The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-14
STORIES OF WILDCAT SMITH.
sh"oods Texan Who Fought a varmint
with Natures Weapons.

IRON the St Louis Globe Dersrrsf
va Wildcat Smith is lust about the 1os-
iVihs one or that famous band Of nionaors
VINO drove the Indians 10 the mountains
killed the panthers and bears. and blazeI
me tracks through the trackIess wilder
ness he does not look like a lawyer
says caldwell (TeX) correspondent. but
ne mas nevertheless, sat upon a camp
sloo! ana decided cases of the greatest
IHipsrt shce. He does not bear any very
married resemblance 10 a General. but he
mas commanded a considerable force in
DAtue' and while military critics might
nave complained that he was deficient in
Strategic ability, none ever charged him
WIN iack Of yalor Few people youIl
I uiscoVer IN his face or manner any of
those traits that distinguish a ducIisf.
out ne mas demonstrated that he possess,
es them all IN an eminent degree nv nrd7r-
ing pistols and coffee for two mors nan
/ once. Upon one occasion he had the au-
! daclty to invite Gen. Houston, yio was
at inat period President of the republic.
70 come out and exchange shots with
MIN. he says that the old warrior
nooTed MIN by colly making a note on
a sap OF paper and putting IL in his desk
IN answer TO the enraged challengers in
qulry, the General simply said: Mr..
smith, you are the fortioth: when | have
Killed these other thirty-nine d-n scOE-
drels who have challenged me. | will ac-
oommodate you. Be patient, sir"
smith came 10 Texas in 1896, and served
IN the IeXas army through all the lOEg
wars with Mexico He Was also a soldier
IN the great civil war, and when that
ended he enlisted to fight Indians. and re-
manned on the border until there were 10
more Comanches to shoot He has been
a man or war from his youth I'd, and in
ms old age he carries a soldiers muskeI
Win a liked bayonet, and continues to
make war on all kinds Of game and var
nllntS- he wanted 10 so to Cuba. and
WREN 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 captured
! by rowing band Of COmdnchES MANY of
whom were well known to him. They
frankly told him that they intended to
make him run the gantlet ana burn him
az ire stake when they reached their vii
laSe on Devil River. The captive had 4
flask OF whisky. which the chief took
away from him. After taking several
| drinks the old warrior asked Smith if he
could ply '.sevtn-up." Smith proudly
boosted that he could beat any man living
playing that particular game. This answer
appeared to put the Indian on his mettle
and he at once proposed that they halt by
the side OF the wdTpatn ana play for the
I highest stakes that mortal man ever
WaSed on game Of chance-Iife. Smith
eagerly agreed To the proposal and they
sat down under a tree ana dealt the cards
or blanket The other warriors dis
mounted
The chiefs name was Big Laugh so
called On account of d natural grin that
marked his features. After a short time
lney stood TO ., and II 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 he determined uyOa another act
which VlyS nm q : a 90
SeSSed Of the highest courage. There was
u young white girl tied on ere of the Do
mics who was weeping IN the most pit
eOus agony. Smith CColly proposed TO
play mother game, stalking his life
| against the liberty of this young girl. Pig
Laugh was evidently pleased with the
white man 8 courage, and after taking an
other drink he began to shuttle the cards.
The young Slrl 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 al
IL was Big Laughs deal. With what aw-
full interest that poor girl must have
watched the turning Of that trump.
The Indian Si0WIy dealt the card
ard, pteping at ne trI mp, a hideOus grin
spread all over his face.
Il was sure thar all was lost and was
just in the act of springing at his throat"
says Smith, when he turned The queen
Z
me. of course, and [ held both the ace
and deuce OF hearts"
Big Laugh was by this time hilariOusly
drunk and IN Il most excellent good hu-
NOR. He not only kept his word and gave
Smith and the young girl their liberty.
but he furnished them two ponies and al
lowed Smith 10 take his gun. The lib
Grated captiYes reached the settlements
/ in safety. where Smiths strange story
would never have been credited had not
the young girl bore witness that il was
true. She is still living on fine plantd-
tiOn on the BraZOS and Is the widow of
no less a parsonage than Col. Sam Jones,
who was killed al the battle OF Shiloh.
Wildcat Smith lives in a little cabin in
the woods and deVotes his whole time 10
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 vaTmints once
without any weapons. | EOt the 'tarnaI
critters ca IN my mouth. and then /
busted his ribs and unlimited mis- neck with