New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-19
SETENUP FOR HIS LIFE.
WILDCAT SMITH BEAT HIS CoMANcHE cAProR
AT THE GAME.

Caldwell CTex) correspondence Of The St Louis
Globe Democrat
Old wildcat Smith is just about the last living
one Of that famous band OF pioneers VINO droVo
the Indians to the mountains killed the pan
theirs and bears. and blaZed the tracks thIou6h
the tracklcss wilderness. lie does not look IKE
a lawyer. but he has nevertheless, sat upon
camp stool and decided cases of the greatest I'M
portance He does not bear any very marked re-
semblance to a General. but he has commanded
a considerable force in battle and, Whlle mill
tary critics might have complained that ne was
deficient in strategic abrllty, none ever Cn, go
him with lack Of vaor. Few people would dis-
cover in his face or manner any or those trallS
that distinguish ducllist, but he mas demon
strated that he possesses them all In an einl-
nent degree by ordering pistols ana collee lor
two" more than once Upon one occasion he had
the audlCty to invite General Houston VINO
was at that period President OF the Kepup"c' 70
"come out and exchange shots win MN. re
saws that the old warrior 'noored MIN ny
coolly making note on slip OF paper anu
putting it in his desk In answer to the ehraEeu
challenger's inquiry, the General SIMPLY saul
MIR smith YOU are the fortieth; when have
killed these other thrty-nine d-n scoundrels
who have challenged me | Will accommodate
you. BE patient. sir.
Smith came to Texas In 1886. and served in
the Texas army through all the long wars with
Mexico He was also a soldier in the great Clyll
Var and when that ended he enlisted 10 nShc
Indians and remained on the border un'Il 'HeIo
were no more Comanchcs to shoot. He has been
a man Of war from his youth up and IN ms oId
age he carries soldiers musket with a hXed
bay onet. and continues to make war on an
kinds Of game and "varmints.' lie wanted 10
go to Cuba and when the boys insisted that ne
was too OLD and feeble he threw off his coat ana
challenged the whole company TO fight him.
Upon one occasion Smith was captured by
rowing band OF Comanches. many Of whom We're
well known TO him They frlnkly told nm that
they intended to make him run the gauntlet ana
burn him at the stake when they reached thelr
village, on Devil River. The captive had
flask Of whskey which the chlef took away
from him After taking several drinks me Oh
warrior asked Smith if he could play seven
M" Smith proudly boosted that. he could beat
any man living playing that particular game.
This answer appeared to put the Indian ON MS
mettle, and he at once proposed that tney
should halt by the side Of the warpath ana play
for thc highest stakes that mortal man ever
waged on a game Of chance-life. Smith eagerly
agreed to the proposal and they sat down unuer
n tree and dealt the cards on biahke' INC
other warriors dismounted and anNlousiy
watched the game. The chiefs name was BiS
Laugh so called on account OF natural grim
that marked his features. After a snort une
they stood to & and it was Smiths deal. lie
ran the cards off and turned a jack from inc hc
bottom Smith rad won his liberty, ana BIG
Laugh told him he might go; but the TeNan had
something else in view. He might easily nave
walked away but he determined upon another
act which marks him as a generous soul pos
sessed Of the highest courage: Ihere was Il
young white girl tied on one oil the ponies VIZ
was weeping in the most pitcous agony. Hiiilh
conlIv proposod 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 ca'ds. The young Eri
WAS cut loose from the pony and made 10 Stahu
on TN. blanket. while the thongs for binding
Smith in case he lost were thrown AT her feet:
Again they played close game, ana III TN" end
Of a short time stood & and Il: but it was BIG
Laughs deal With what awful interest that
poor girl must have watched the turning "I lha9
hump, The Indian slowly dealt the cards ana.
pcrIing at the trump, hideous grin spread all
over his face.
Il was sure that al was lost, and was Just IN
th, act If sprnging at his throat says smith,
''v h.n he turned the queen Of hearts Tor Il
trump He could not give me. OF course, ana
T., Ia both the ace and deuce of hearts.
Big Laugh was by this time hilali"uSly drunk
and i'm "a most excellent good humor lie NOT
ouiV kent his word and gave Smith ana the
Young pirl their liberty. bat ne furnished them
two ponies and allowed Smith TO take his gun.
The liberated captiv's reached thc fettlement5
i'm safety Whcr, Smiths strang" story would
never have been credited had not the young girl
borne Witness that it was true She is still liv-
ing on "a fine plantation on the Brazos. and Is
Tho widow If no less parsonage than Colonel
sam" Jones, who was killed at the battle or
Shiloh
wildcat Smith lives in little cabin in tho
woods and dcvotes his whole time 10 hunting
bear and deer, and sometimes smaller game,