Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-27

does not bear any very marked reSemb-
to a general, but he has command
ed a considerable force in battle, and,
while military critics might have COM
planned that he was deficient in strategic
ability, none ever charged him with lack
of val5r. Few people would discover in
his face or manner any of those traits
that distinguish a duelist, but he has
demonstrated that he possesses them all
in an eminent degree by ordering "pis-
tolls and coffee for two more than once.
Upon one occasion he had the audacity
to invite General Houston, who was at
that period president of the republic, to
''come out and exchange shots with him.
He says that the old warrior "1oored'
him by coolly making a note on a slip
of p II putting it in his desk. In
answer to the enraged challenger's in
quiry, the general simply said: MI.
Smith, you are the fortieth. When l
have killed these other thirty-nine d---n
scoundrels who have challenged me l. 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 sol
der in the great civil war, and when that
ended he enlisted to fight Indians, and
remained on the border until there were
no more COmancheS to shoot. He has
been a man Of war from his youth up,
and in his old age he carries a soldiers
musket with a fixed bayonet, and contin-
ues to make war on all kinds of gafne
and ~"varmints." He wanted to go to
Cuba, and when the boys insisted that he
was too old N feeble he threw off his
coat and challenged the whole company
to fight him.
Upon one occasion Smith was captured
by a rowing band Of C~omanches, many
of whom We're well known to him. They
frankly told him that they intended to
,,onEn him, NY t11a pnl1nt1at and hj1rn him
at the stake when they reached their vii
lage, on Devil river. The captive had n
flask of whisky, which the chief took
away from him. After taking several
drinks, the old warrior asked Smith if
he Gould play ~''scven-up.' Smith proud
~ boasted that he could beat any man
living playing that particular game. This
answer appeared to put the Indian on his
mettle, and he at one proposed that they
should halt by the side of the WarDath
and play for the highes. stakes that NOR
tai man ever waged on a game of chance
life. Smith eagerly agreed to the pro-
pCsal, and they sat down under a 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 ma
tural grin that marked his features,
After a short time they stood 6 to 6, and
it was Smiths deal. He ran the cards
off and turned q 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 AVE walked away. but he
determined upon another act winch
marks him as q generous soul possessed
Of the highest courage. There was q
young white girl tied on one of the ponies
who was weeping in the most piteouS
agony. Smith coolly proposed to play an
! other 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. IN
young girl was cut loose from the pom!
and made to stand on the blanket, while
the thongs for binding Smith in case n
lost We're thrown at her feet. Agar
they played a close game. and at the emf
! of q short time stood 6 to 8; but 1t wa
Big Laughs deal. With what awful in.
terest that poor girl must have watched
the turning of that trump. The lndlal
slowly dealt the cards, and, peeping a
the trump, a hideous grin spread all owe
his face.
Il was sure tina all was lost, and wa!
lust in the act of springing at his throat,
says Smith. "when he turned the queer
of hearts for q trump. He could not CIV
me, of course. and I held both the ac'
and deuce of hearts,
big Laugh WAS Wy tio 'iihH
dunk and in a most excellent good hume
He not only kept his word and CAV
smith and the young girl their liberty, bu
he furnished them two ponies and al
lowed Smith to lake his gun. The liber
atad captiyes cached the settlements IL
= safety whore Smiths strange stor.
would never have been credited had no
the Young girl borne witness that it wa
; true, she is still living on a fine planta
1 tion on the Brazoe, and is the widow o
I no 1ess q p~ersDnage tina Colonel sam
l Tomas who was killed at the battle o
( Shiloh. :.
l wildcat Smith lives in a little cabin il
\ the woods, and devotes ms Whole 'li.e :
= hunting bear and deer, ana soilie'iiiie
u smaller game.
n ANY OLD THING.