Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-19
HE STAKED HIS LIFE.
WILDCAT" SMITHS THRILLING GAME
OF SEVEN UP.

manche Captor. Big Laugh, Mt the
Game and Then Risked His Life
Again to Save n White Girl Captive.
Old Wildcat" Smith is inst about
the last living one of that famous band
of pioneers who drove the Indians to
the mountains. killed the panthers and
bears, and blazed the tracks through
the trackless wilderness. He does not
look like a lawyer, but he has. never
theless, sat upon a camp stool and de-
cided cases of the greatest Importance.
He does not bear any very marked re-
semblance to a 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 or manner
any of those traits that distinguish a
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 ''floore1' 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
general simply said MIR. Smith, you
are the fortieth. When l have killed
these other SO scoundrels who have
challenged me, l 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 soldier in the great civil war,
and when that ended he enlisted to
fight Indians and remained on the Dor
der until there We're no more Co
manches to shoot. He has been a 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 Goa.
and challenged the whole company to
fight him.
Upon one occasion Smith was cap
tured by rowing band of Comanches,
many of whom were well known to him.
They frankly told him that they intend
ed to make him run the gauntlet 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 boosted 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 a game of chance-life.
Smith eagerly agreed to the proposal.
and they sat down under a tree and
dealt the cards on 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 to 6.
and it was Smiths deal He ran the
cards off and turned 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
marks him as generous soul possessed
of the highest courage. There was
young white girl tied on one of the
ponies, who was weeping in the most
piteous agony.
Smith coolly proposed to play another
game, stalking his life against the lib
erty of this young girl. Big Laugh was
evidently pleased with the white mans
Ill HI, l.
he began to shuttle the cards. The
young girl 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 close game, and at
the end of short time stood and 6.
but it was Big Laughs deal. With
what awful interest that poor girl must
have watched the turning of that
TRIUMPH The Indian slowly dealt the
cards, and. peeping at the trump. a
hideous grin spread all over his face.
II was sure that all was lost and was
just in the act of springing at his
throat" says Smith. when he turned
the queen of hearts for a trump. He
could not give me, of course, and held
both the ace and deuce of hearts
Big Laugh was by this time hilarious
ly drunk and in a most excellent good
humor. He not only kept his word and
gave Smith and the young girl their
liberty, hut he furnished them two po-
mics and allowed Smith to take his gum.
The liberated captives reached the set
Element in safety. where Smiths
story would never have been
credited had not the young girl borne
witness that it was true. She Is still
living on a fine plantation on the Brazos
and is the widow of no less a persohage
than Colonel Sam Jones, who was killed
at the battle of Shiloh
wildcat" Smith lives in a little cabin
in the woods and devotes his whole
time TO hunting bear and deer and
smaller game.-St. Louis