Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-03-22
SKETCHES OF WESTERN LIFE.
BOZ. AacnIaALD rrLl. o AaKAs.A..

had been in litigation tor i've years. General
Smoot arose for The defendant, aud remarked in
an overbearing tone:
"0ur witnesses are absent, and therefore de
mand that the case be continued until the next
term, in course"
.eLet The affidavit be fled, for not ill then can
Ater.ain motion for a continuance" was the
mild reply Of the Judge.
ADO you doubt my word as to The iacti' Gen.
Smoot exclaimed sharply, and invOluntarily
raised his huge sword cane.
"Not at all" replied the Judge with his
blandish smile; "but the law requires that the
facts jusii6ing continuance mast appear on
record, aud the Court has no power TO annul the
law, nor any will loSee il anuulled."
The Jud ;e's calm and business like tone and
manner only served 10 irritaie the bully, aud he
relored, shaking his sword cane in the direction
Of the Observation-Disclosures may DO the law. j,
Tor one, will not learn il from the lips Of an up,
start damagogue and cowardr
Judge Yell's blue eyes shot lightning but he
cnly turned to the clerk and said guilty -"Clerk,
YOU will enter fine Of fifty dollars against Gen.
Smooi, as | see him named on my docket, for
gross contempt of Court; and be'sure you issue
ain immediate execution"
| He had hardly communicated the order when
Gen Smoot was seen rushing towards him
| brandishing his sword cane, all his features
wrthing with murderous wrath, and pallid as a
corpse.
! Every glance was fixed on the counienance Of
the Judge, for all wished to know how he would
brook the coming shock Of the duelists fierce as
SAUL. But none, however, could detect the
slightest change in his appearance. His check
| grew neither red nor white, nor nerve seemed
totrembe; his calm eye surveyed The adyauc.
| ing Toe, with as little sign Of perturbation as
chemist might show scruIinizing the etlersescence
If SINE novel mixture lie SAT perfectly still,
with little staff Of painted iron in his right
hand.
| Smoot assembled the platform and immediate
ly aimed a tremendous blow with his enormous
| sword cane, full at the head Of his Zoe. Al HAT
blow five hundred heats shuddered, aud more
than dozen voices shrieked for all expected TO
see the victims skull shvered into atoms. The
general establishment then may be conceived,
when they bcheld the liule iron staff describe
Iquick curve, as the great sword cane flaw from
Shoots fingers and fell with loud CHATTER Al
the distance of twenty feet in the ball The
bafiied bully uttered cry Of wrath, wild as that
Of some wounded beast Of prey, and snalched
his bowie knife from his sheath bu, ere il was
poised for the desperats plunge, the little iron
staff cut another curve, and the blk knilc follow
I'd the sword cane. He then hastily drew re-.
volying pistol, but before he had time to touch
the trigger, his arm was stricken powerless by
| his side.
| And then forthe first time did Judge Yell be.
tray percepuble emotion. He stamped his foot
ill the platform shook beneath il and shouted in
trumpet tones---"Mr. Clerk, you viii blot this
ruliians name as foul disgrace from the roll Of
attorneys. Mr. Sheriff take the criminal 10 jail. !"
The latter officer sprang to obey the Inan-
date, and immediately scene Of confusion en-
sued Thar no pen could describe. The hrayoes
and myrmidon friends Of Gen. Smoot, gathered
Er0und to obsrci the Sheriff, while many Of The
citizens lent their aid TO sustain the authority Of
the court. MANAGES, screams and horrid curses,
the ring Of impinging and crossing steel, alter
nale cries IF rage and pain, all comminged with
the awful explosion Of firearms, blended together
i vivid idea of Pandcmonum. But throughout
| all the ;einpestupus strife, two individuals might
| be observed as leaders in the whirlwind and III.
lders Of the storm. The new Judge used his lit
| lie iron cane with terrible efficiency, cripping
Limbs vet sparng life. Bill Bufuin, Initiating
the clemency Of his honorable friends dsdaining
the employment, Of either knife or pistol, actually
trampled and crushed down all opposition, roar.
\ ing at every furious blow--.'this is the way to
N.
accompanied with wild peals Of laughter. 10
less than two minutes the party Of The Judge
ltr;umphed, The clique of Gen. Smoot suffered
disastrous defeat, and the bully himself was borne
away to the prison.
Such was the debut Of Archibald Yell In Ar.
kansas; and from that day his popularity as a
!, man, as a Judge, as hero, and az a politician,
went on rapidly and brilliantly increasing, I'll i
n ccipsed all the Oldest aud most powerful names
Within The FIRST year OF his emigration he Re.
/ came a candidate for the Governor s chair, and
notwithstanding the biterest opposition, he was
Z elected BY nine.lenihs ot The number Of votes
n. poled Al the end Of his term, be canvassed
J. for Congress. and again swept the STATE like 9
! hurricane. He continued 70 serve with success
! ii the supreme counciso Of the nation until the
!, period OF the war Of Mexico. He then resigned
j hurried home 10 Arkansas, and raised regl
n ment Of volunteer cavalry, with which ne made
! all possible dispatch 10 the scene oi action.
H The writer Of the present sketch saw him o.
i his line Of march to coalesce with the grand ar
+ my d occupation, and never will he forget th'
evening passed by the light Of bis hospltab
. camp ere. on Red River within the limits 2
D Texas The prophecy Of his farewell word
rings still On my ears with mourniul dlstinciness
: Il 60 said be, with look Of fire and I
i tones Of thrilling emphasis, 10 make lame 81
3 shall Be co.exlcnsiye with the lengtha and bIeadt
!. Of the Union, Or TO extnguish lite itsell 70
|. blaze Of glory"
!. He kept his word---he did both. He arrive
i Oh The CORY arena ii time to witness Che maga,
/. ficent storm Of Buena Vista; and where Is q
/. true child ol American birth that cannot nan
I. .he three transcendaDi Stars Of chiyaify, VI
u / IN onenched in blood that day AYE, who Z
e but as they fell such parting sun burst OF eve
I. 1as,;ny ennl;Ohf over The field OF glory and