Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-11-30
Sketches of Western Life.

|
Smoot arose for the defendant, and remarked
in an overbearing tone
Our witnesses are absent, and therefore l
demand that the case be continued until the
next term in course
Let the proper affidavit be filed, for not
until then can | entertain the motion for a con-
tinuance,' was the mild reply of the Judge
DO you doubt my word as to the facts %
Gen. Smoot exclaimed, sharply, and invoIun-
tarilv raised his huge sword cane.
Not at ALL replied the Judge, with the
blandest smile, but the law requires that the
facts justifying continuance must appear on
record, and the court has no power to annul
the law. nor any will to see it annulled'
The Judges calm and business like tone,
and manner only served to irritate the bully,
and he retorted, shaking his sword cane in the
! direction of the bench-'Whatever may be
the law, l, for one, will learn the principles
from the lips of an upstart, demagogue and
coward!'
Judge YelPs blue eyes shot lightning; but
he only turned to the clerk and said quietly
'Mr Clerk you will enter fine of fifty dollars
against Gen. Smoot, as l see him named on
my docket, for gross contempt of court; and
be sure you issue an immediate execution
He had scarcely enunciated the order, when
Gen. Smooot was seen rushing towards him,
brandishing his sword cane, all his features
writhing with murderous wrath, and pallid as
corpse
Every glance was fixed upon the counte-
nance of the Judge, for all wished TO know
how he would brook the coming shock of the
duelllst's fierce assault. But none, however,
could detect the slightest change in his ap-
Pearance His cheek grew neither red nor
white, nor a nerve seemed to tremble; his
calm eye surveyed the advancing foe with as
little sign of perturbation as a chemist might
show scrutinizing the efervessaRee of some
novel mixture. He sat perfec still, with
that slight staff of painted iron his right
hand
Snloot assembled the platform and immedi-
ately aimed tremendous blow with his E.
Inormous sword cane, full at the head of his
roe At that blow five hundred hearts shud-
dered, and more than dozen voices shrieked,
for all expected to see the victims skull shv-
cred into atoms. The general astonishment,
then, may be conceived, when they beheld the
| little iron staff describe quick curve as the
great sword cane flew from Smoot's fingers
and fell with loud clatter at the distance of
twenty feet in the hall The baff1ed bully ut
tered cry of wrath wild as that of some
wounded beast of prey, and snatched his
bowie knife from his sheath; but ere it was
well poised for the desperate plunge, the little
iron staff cut another curve, and the BIG knife
followed the sword cane He then hastily
drew revolving pistol, but before he had time
to touch the trigger, his arm was stricken down
powerless to his side.
And tbar fO, ba @;r,o Al T,,Juo ",
betray perceptble emotion. He stamped his
foot till the platform shook beneath it, and
shouted in trumpet tones-'Mr. Clerk, you
will blot out this rufin's name as a foul dis
grace from the roll of attorneys. Mr.. Sheriff,
take the criminal to jail
The latter officer sprang to obey the man
date, and Immediately scene of confusion en-
sued that no pen can describe The bravoes
and myrmidon friends of Gen. Smoot gathered
around to obsuruct the sheriff, while many of
the citizens lent their opportune aid to sustain
the authority of the court Menaces. screams
and horrid curses, the ring of impinging and
crossing steel, alternate cries of rage and pain,
all commingled with the awful explosion of
firearms, blendid together a vivid idea of pan
demonium. But throughout all the tempes-
tuous strife, two individuals might be observ-
ed as leaders in the whirlwind and riders of
the storm. The new judge used his little iron
cane with terrible efficiency, crippling limbs
yet still sparing life; while Good Natured Bill
Bufum,' initiating the elemency of his honor
able friend, and disdaining the employment of
either knife or pistol, actually trampled and
crushed down all opposition, roaring at every
furious blow--'thls is the way to preserve order
in court sentiment which he accompanied
with peals of wild laughter. In less than two
minutes the party of the judge triumphed, the
clique of Gen. Smoot suffered disastrous de-
feat, and the bully himself was borne away to
prison.
Such was the debut of Archibald Yell in
Arkansas and from that day his popularity as
a man, as Judge, as hero, and as politician
went on rapidly and brilliantly increasing till it
eclipsed all the oldest and most powerful
names. Within the first year>of his emigra-
ton he became a candidate for the governors
chair, and, notwithstanding the bitterest oppo-
sition, he was elected by nine-tenths of the
number of votes polled At the end of his
term he canvassed for congress, and again
swept the State like hurricane He contn-
ued to serve with success in the supreme
councils of the nation until the period of the
war Will MeAlCO he Inen resigned, hurried
home to Arkansas, and raised regiment of
volunteer cavalry, with which he made all pos
sible despatch for the scene Of action.
The writer of the present sketch saw him
on his line of march to coalesce with the grand
army of occupation, and never will he forget
the evening passed by the light of his hospi-
table camp fire on the Red River, within the
limits of Texas. The prophecy of his farewell
words ring still in my ears with mournful dis
| tnctness.
4 co. said he, with look of fire, and in
tones of thrilling emphasis, to make fame
that shall be co-extensive with the length and
breadth of the Union, or to extinguish life it.
self in blaze of glory
He kept his word; he did both. He ar
rived on the CORY arena in time to witness the
magnificent storm of the great day of Buena
Vista: and where is the true child of Ameri-
can birth that cannot name the three trans
cendent stars of chivalry who fell quenched
in blood that day ?-aye, who fell, but as they
fo11 II, 6