The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-11-23
Sketches Of Western Life.
COL. ARCHIBALD YELL OF ARKANSAS.

! The first case on the docket WIS called, md
the plaintiff stood ready. 1t was sn old case that
had cen in litigation for five yrars. Gen. Smoot
arose for the defendant, and remarked with an O.
verbearing tome
! Our witnesses are absent, and therefore dc.
mand that the Case be continued until tho next
term, in course"
Let the aflidaIit be fled, for not till then can
eh'ertah the Y,oton for Il continuance was the
mild reply VI the Judge
"Do!oJ doubt my word as 10 the facts Gen.
Smoot exclaimed sharply. and voluntarily raising
his huge sword cane.
Not at ALL replied the Judge, with his bland
est SMILE but the law requires that the facts Jus.
ltyNnS continuance must appear on record, and
'he court has no power TO annul the law, nor any
WI to see 1t annued'
Ihe judges calm and business like tone and
manner only served to iFritate the bully, and he
retorted, shaking lis sword cane in the direction
OF the bench-"W Whatever NAV be the law. |. for
one, Will not learn it from the lips Of an upstart
dsmagogue aud coward
Judge lells blue eyes shot lightning; but lac
only turned to the clerk and said auietly-"Mr.
Clerk, You will enter a fine Of fifty dollars against
Cen Smoo as ! see him named on my docket,
Tor gross contempt of court, and be sure you is
cue "il inIilctilatc execution.
lie had hardly enuncated the order. when Gen
smoot was seen rushing towards him br.ndisling
his sword cane, all his features writhing with mur.
derous wrath, and pald as a corpse
Every glance was fixed on the countpnancc of
the Judge for all wished to know how lie would
brook the coming shock of the duests fierce ms.
sautt, But none, however, could detect the sligh-
test change in lis appearance Ills cheek grew
heiiher red ncr white nor n nerve seemed TO
lremele; his calm eve surveyed the advancing
Toe, with ms little sign Of perturbation rs chem.
Isl hisht show scrutinizlng the eifervesence of
some novel mixture He sat perfectly still, with
'hat slight stall oi painted iron III his righ, hand.
smoot ascended the platform. and immediately
AIMED tremendous blow with his enormous
sword cane, full at the head Of his foe At that
blow five hundred hearts shuddercd. and more
than dozen voices shrieked, for all expected to
see the victims skull shyered TO atoms. The
general astonishment then, NAV he conceived.
when they behold the little iron staff describe
quick curve, rs the great sword cane flew from
omoot hngcrs and fell with loud clater ut The
distance OF twenty feet in the hall The bafled
bully uttered cry Of wrath, Wild as that Of some
wounded beat of prey, and snatchcd lis bowie
knife from his sheath but ere II was well poised
Tor the desperate plunge the lttle iron staff cut
I''N'"'' '"iNci ulH hlllt lplipNtl tne
sword cane. lie then hastily drew revolving
pistol, but before he had time to touch the trS,
ger. his arm was stricken down poweIlcss BY hls
Isdc.
And then for the first time did Judge Yell be
tray perccptible emotion. lie stamped his foot
TIL the platform shook beneath it. aud shouted in
trumpet tones-"Mr. Clerk YOU will blot out this
humans name as foul disgrace from the roll of
attorneys. Mr Sheriff, take the criminal to iail
Inc latter officer sprang to obsy the mandate,
ana Immediately scene of confusion ensued that
no r2n could describe. The bravoes and myrm-
don friends Of Gen Smoot gathered round 10 Oh
struct the Sheriff while many Of the citizens lent
their opportune aid to sustain the authority of
the court Menaces screams aud horrid curses.
the rlng of impngng and crossing steel, alternate
cres OF rage and pain, all commingled with the
awful explosion OF fire arms bleudid together a
vivid idea of pandemonum. But throughout all
the tempesUous strife two Individuals might be
observed as Leaders IN the whrlwind and riders
oi the storm lhenew Judge used bis little iron
cane with terrible efficiency, crippng limbs yet
sun sparing life; while good uatured Bill Bufum,
iml:atng the clemency Of his honorable friends
dlsdainIng the employment Of either knife or his.
to, actually trampled aud crushed down all Oh.
position, roaring at every furious blow-"this is
which he accompanied with wild peas Of laugh.
ter In less than two minutes the party of the
Judge trumphed. the clique of Gen Smoot suffer
ed disastrous defeat and the bully himself wac
borne away to the prison.
such was the debut Of Archibald Yell in Ar
kansas; and from that day Lis popularity as u
man as Judge, as hero, and ms politician
went on rapidly and brilliantly increasing I i'll ii
ccllpsed al! the oldest and most powerful names
Within the first year Of his emigration he became
a candidate for the governors chair. and nntwith.
standing the bttcrcSt opposition, lac was elected
by nlne'tenths of the number Of votes poled-
At the end Of his term he csnvassed for Congress
aud again swept the state like hurricane. He
continued to serve with success in the supreme
councils of the nation until the period Of the war
with Mexico. He then resigned, hurried home TO
Arkansas, and raseda regiment of volunteer cav.
AIRY, with which he made all possible di. patch to
the scene Of action.
The writer of the present sketch raw him on
hs line OF march to coale.cc with the grand ar
my OF occupation, and never will he forget the
evening passed by the light Of his hospitablc
camp fire, on Red River, within the limits of
Texas, The prophecy Of his farewell word,
rings still in my ears with ncurful dist;ne tness
So, said he, with look Of FIRE, md in tones
OF thrilling emphasis, to make fame that shall
he coextensive with the length and breadth OF
inc cnion, or to extingui.h lie itself in . blaso
Of glory T.
lie kept his word he did both He arrived
Oh the cory arena IN time to witness the mayniti
cent storm of the great dayof Buena Vista; ana
where is the true child of American birth tina,
cannot name the three transccndant stars ofUhv
airy who fell qucnchcd in blood that dayl Ave
who fell but as they fell, shed parting sun burs
OF everlasting sunlight over that field Of glory
and OF graves Hardin u Clay. Yell.
Western writer says, that few years ago
hoos'er lecturer of tho Fnny stamp persuaded
him to yet up meeting for him. and "a WINS tho