Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-05-24
2. OTTUMWA, IOWA, MAY a. 1850

succeed, my triumph will confer the
greater glory!"
Such was the general habit of thought
and feeling prevalent throughout Texas
at that period.
Towards evening vast crowd assem-
bled at the place appointed to witness
the hostile meeting; and so great was the
popular wrecklessness as to affairs of
that sort that numerous and considerable
sums were wagered as to the result. At
length the red orb of the summer sun
touched the curved rim Of the western
horizon, covering tall with crimson and
gold, and filling the air with flood of
burning glory; and then the two mortal
antagonists, armed with long, ponderous
rifles, took their station back to back, and
at preconcerted signal--the waving of
a white handkerchief, walked slowly and
steadily off in opposite directions, coun-
ting their steps until each measured fifty.
They both completed the given number
in about the same instant, and then they
wheeled, each to aim and fire when he
chose. As the distance was great, both
paused for some seconds--long enough
for the beholders to flash their eyes from
one to the other, and mark the striking
contrast between them. The face Of
Col. Morton was calm and smiling, but
the smile it bore had most murderous
meaning. On the contrary, the counte-
nance of Deaf Smith was as stern and
passionless as ever. A side view of his
features nigh! have been taken for a
profile done in cas-. iron. The one, too,
was dressed m the richest cloth, and the
other in smoke-tinted leather. But that
made no difference in Texas, then; for
the heirs of heroic courage were oil
considered peers-the class of interiors
embraced none but towards.
Presently two rifles exploded with
simultaneous roar. Col. Morton gave
proGigious bound upwards, and dropped
TO the earth corps-Deaf Smith stood
erect, and Immediately began to reload
his rifle; and then, having finished his
brief task, he fastened away into the
adjacent forrest.
Three days afterwards Gen. Houston,
accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten
other men appeared in Austin, and with
out further opposition removed the state
papers.
The history of the hero Of the forgo-
ing anecdote was one of the most extra
ordinary ever known in the West. He
made his advent in Texas q. an early
period, and continued to reside there un-
til his death, which happened some two
years ago; but although he had many
warm personal friends, no one could ever
ascertain either the land Of his birth, or
a single CLEAN of his previous biography.
When he was questioned on the subject,
he laid his finger or his lip; and if press
ed more urgently, his brow writhed, and
his dark eve seemed to shoot sparks of
livid fire. He could write with aston
ishing correctness and facility, consider
ing his situation; and although denied
the exquisite pleasure and priceless ad-
vantages of the sense of hearing, nature
had given him ample compensation, by
an eye quick and far-seeing as an eagles,
and smell keen and incredible as that
of raven. He could discover objects
miles away moving on the prairie, when
others could perceive nothing but earth
and sky, and the rangers used to declare
that he could catch the scent of Mex
lean or Indian at as great distance as a
buzzard could distinguish the odor of
dead carcass.
1t was these qualities that fitted him so
well for spy, in which capacity he rem
dered invaluable services 10 Houston's
army during the war OF independence.
He always went alone, and generally OBJ
tanned the information desired. His
habits in private life were equally singu-
lar. He could never be persuaded to
sleep under the roof of house, or even
to use tent cloth. Wrapped in his
blanket, he loved to lie out in the open
air, under the blue canopy Of pure ether,
and count the stars, or gaze with year.
ming look at the melancholy MOON
When not employed as spy or guide,
he subsisted by hunting, being often abb
sent on solitary excursions for weeks
and even months together in the wilder
ness. He was genuine SON of nature,
a grown up child of the woods and prai-
rie, which he worshiped with sort of
Pagan alteration. Excluded by his in
firmities from cordial fellowship with his
kind, he made the inanimate things of
earth his friends, and entered by the
hearts own adoption into brotherhood
with the luminaries of heaven! Wher-
ever there was land or water, barren
mountains or tangled brakes Of wild wa
wing cane, there was Deaf Smiths home,
and there he was happy, but in the
streets of great cities, in all the great
thorofares of men, wherever was ffastery
or fawning. base cunning or craven fear,
there was Deaf Smith an alien and an
exile.
Strange soul! he hath departed on the
long journey. away among those high
bright stars which were his night lamps:
and he hath either solved or ceased to
ponder the deep mystery of the magic
word, ..life." He is dead: therefore let
his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues
be remembered with hope.
Experience, says Coleridge, is like the