Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-07-06
SEVEN-UP FOR HIS LIFE
Wildcat Smith Beat His Comanche Cap
tor at the GBme-WOn Hi. Life and
the Life of q Young Girl.

Inc Life OF q Young Girl.
Old Wildcat Smith of Texas, is just
about the last living one OF that fam
GUS band of pioneers who drove the
Indians to the mountains, killed the
panthers and bears, and bluzed the
tracks through the trackless wilder
ness. He does not look like q lawyer,
but he has, nevertheless, sat upon Il
camp stool and decided cases of the
greatest importance. He does not
bear any very marked resemblance To
General, but he has commanded
considerable force in battle, aud, willie
military critics might have complained
that he was deficient in strategic nbil-
ity. none ever charged him with lack
of valor. Few people would discover
in his face or manner any of those
traits that distinguish n ducliSt bur
he has demonstrated that he possesses
them all In an eminent 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
President of the Republic, to come
out and exchange shots" with him.
He says that the old warrior "toorcd"
him Icy coolly making note on Il slip
of paper and putting 1t In his desk.
In answer to the enrnged challcnger's
inquiry. the General simply said:
''Mr Smith. you are the foriieth: when
| have killed these other thirty-nine
d-n scoundrelS who have challenged
me will accomudatc you. Be PIT ent,
sir"
Smith went to Texas in 1896. and
served in the Texas army through all
the long wars with Mexico He was
also II 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 Com
nnchcS to shoot. He has been Il man
of war from his youth M. and in his
old age he carries soldiers musl5et
with II fixed bayonct. and continues
to make war on all kinds Of game and
"varmints." lie wanted to go to
Cuba, aud when the boys in sisted that
lie WIS 90 old and feeble h. threw Off
his cont and challenged the whole
company to fight him.
Upon one occasion Smith was cap
tnrrd by II rowing band of Comanches.
many of whom were we'll known to
him. They frankly told him that they
intended to made him run She gantlpt
and burn him at the stake when they
reached their village on Devil River
The captive had flask of whisllcy,
which the chief took away from him.
After taking several drnlS the old
warrior asked Smith If he could play
''sevcn-up." Smith proudly boosted
that lie could beat any man living
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 war0atl and play for the highest
stakes that mortal man ever wagpd on
Il game of chance-life. Smith eagerly
agreed to the proposal, AMI they sat
down under tree and dealth the
cs rds on n blot let. The other war
riors dismounted and anXously watch
ed the game. The chiefs name was
Big Laugh, so called on account of
natural grin that marked his features.
After Il short time they stood 6 to 6,
and 1t was Smiths deal. He ran the
cards off and turned n 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 wall VI
away. but he determined upon anotl er
act which marks him rs IL generous
soul possessed of the highest courage
There was n Young white girl tied on
one of the ponies who WAS weeping
in the most pteous agony. Smith
coolly proposed to play another game.
stalking his life against the liberty of
this young girl. Big Laugh was evil
IDENTIFY pleased with the white mans
courage. and after taking another
drink 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 We're thrown mt
her feet. Again they played close
game, and mt the end of a short time
stood & to 6: hut it was Big Laughs
deal With what awful interest that
poor girl must have watched the turn
Ing of that trump, The Indian slowly
dealt the cards. and, peeping at the
trump. n hideous grin spread all over
his face.
81 was sure all was lost and was
Just i'm the act of springing at his
throat,' says Smith when he turned
the queen of hearts for trump. He
could not give me- of course, and
held 10th the ace and deuce of hearts,"
Big Laugh was by this time hllari-
ously drunk and In n most excellent
good humor He not only kept his
word and gave Smith. and the young
girl their liberty hut furnished them
two ponies and allowed Smith to take
his gun. The liberated captives reach
ed the settlements in safety, where
Smiths strange story would never
have been credited had not the young
girl borne witness that 1t was true.
She is still living on fine plantation
on the BraZos and is the widow of no
less parsonage than Colouel Sam
Jones. who was killed at the battle of
shiloh.
Wildcat Smith lives In little cabin
in the woods. and devotcs his wi Ne
tinc to hunting bear and deer, and
sometimes smaller game. He lives all
alone and seldom appears in town cX-
cept for tobacco or provender
KEchener's Spies