The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-26

ing a note on a slip of paper and putting
1t in his desk In answer to the enraged
challenger's inquiry, the general slihpiy
said Mr.. Smith, you are the forueth;
when have killed these other thirty-nhe
d-n scoundrels who have challenged me
l will accommodate you. Be patient, SIR
Smith came to Texas in 1896, 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 end
ed he enlisted to fight Indians. and re-
malned on the border until there were no
more Comanches to shoot. He has been
man of war from his youth up, and in his
old age he carries a soldiers musket with
a 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 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 gauntlet and burn him
at the stake when they reached their vii
lage on Devil river. The captive had
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
boosted that he could beat any man liv-
ing playing that particular 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 NOR
tai man ever waged on game of chance
life. Smith eagerly agreed to the pro-
posal, and they sat down under tree
and dealt the cards on a blanket. The
other warriors dismounted and anXlously
watched the game. The chiefs name was
Big Laugh, so called on account of nat
ural grin that market his features. After
a short time they stood to g. and 1t 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 some
thing else in view. He might easily have
walked away, but he determined upon
another act which marks him as gen.
erous soul possessed of the highest cour-
age There was a young white girl ued
on one of the ponies who was weeping
In the most piteous agony. Smith cody
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 shut
file the cards The young girl was cut
loose from the pony and made to stand on
the blanket while the thongs for bind
ing Smith in case he lost were thrown at
her feet. Again they played close game,
and at the end of short time stood
and 6; but il was Big Laughs deal. With
what awful interest that poor girl must
have watched the turning of that trump!
The Indian slowly dealth the cards, and,
peeping at the trump, a hideous grin
spread all over his face.
II was sure that all was lost. and was
lust In the act of springing at his throat
saws Smith when he turned the queen
of hearts for a trump. He could not give
me, of course, and held both the ace and
duce of hearts"
Big Laugh was by this time hilariously
drunk and in a most excellent good humor.
He not only kept his word and gave Smith
and the young girl their liberty, but he
furnished them two ponies and allowed
Smith to take his gun. The liberated cap
tiyes reached the settlements In safety,
where Smiths strange story would never
have been credited had not the young girl
borne witness that it was true. She is stll
living on a fine plantation on the Brazos,
and is the widow of no less parsonage
than Col 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
sroa1lar