Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-03-06
PLAQUEMINE:
WEDNESDAY, Y, MARCH s, 1850.
The Man who Couldn't Fight.
) An Incident in Arkansas Life.

n An Incident in Arkansas Life.
t. o. From the N. Y. Sunday Times.
The beautiful little town of Van Buren,, on
during its early history, was famous for the
humber and forocity Of its desperadoes, being
the principal meridian and focus Of rendezvous
for gamblers, Indian traders and all sorts of
adventurers who had found it necessary to
change their domicil from lands governed by the
administration of rigid criminal code. The
haIf-breed sbraves" from the Cherokee nation,
also flocked to the same site to drink, carouse,
take hand at cards, and exhibit their prow-
ess in sanguinary "set-tos" with pistols and
long knives Such a state of society may be
imagined-it cannot be described. Not sun
performed it's circuit that did not witness some
dreadful single combat, with or without MUIR
derous weapons, while now and then dozens at
time, and by mutual agreement, from the rum
shops out into the public square, and encounter
in mortal strife
At this period Thomas A. Meyers emigrated
to Arkansas, and opened large grocery store
in Nn Buren,: acting himself as the keeper and
retailer. Such an occupation at that time re-
quirnd man of the most determined courage
as the store had always back room or shed
attached, especially appropriated to gambling,
by day and night, and where the players were
supplied with the choicest liquors, and would
be sure to bully the grocer out Of his reasonable
charges unless they were restrained by fear.
For a while however, Meyers succeeded
admirably. The half-breeds, loafers, and
chartered fighters" as they called themselves
held caucus, and unanimously voted athat the
new arrival was dangerous subject, and
better be let alone."' This verdict was altoge-
ther owing to the strangers personal appear
ance, as military as might we'll be conceived
Tall, manly, and symmetrical in shape, with
great endowments both of strength and agility,
he would have had few equals in a fair contest
with the arm of naked nature. But the cunning
inventions Of art, iron, steel and lead, and the
thunder and lightning Of guppowder, are made
to fight for the feeblest bosous and thus dwarfs
and giants, provided both are alike the heirs Of
true courage, now stand on theCs same dead
| level. 1t was believed also that Meyers
possessed the resolute will to handle those
awful engines Of destruction, where life and
death hang on the touch of trigger. His
| countenance betokened the perfection of
| bravery. His face generally wore fine ex-
preston, and when that melted to smile, the
smile seemed sterner still. His eyes were exceed
ingly black, wild, penetrating and restless, and
| had that cold cleaning, metallic took, which
| may be regarded as the surest sign Of thorough
desperation. Besides, he carried an appalling
supply Of pistols, and q Bowieknife fourteen
inches in the blade. Hence every body was
respectful and obliging to the ostensible hero
for period Of several weeks, during which an
unusual calm reigned in the village. =
.Atlength terrible affray occurred in Meyers
grocery. Half . dozen fire arms exploded in
quick succession; and the desfening roar 90
frightened the keeper that he fairly took to hia
heels, and fed from his own establishment.
The fact settled public opinion as- to, his
character. s y *a@,eL sc sc
uWhat chicken-hearted coward, to run
| from his, castlep exclaimed General Cole
the Napoleon Of frontier duelists and gam
| hlers., as Is sssa s bsss ga|sfssF Il y,
| ~sWhy be hasn't the spunk Of dead possum!'
| lisped bill Green the dandy losfaF, combing
his asoap locks" with his long rosy nails a.
| aLet's drink his liquor and smoke his cigars
| and not pay him for them, becanseas howahss
/ coward said Jack Warhawk, b huge half
breed; and having enunciated this snthymeDe
/ Of Renains Cherokee logic, Jack sleaped oyei
thseounfer and heean to sEl elaasea and hani
ont cigars, crying Toast 70 tho brass nj
1 boys! Wsll nssss aMant Uhils~ IL World hal
] cAisksns of the shifa fsaths !sar aasaa II s~g
bThs firing isthssg grssssy i,aasg a6aa6d n
more thanSahssf,bsns sspsAest ty I dino