Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-12-05
THE ARKANSAS COWARD.
A Western Sketch.

| The beautiful little town of Van Buren
on the Arkansas rit er, near the Cheroke,
line, during its early history, was famou
for the number aud f.rocity OF its despa
radoeS. being the principal focus OF rem
dezVouS, for gamblers, Indian traders
and all sorts Of adventurers, who hat
found it necessary to change their domi
Giles from land Z. verned by the admin
istration of rigid criminal code. Th,
half 'bteed braves from the Cherokee ma
sion also aocked 10 the same site to drink
earouss. take hand a. cards. and exhi
bit their powers in singular ''set tos" viii
plstols aud klves. Such state Of society
may be imagined-it cannot be described
Not sun performed its circuit that did
not witness some dreadful single combat
with or without murderous weapons,
while now and then dozens At time, aud
by mutual agreement. marched from the
rum shop into public square and enga.
ged in mortal strife.
At this period. Thomas a. Meyers emf.
grated to Arkansas, and opened q large
grocery store, IN Van Buren,, acting him
self as keeper and retailer. Such an oc-
cupation. At that time. required man Of
sost determined courage, as the store
foNp always tad back room attached,
sspsSatly appropriated to gambling both
oy AAsnd BY night, and where players
were Suhlied with the choicest liquors OF
tue Oaf' enN would be sure to bully the
grocer OUT OF His reasonable charges, uu-
less restrained u fear. "1'7 1'fI7.
For while. hoNsver, Myers succeeded
admirably. The hA-breeds, Iosters and
charscsersd lighters. thew called them.
selves. held u caucus ang Soted thai the
new srriysl was danger64s subject. and
had better be leiE alone. The Jscision
vas altogether owing to MyetI personal
appearance. a. night we'll be conceived.
Tall. manly and symmetrical in Nhabs.
With great sndoWments both in sLreAvtL
and agility. he would have but lew equ&ts
in the arms of naked nature. Bat the
cunning Inventions OF Rrt-iron, steel and
lsa1-the thunIer and lightning Of gun
po yer are made TO tight Tor the feeblss!
bOsoms snd thus she dwarf and giant.
provided both alike, and the heirs OF true
courage, now stand on the same level
Il was believed, also. that Myers possess,
ed the resolution TO handle these horrid
engines of destruction. while life aud
death hung upon the touch Of q trigger.
His eountsnance betokensd the psrsection
Of bravery. HE face wore generally 81
stern expression. and when that melted
into smile, the seemed still more stern,
His eyes we're exceedingly black. Wild.
penetrating and restless, and had that
cold, cleaning. metallic look, which may
be regarded ss the sun glare Of dsspsrs.
tiou! Besides. he carried an appalling
supply Of pistols. aud bowis.knlte four
Gvsn iDehss ID the blade. Hence. tvsryS
body ass respectful and ebHging 70 The
hero Of 4 period OF sevstaI
weeks. during whith "a Unusual esltn
Fsighsd in ths toah. ~ M
Al length : terrible sffrsy, occurred sl
N5sff gfoobtS. Half 4GSah Ore arms
,fplbdsd ID quick succession, and ths
isfsatng tosf. 20 frightened the keeper.
hsi 81 tout % his heels a9d Iisd from Biz
,Wh establishment. The Iissl settled
,Dbiie gpibi6H - % his sbetsstsf.
,tWhsl Z 6hieksh bssttsd coward 10
an from bi-ovn rssiis, exclaimed Cen
Jele, Tho Napoleon ~ ifousier daslisn
nd uemh,ars