Washington telegraph., 1850-05-01


were wagered on the result. At length
the red orb of the summer sun touched
the curved rim of the western horizon,
covering it all with crimson and gold,
and filling the air with flood of burning
glory; and then the two mortal antago-
nists. armed with long, ponderous rifles,
took their station, back to back, and at a
preconcer:ed signal-the waving of a
| white dkarchief-walked slowly and
steadily off in opposite directions, count
ing their steps until each had measured
fifty. They both completed the given
number about the same instant, and then
they wheeled, each to aim and fire wheE
he chose. As the distance was great,
both paused for some seconds u long
enough for the beholders to flash their
eyes from one to the other, and mark the
striking contrast betwixt them. The face
of Col. Morton was calm and smiling, but
the smile it bore had a most murderous
meaning. On the contrary, the counte-
nance of Deaf Smith was stern and pas
sionless as ever. A side-view of his fea-
| lures mignt have been mistaken for a
profile done in cast-iron. The one, too,
was dressed in the richest cloth, the other
III SIIlOh0-IluICO ledIueI DuL tudt HlduS
no difference in Texas then; for the heirs
Of heroic courage were all considered
peers-the class of interiors embraced
none but towards.
Presently two rifles exploded with stimuli
taneous roars. Col. Morton gave pro-
digious bound upwards, and dropped to
the earth corpse. Deaf Smith stood
erect, and Immediately began to reload
his rife; and then, having finished his
brief task, he fastened away into the
adjacent forest.
Three days afterwards, Gen. Houston.
accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten other
men, appeared in Austin, and without
further opposition removed the State
papers.
The history of the hero of the forego-
ing anecdote was one of the most extra
ordinary ever known in the West. He
made his advent in Texas at an early
period, and continued to reside there until
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 the previous biography.
When he was questioned on the subject,
he laid his finger on his lip; and if pressed
more urgently, his brow writhed and
his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks OF
livid fire! He could write with astonish-
ing correctness and facility, considering
his situation; and although denied the ex-
qulsite pleasure and priceless advantages
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 a raven.
He could discover objects moving miles
away III the far-of prairie, when others
could perceive nothing but earth and sky;
and the rangers used to declare that he
could catch the scent of Mexican or In
dian at as great a distance as buzZard
could distinguish the odor of dead carcass.
1t was these qualities which fitted him
so well for spy, in which capacity he
rendered invaluable services to HoustOns
army during the war of Independence.
He always went alone, and generally
obtained the information desired. His
habits i'll private life were equally singular.
He could never be persuaded to sleep
under the roof of a house, or even to use
a 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 yearnlng look at
the melancholy moon. When not en-
ployed as spy or guide, he snbsisted by
hunting, being often on solitary excursions
for weeks and even months together in
the wilderness. He was genuine son
of nature grown up child of the woods
49, oh ho with
sort of Pagan alteration. Excluded by
his intirmities from cordial fellowship with
his kind, he made the inanimate things
of the 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 wav-
ing cane, there was Deaf Smiths home,
and there he was happy, but in the streets
of great cities, in all the great thorough
| fares of men, wherever there was f1attery
or fawning, base cunning or craven tear,
| 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 lie hath either solved or ceased to
ponder the deep mystery Of the magic
word, "ife." He is dead therefore let
his errors rest in oblivion, aud his virtues
be remembered with hope.
OuACK's Observation-Disclosures proceeds
from many mvriads of little flies OF yell
low color, which fly about the system
Now, to cure this, make the patient
take certain quantity Of the ora or eggs
of spiders These eggs when taken into
the stomach by the warmth of that organ,
vivify, and beng vivified, of course they
Immediately proceed to catch the flies;