Middletown transcript., 1899-05-06
He STAKED HIS LIFE.
WILDCAT" SMITHS THRILLING GAME
OF SEVEN UP.

The Doughty Pioneer Beat His Co
mnnche CaptOr, Big Laugh, at the
Game and Then RiSIxcd HIS Life
Again to Save a White Girl Captive,
, Old "Wildcat" Smith is Just about
the last living one of that famous band
J of pioneers who drove the Indians to
the mountains, killed the papthers and
! bears, and blazed the tracks through
the trackiess wilderness. He docs not
look like a lawyer, but be has. never
theless, sat upon camp stool and de-
cided cases Of the greatest Importance.
He does not bear any very marked re-
semblance to general, but he has COM
manded considerable force in battle,
and, while military critics might have
complained that he was deficient in
strategic ability none ever charged
him with lack of valor Few people.
would discover in his face OF manner
any of those traits that distinguish
duelist, but he has demonstrated that
he possesses them all in an eminent de-
gree by ordering ''pistols and coffee for
two more than once. Upon one occa.
sion he had the audacity to invite Gen
eral Houston, who was at that period
president of the republic, to "come out
and exchange shots with him. He SAYS
that the old warrior 'foore1" him by
coolly making a note on a slip of paper
and putting it in his desk. In answer
| to the enraged challenger's inquiry the
| ryaynoro1 e;1o
are the fortieth. When l have l.....i
these other 80 scoundreIs who have
challenged me, will accommodate you.
Be patient, sir. -
Smith came to Texas in 1885 and
served in the Texas army through all
the long wars with Mexico He was
also a soldier in the great civil war,
and when that ended be enlisted to
fight Indians and remained on the bor-
der until there were no more Co
manches to shoot He has been man
of war from his youth up, and in his
old age he carries a soldiers musket
with fixed bayonet, and continues to
make war on all kinds of game and |
''varmints. He 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 one occasion Smith was cap
tured by rowing band of Comanches,
many of whom were we'll known to him.
They frankly told him that they intend
ed to make him run the gantIet and |
burn him at the stake when they reach
ed their village on Devil river. The cap
tive had flask of whisky. which the
chief took away from him After tax
ing 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 par
ticular game. This answer appeared 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 man ever
waged on game of chance-life
Smith eagerly agreed to the proposal,
and they sat down under tree and
dealt the cards on a blanket. The other
warriors dismounted and anxiously
watched the game The chiefs name
was Big Laugh so called on account of
a natural grin that marked his features.
After short time they stood 6 to 6,
and 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 he might go, but {
the Texan had something else in view.
He might easily have walked away, but
ne determined upon another act which
narEs him as generous soul possessed I
If the highest courage. There was a I
7oung white girl tied on one of the I
ponies, who was weeping in the most 7
'iteaus aSs2:Y.
Smith c9oi,.y proposed to play another Q
game, stg-.:::g his lie ssainst the lib t
rty Of this yoang pirl. Big Laugh was g
pleased with the white mans a
ourage, and after taking another drink 4
e began TO shuttle the cards. The il
oung girl WIS cut loose from the pony | t
nd made to stand on tie blanket, | a
fhlle the thongs f3r binding Smith. in
ase he losE, were thrown at her feet
Igain they i;l,;..,ed a close game, and at
be end OF short tiaie stood 6 aud 6, y
ut it was Dig laughs deal With "
that aM Cal interest that poor gil must u
ave watched the turning of that -
lump! Tie Indian slowly dealt the =: %
ards, and, r@eping at the trump. =, -
ideoEs grin spread all over his face u
81 was sure that al Was lost and was oN
1st in the act of Swinging at his =,
lroat. says Smith. when he turned - =,
le queen CT LcsIts f5r trump. He - y
'uld not give l..c. of course. and / held =
9TH the ace and tss,lce of hearts. .; 81
Big Laugh was ~ this time hilarious "
drunk AID III most excellent good q
1mor. He not only kept lis word and
ave Smith and the young girl their
berty. hut he furnished them two po- g.
es and allowed Smith to take his gun. a. a.
he liberated cspti7es reached the set - -
9ment IN safety. where Smiths -
range story woald never have been a. =
edited had not the yoEng girl borne ~ ~,
itness that it was true. She is still a. A.
ring on fine plantation on the Brazos ~ -
ID is the widow of no less a parsonage 10
an Ccloncl Sam .5t;res who was killed
the battle C Shiloh.
Wildcat Siai. i lives in Il little cabin
the wcols and d.y3tts his whole -
ne to hunting bl;.r ;.a.l deer and ~, 81
netimes smaller gail.c. st. Louis "a a.
be-Denoerat.
The Supreme Test. -
ttYou are all right = s.,id tho doctoy n