Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-11

DEAD OPEN AND SHUT;
THE WAY THEY PLAY IN ARKANSAS
BY TOM HARRINGTON.

/ AEW WIZ Husc udN6ieu HuuCH Ou tHs
broad Mississippi at an early day, bu
what have heard with dread the name o
General William Montgomery, and none
but knew of the landing called "Mont.
gomery's Point" which for its location
and some peculiar advantages was hard
TO be excelled. Montgomery himself
was shrewd, quick wiited, low-bred
fellow, who in rog uish exploits was sell
dom if ever equaled. He was the terror
of the South. 10 all who knew him and
as sportsman, gambler, &C., was as
notorious as was the celebrated Captain
Kidd as pirate. The General was said
to have many redeemng qualities in his
gaming transactions, which might be
classed MS follows:
Firs.-If he found man naked, he
clothed him. If he was hungry, he fed
him.
Second-lf he was thirsty and poor,
he gave him drink, and advised him to
leave for some more salubrious cline.
And last, though not least, if he was
thirsty and rich. lic made him drink and
ihen'robbed him.
His notorious life was the occasion OF
all gamblers yielding TO his nefarious de.
signs, who chanced to fall in with him,
and whatever the General said, must oil
course be right, as none dared TO gainsay
lin.
II was abou, the time when his MOTOR
iety had gained IFS heigh,h, that a French
gentleman, accompanied by huge YAM
kee, arrived at the "Point," on their way
to the head waters of the Arkansas river,
and as there was no other hotel in the
place, put up with the General.
Application being made TO him for
conveyance, he advised them TO defer
their journey for a few days, as he tho'i
The prospect of high water was in their
favor. This proposition was by no
means welcome one to Jonathan, who
had heard more than once of the des-
perate character Of their host; and said
he would rather walk and make pack
horse OF himself, than remain. The
Frenchman assured him, likewise, that
his business was very urgent--that he
must go, on foot even, If there were no
other conveyance. The General was
not pleased with the determined obstinacy
of the two, but could not well hit upon
plan whereby TO detain them with their
own consent, SO he finally agreed to take
them through on horseback, as far as
Fort Smith. The horses were accor-
dinghy equipped, and the General, with
his negro, the Frenchman, and the Yam
kee, at length set out, making quite re-
spectacle looking caravan, for the Arkan.
sas wilderness.
Ere they mounted, however. the
General began running his soft sawder
on the Yankee about the many advan-
tages he possessed over multitudes ol
the Southern people, which were no 9TH
er than being sufficient in strength to an
swer as his own pack,horse, and ne
thought he nigh: have bushels OF wooden
nuimegs and horn gun-fin,s to pack
through the State. he could always ac-
commodate himself.
The Yankee felt somewhat chagrined
a, the insinuaiion, tor fear that the French
man might consider him man OF tha.
character. After their leaving, the Gen.
eral still caused Jonathan no small un-
easiness by his constant attacks on his
nativity, &c. The Frenchman soon dis
covered the annoyance the General was
giving the Yankee. and insisted that ne
was too hard in accusing his honest
friend of having to do with anything OF
so base character. At this the Gener-
al laughed, and told-him his accusations
were by no means erroneous. The Yam
kee ground his teeth, and, ,remarked-
'.lt's tarnal well for you that ] Amt al
hum for if was I'd give il to ye, darn
quick, tew."
"Do'nt you see,'' said the General,
turning TO the Frenchman with an insin-
uaiing glance, "Monsieur. believes il TOO
true TO be joke.
Al this the Frenchman assured The six
feet down Easter that the General only
jested.
"You are as much mistaken" said
the General, .sas if you had burnt your
HnRtI. i never dCGuSC thoh bus WIG
am willing to back my accusation with
my money; and | will bet you a hundred
dollars, that TO search The iankee's sad.
dle-bags, sou will find at leas. one OF
two hundred horn gun-fints, and as many
wooden nntmegs."
IL will bette you five hundred dollars"
said the Frenchman, "lhat my. friend
carry no wooden nutmegs nor horn gun
flint in his Won leelle saddle-bag."
II take all such BETS" replied the
General, turning 10 Cuffy-who was
showing his ivory and placing the above
named sum in his hand. This immedi'
alely covered by the Frenchman. while
the Yankee dismounted and prepared te
70 settle the matter by unloading his. sad
dle-bags.
/ For some moments all gathered around
in breathless silence, when the Yankee
TO his great astonlshment, drew forth tht
above named articles.
"Well, you see I have woa," contin.
ned the General, while Cuffy roared ant
caperec about with delight, showing the
whole breadth Of his whites, his eyes
II Il II