Rock Island Argus., 1898-12-21
WILDCAT" SMITH.

on all kinds OF game and 'varmints." lie
wanted to go TO Cuba. and when the boys
insisted that he was too old and feeble he
threw off his coat and challenged the
whole company to fight him.
Upon ono occasion Smith was captured
by "a rowing band of COmanches, many of
whom were well known to him. They
frankly told him that they intended to
make him run the gantlet and burn him
at the stake when they reached their viii
lage on Devil river. The captive had u
flask of whisky, which the chief took away
from him After taking several drinks
the old warrior asked Smith if he could
play ''seven up" Smith proudly boasted
that he could beat any man living playing
that particular game This answer ap-
peared to put the Indian on his mettle,
and he at once proposed that they should
halt by the side of the warpath and play
for the highest stakes that mortal men
ever waged on n game of chancc-life.
Smith eagerly agreed TO the proposal,
and they sat down under Il tree and dealt
the cards on blanket. The other war
riors dismounted and anxiously watched
the game. The chiefs name was Big
Laugh, so called on account of natural
grin that marked his features. After "A
short time they stood to g, ard it was
Smiths deal. He ran the cards off and
turned a jack from the bottom. Smith
had won his liberty, and Big Laugh told
him that he might go, but the Texan had
something else i'll view. He might easily
have walked away, but he had determined
upon another act which marks him as a
generous soTi possessed of the highest
courage. There was young white girl
tied on one Of the ponies who was weeping
in the most piteous agony. Smith coolIy
proposed to play another game, stalking
his life against the liberty of this young
girl Big Laugh was evidently pleased
with the white mans courage, and after
taking another drink he began to shuttle
the cards. Tie young girl was cut loose
from the pony and made to stand on the
blanket, while the thongs for binding
Smith in case he lost were thrown at her
feet Again they played a close game and
at the end of short time stood and @,
but il was Big Laughs deal. With what
awful interest that poor girl must have
watched the turning Of that trumpi The
Indian slowly dealt the cards, and, peep
ing at the trump, hideous grin spread
all over his face
II was sure that all was lost and was
Just IN the act of springing at his throat
says Smith, VIXEN he turned the queen
of hearts for a trump. De could not give
me, of course, and held both the ace and
deuce of hearts"
Big Laugh was By this time hilariously |
drunk and in most excellent good hu- |
NOR. lie not Only Kept ms NOru anu gave 4
Smith and the young girl their liberty, |
but he furnished them two ponies and al |
lowed Smith TO take his gun. The liber- |
ate| captives reached the settlements in |
safety. where Smiths strange story would |
never hIye been credited had not the young /
girl bore witness that il was true. She is /
still living on n fine plantation the /
Brazos and is the widow Of no less a per-
sonage than Colonel sam Jones, who was
killed at the battle of shiloh.
wildcat Smith lives in little cabin in
the woods and devotes his whole time TO
hunting bear and deer and sometimes
smaller game. When asked for informa-
tion concerning his ferocious name, he
said: ''Oh, the boys call me wildcat
cause / fit one of them varInints once
without any weapins- / got the tarnal
,ritter's ear in my mouth, and then bust
d his ribs, unjiDtin bis neck with my fist.