The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-27
SEVENTH FOR HIS LIFE.
wildcat Smith Beat His Comanc

| wildcat Smith Beat His Comanchle
Captor at the Game
| Old Wildcat Smith is ust about tbs
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 camp STOOL ana de-
| cided cases of the greatest importance.
| He does not bear any very marked re-
semblance to a general, but he has COM
manded a considerable force in battle
and, while military critics might nave
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 duellist,
but he has demonstrated that he pos
sesses them all in an iminent degree by
ordering "pistols and coffee for two
more than once. Upon one occasion he
had the audacity to invite General
Houston. who was at that period pres
ident of the republic, to ''come out and
exchange shots" with him. He says
coolly making a note on a slip of pa
per and putting it in his desk. In an
swer to the enraged challenger's in
qury, the general simply said: 'Mr.
Smith. you are the fortieth; when /
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 1886, 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 ended he enlisted to fight In
dams, and remained on the border UNI
til 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 continues to make war en-
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 chal
lenged 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 in
tended to make him run the gantlet
and burn him at the stake when they
reached their village, on Devil River.
The captive had flask of whisky,
which the chief took away from him.
After taking several drinks the old war
rior asked Smith if he could play 'sev-
en-up" Sith proudly boasted that he
could beat any man living playing that
particular game. This answer appear
ed 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 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 dsmounted and anxious
ly watched the game. The chiefs name
was Big Laugh, so called on account of
a natural grin that marked his feat
ures. After a short time they stood
to g. and it was Smiths deal. He. ran
the cards off and turned ack 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 upon another
act which marks him as a generous
soul possessed of the highest courage.
There was a young white girl tied on
one of the ponies who was weeping in
the most piteous agony. Smith coolly
proposed to play another game, stalk
l.; Fn inc n w IF 10
young girl Big Laugh was evidently
pleased with the white mans courage,
and after taking another drink he be-
gan to shuttle the cards. The young
girl was cut loose from the pony and
made to stand on the blanket, while the
hongs for binding Smith in case he lost
we're thrown at her feet. Again they
played a close game, and at the end of
/ short time stood 6 to 8; but it was
Zig Laughs deal With what awful in
crest that poor girl must have watched
he turning of that trump. The Indian
slowly dealt the cards, and, peepng at
he trump, hideous grin spread all
,ver his face.
81 was sure that all was lost, and was
ust in the act of springing at his
hroat," says Smith, when he turned /
he queen of hearts for trump. He |
ould not give me, of course, and I |
eld forth both the ace and deuce of |
learts"
Big Laugh was by this time hilarious
Y drunk and in a most excellent good |
umor. He not only kept his word and
ave Smith and the young girl their lib +
rty, but he furnished them two ponies
nd allowed Smith to take his gun. The
berated captives reached the settle
lents in safety, where Smiths strange
tory would never have been credited
ad not the young sill borne witness
hat 1t was true She is still living on
fine plantation on the Brazos, and is
he widow of no less a parsonage than
olonel Sam" Jones, who was killed
t the battle of Shiloh.
Wildcat Smith lives in a little cabin
the woods, and devotes his whole
me to hunting bear and deer, and
Ometimes smaller game.-CaldWell
Tex.) correspondence of The ST Louis