The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-02-28
SKETCHES OF WESTERN LIFE.
COL. ARCHIBALD YELL, OF ARKANSAS.

tho pIan'ff stood ready. 1t was an Old cas'
that had been in litigation for five years
Gen. Smoot arose for the defendant, anl
remarked in an ovcrbenring tore:
"Our witnesses are absent. and therefore
! demand 'ha, the case be continued Unit
the next term. in cOurse.'
"Let the aflidnvi, be filed. for not ill then
can entertain a motion for continuance"
was the mild reply of the Jndge.
"Dc you doubt my word as to the fac's?'
Gen. Smoo' exclaimed sharply, and invoi.
unfairly raised III; huge sword cane.
"Not OF all" replied tho Judge with his
b'nndest smile; "but the law requires that
the facts jus,i'ying continuance must ap.
pear on record, md The Court ms no power
to annul the law, mr. any will 10 see it
annulled."
The Judges calm and business like tone
and manner only served to irri'ate the bully,
and he re'or'ed. shaking his sword cane in
the direction Of the bench-"Wha,ev may
be the law, |, for one, will not learn It from
the lips Of an upstart demaGocue and COW
ard"
Judge Yell's blue eyes shot lightning, hut
he only turned 10 The clerk and snid quietly
-"CIerk. yon will enter a fine of fifty dol.
Jars against Gen. Snoo', as see him named
on my docket. for gross con'emp, of Court;
and be sure you issue an immediate execu-
ton"
lie had hardly communicated tho order.
when Gen. SToo. was seen rushing town Ids
him brandishing his sword cane, all lis
features wrthing with murdcrous wrath,
and pa'lid as q corpse.
Ever glance was fixed on the counter.
nnce of The Judge. for al! wished to know
how he wcnd brook ,he coming shock Of
the duelist's fierce assault. But none, how.
ever, could detect the slightest change in his
appearance. His cheek grew neither red
his calm: eye surveyed The advancing foe,
with as little sign of perturbation as a
chemist might show scru'inizing The effer.
vesence of some novel mixture. He sat
perfectly snl, with n little staff of painted
iron in his right hand.
Smoot nscended the platform and imme.
dln'ciy aimed tremendous blow with his
enormous sword cane, foil a. the head of his
foe. A, TIA, h'ow five hundred hearts shui.
d"r"d. and morc than q dozen voices Shrek
ed for n Il cgprc'c ed 10 see the victims skull
shvered into atoms. The general nstonish
mpnt then may be conceived, when they
bshcld the little iron atnif describe a quick
curve, a. the great sword cane flew from
Smoo,'s fingers and fell with loud caler
at the distance Of twenty feet in the hall
The nlled huly uttered Il cry of wrath, wild
as that Of some wounded beast of prey, md
snatchcd his bowie knife from his sheath,
but ere il was poised for the desperate
plunge, tho lite iron staff cut smother
curve, and the big knife followed the sword
cunc. liz ihrn hastily drew a revolving |.
pistol bnl ,to,c he had time to touch the
trigger, his ti,n was stricken powerless by !
his side.
And then for the first time did Judge Yell
be,rsy perccpijble emotion. lie stamped
his foot ill he platform shook henenlh it
and shouted in trunpet tones-'Mr. Clerk
yon will blot this ruilian's name as foul
disgrace from the roll of attorneys. Mr.
Sheriff. take the criminal to Jail"
The latter officer sprang to obey the
mandate, and Immediately scene Of con.
fusion ensued that no pen could describe.
| The b-avocs and myrmidon friends Of Gen.
Smouf. gathered round to obslruc, the
Sheriff. while many of the citizens len. their
aid TO sustain the authority Of tie court.
Manuncos, screams and horrid curses. the
ring of impinglng and crossing steel, al
terna'e cries of rage and pam. all comninc-
led with the awiu! explosion Of frearms.
blended together n vivid idea of PandenonI>
urn Bul throughout oil The icmpe-,unus
strife, two individuals might be observed ls
leaders IN The wairlwnJ and riders of the
storm. The new Judge used his little iron
cane with terrible efficiency. crippn, limbs
yet sparing life. Bill ButIum. Initiating the
ccmency of his honorable friend. disdsInirg
the employ ment Of either knife or pistol,
actually rampled and crushed Gown all op-
position, roaring at every furious blow
",his is the way to preserve order IN court"
a sentiment which he accompanied with
wild pea IS of laughter. In less than two ,
minutes the party Of the Judge ,riumphed, :
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
Arkansas; and from ,ha, day his popularity
as q man, ss judge. as hero, and as
politician, went on rapidly and brilliantly 7
increasing, till it eclipsed all the Oldest and
most powerful names. Within the first /.
year Of his emigration, he became a candi- 2
date 70, the Governors chair, and nolwirh- C