The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-13
PLAYED CARDS FOR MS LEE
The Lucky Acc and Deuce of Hearts
,Rf Decided IL.

The Lucky; Acc and Deuce of Hearts
Decided IL.
!. St, Louis Globe-D Democrat: Old Wild
cat Smith Is jus. about the last living
one OF that famous band OF pioneers
who drove the Indians to the noun
tains, killed the panthers and bears
and blaZed the track through the track
less wilderness. He, does not look like
lawyer, but he has, nevertheless, sat
upon camp stool, and decided cases
of the greatest Importance. He does
not bear any marked resemblance to n
general. but he has commanded q con-
siderable force In battle, and while mil
itary critics might have complained
thatrhe. WINS deficient In strategic ablli-
ity, none ever charged him with lack of
valor. Few people would discover in
STAGE or manner any of those traits
that distinguish duellist, but he has
demonstrated that he possesses them
all In an eminent degree by ordering
pistols and coffee or 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 iloored him by coolly making
note on slip Of paper, and putting 1t
In his desk. In answer to the enraged
challenger's Inquiry. the general simply
said: '!Mr. Smith, you are the fortieth;
when have killed these other thirty
nine .d-n scoundrels who have chal-
lenged me, will accommodate you. Be
patient, SIR"
Smith came to Texas In 1896, and
served In the Texas army through 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 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 SOL
dier's musket with a fixed bayonet, and
continues to make war upon all kinds
of game and .'warmints." He wanted
to so to Cuba, and when the boys in
sisted 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 in
" lIt
and burn him ut the stake when they
reached their village. on Devil river.
The captive had flask of whlskey.
which the chief took away from him.
After taking several drinks. the chief
asked Smith II he could play Seven
up" Smith proudly boosted that he
could beat any man living playing that
particular game. This answer ap-
peared to put the Indian on his mettlc.
and he at once proposed that they halt
by the side Of the warpath, and play for
the highest stake that mortal man ever
waged on q game OF. chance-llfe. Smith
eagerly agreed to the proposal, and they
sat down under tree and dealt the
cards on n blanket. The other war
rlors dlsmounted and watched the
game.
The chiefs name was Big Laugh. so
called on account Of q natural grin that
marked his features. After n short
time they stood G to 6. 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 60: but the
Texan had something else in view. He
might easily have walked away, but he
determined upon another act which
marks him as 4 generous soul, pos
sessed of the highest courage. There
was young white girl tied on one of
the ponies, who was weeping In the
most piteous agony. Smith coolfy pro-
posed to play another game. stalking his
life against the liberty of the young
girl Big Laugh was evidently pleased
with the white mans courage. and after
taking another drink he began to shut
flc The cards. The young CIR. 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 his feet. Again they played
close game. and at the end of n short
time it stood to 6; 1t was Big LauGh'c
deal. With what awful interest that
poor Girl must have watched the turning
of that trump! The Indian slowly dealt
the cards. and. peeping at the trump,
hideous grin overspread his face.
II was sure all was lost, and was just
in the act of springinS at his throat
says Smith. when he turned the queen
OF hearts for n trump. He could not
give me, of course, ana | held both the
ace and deuce of hearts"
Big Laugh was by this time hilarious
ly drunk and In most excellent humo:.
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 captives reached the settle
ments In safety. where Smiths strange
story would never have been credited,
had not the young girl borne witness
that It was true. She Is still living on
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 smaller game. When asked
for Information concerning his fcrocious
name, he said: "Oh. the boys called me
Wildcat cause fit one of them var
minis once without any weapins. [
got the 'tarnal critters ear in my
mouth, and then busted his ribs and
unlimited his neck with my fist"
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.