Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-10-12
bited in frontier forum, where the judge
is forced by necessity to be either tyrant
or slave, and the counsel are always bull

II was, therefore, the anticipation OF vlo-
lent excitements in the shape OF actual tra-
| gedies that drew such eager and burrylng
throngs to the court house in the village OF
| Van Buren, on the occasion first alluded to.
The human panorama presented view
animated and busy in the highest degree
Out of a hundred houses, forty-thtee were
groceries, with every door and window
wide open, and so densely crowded that it
required halfa-dozen clerks in each estab-
lishment to supply their thirsty customers.
Beside the counter might be seen a group
of well dressed gamblers, ringing together
their full wine glasses before the sparkling
champagne disappeared beneath their
boards. In the centre of the room stood
rude mountain hunter, with his rifle in one
hand and huge quart measure i'll the other
just raised to his parted lips. One instant
more and the nectar of fluid fire shall melt
on his great red tongue. But no 1t IS
stopped IN transau by the strong arm OF
mongrel Indian, who snatches the overflow
ing vessel and flies away through the
throng. Click. bang! What sound was
that? The deafening roar of the hunters
rife, followed by death yell of fearful
agony as the Indian falls q corpse!
a Yonder, under those beautiful shade
trees of gorgeous evergreen, where the sun
light trembles through like len thousand
diamonds, bevies of bright-eyed women are
seated on carpet of grass--the daughters
smiling at the accomplishments OF their
beaux, and the mothers smiling to hear the
prattle Of their children.
At nine o'clock, a group of lawyers, doc
tors, and politcians-colonels all-were
engaged in earnest conversation around the
bar, undisturbed by the drunken shouts and
din of tumult reverberating without, far
and near, over the village.
at is the hour for calling court" re-
marked Reub Reynolds, Esq, sand yet our
new Judge has not arrived" ...a
"If he's smart, he won't arrive at ALL"
said Gen. Smoot, cutting figures IN the air
with snowy sword-cane which he appli-
ed N ct armis to the shoulders of new
judge lately resigned. Gen. Smoot. was
the "My Lord Coke' of Arkansas. He had
amassed handsome fortune in the brief
space Of five years, and by universal con-
sent, ranked at the head of his profession.
1t is true he had not worked his way up to
this proud elevation by learned and labori-
Gus research, nor had he scared there on
the pinions of impassoned and peerless elo-
quence, nor had intellect, or Imagination,
or purity of feeling aided in his ascent; he
had simply hewed his way through all OBJ
stacles with the sharp edge of an immense
bowie knife, which few save himself had
sufficient strength 10 WELD. Wo to the
luckless witness that give him a cross an
swer. Wo to the opposing counsel that
did not cover before his thunder And a
deeper wo to the presumrtuous judge who
dare to check his brow-beaten insolence, OF
who assumed the right to determine one
point against him .... .......
When therefore, the bystanders heard
the duellng general utter his oracular Ia.
conism in reference to the new Judge, eve
ry body comprehended the implied threat
and burst into hearty laugh.
"What is the name of his expected hon.
or ?" inquired Col. Reub Reynolds, Esq.
as he gave his perfumed moustache an ex'
ira twirl. l e.e .a..
"A. Yell from Tennessee !" replied Col
McBall, "and he has come TO Arkansa
with the commission of territorial Judge
in his pocket, for the purpose of making
capital TO be the first governor of the new
state when organized" '"
Col. McBal was himself an aspirant TO
the high office of which he then spoke.--
He did not obtain it, but he did obtain tn
post of cashier of the Fayetteville bank
and five years afterwards robbed it and raj
away with one hundred thousand dollars
Show do you call his name 2" interroga
ten Gen. Smoot, elevating his sword cane
''A. Yell" repeated Col. McBall.
"I'll change his name to A. Howl" re
joined Gen. Smoot, perpetrating a meta
, phorical pun, while the sword cane de
| scended with most belligerent flourish.
) A boisterous shout from the group testif
2 ed their general approval of the menace.
> Sis any one acquainted with this Yell !
5 asked Col Wallace, who was also cand
date for the future gubernatorial chair.
e 81 is" answered deep-toned voice, thi
t startled the listeners like the roar of thur
r derbolt. -e,-.. .... ..............f ...... ,.-
g All turned to gaze on the speaker; WI
, had joined the company unperceived. II
k was a stranger that no one recognized ar
!. none could ever have seen before, for Il
a, glance that beheld him once might new,
i forget his image. Habited all over in
s, fresh suit of leather ornamented with fa
d, tastic figures, with panther skin cap su
l. mounting masses of raven hair rolled
= wild tangles, his immense waist cinctur'
,e by broad belt literally bristling with pi
~ tolls, of almost gigantic stature, with a fa
of bronze and hands of iron, the latt
OF grasping an enormous gun, double-barrelle
rs, and both hammers at halEcock, the u
nd knopn seemed for all the world the emb
as died ideal OF muscular force and diabolic
is bravery. fa' iH
Id Every eye was riveted on this stran
re tower of human strength, but for sevel
on minutes every lip was dumb. In the mea
. while, the giant did not appear in the le
= discomposed by the common scrutiny a
eir gaping wonder elected by his advent.
n