last, though no, 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 nefarious designs, who
chanced 10 fall in with him /; and whatever the
General said MUS. of course be right, as none
dared 10 galnsay him. |. was abou, The lime
when his no,orieiy was at its height, that a
French gentleman, accompanied by huge
Yankee servant. arrived a, the Point" on ,helr
way 10 The head waters of the Arkansas river,
and as there no other hotel in The place.
pu, up with the General Application being
made to him for conveyance, he advised them
10 defer their journey some few days, as he
thought The prospect of high water was 10 their
favor. This proposition was by no means a
welcome one 10 Jonathan, who had heard more
than once of the desperate characref of their
host and he declared be would rather walk
and make pack-horse of himself, than remain.
| The Efenchman assured him. likewise, that has
business was very urgent, that he must go on
foot even, If there was no other conveyance
The General was no. pleased with The deter.
mined obsinacy of the two. but could not vel
hit upon a plan whereby TO detain them, with
their own consent, SO he finally agreed TO take
Them through on horseback, as far as For
Smith. The horses accordingly equipped
and The General, with his negro servant, The
Frenchman, and the Yankee, al length Sc, ou
making quite respectable looking caravan fo
the Arkansas wilderness.
Ere they mounted, however, the General be
gan running his "soft-sawder" ON the Yankee
|
mu,iludes of the southern people. which were
no Other, than that, being sufficient in strength
10 answer as his own packhorse, though he
nigh, have bushels of wooden nu,megs ant
horn gun ,finls, 10 pack throughout The State
be could always accommodate himself.
The Yankee felt somewhat chagrined a, the
Generals insinuallon. for fear that The French
man might consider him man of that charac
ter. After their leaving, the General still causes
Jonathan no small uneasiness, by his continued
attacks upon his nativity, &c. The French
man soon discovered the annoyance the Gene
raj was giving the Yankee. and remarked lha
he was too hard, in accusing his honest frient
of having to do with anything of so base char
acter. AT this The General laughed, and lolt
HIM his accusations were no ways erroneous.
The Yankee ground his teeth and remarked
"ls .arnal we'll for you, that ain. a. hum, 10
if | was I'D give II 10 ye, darn quick, 'ew."
/ .Dou', you see," said The General turning Il
The Frenchman with an insinuatng glance
! "Mon.leur believes il TOO true 10 be Joke. y
AT this The Frenchman assured The six foo
down-eas,er that he, the General only jes'ed
you are as much Mistaken" replied ths
4 General "as il you had burn, your finger.
never accuse man, bu, wha, am willing Il
back my accusation with my money; aud
will bel you one hundred dollars that IL yo,
search The Yankees sadde-bags, you viii flad
at least one hundred horn-gun fin's, and as ma
ny wooden nuImegs."
Il belle you five hundred dollars" said ih'
Flenchman '',ha' my friend carry no wooder
nutmeg nor no gun flint in his Won leetle sad
die bag"
"rlske all such bets" replied the General