Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-03-28
From Noah's Sunday Times.
DE AT ITH.
The Celebrated Texan Spy.


pie, which threatened the most serious
onsequences-even the bloodshed and
horrors Of civil war. Briefly, the cause
| was this: The constitution had fixed the
city of Austin as the permanent capital,
where the public archives we're to be kept,
with the reservation, however, of power
in the President to order their temporary
removal, in case of danger from the in
roads Of a foreign enemy, or the force Of
a sudden insurrection.
Conceivng that the exceptional emer-
gency had arrived, as the Camanches fre-
quently committed ravages within sight Of
the capital itself, Houston, who then re-
sided at Washington, on the Brazos, dis
patched an order commanding his subor-
dinate functionaries to send the state re-
cords to the latter place, which he declared
TO be, pro otempore, the seat of government
1t is impossible TO describe the stormy
| excitement which the PRONUNCIATION Of this
fiat raised in Austin. The keepers of ho-
tells, boarding-houses, groceries, and faro
banks, were thunder-struck, maddened TO
frenzy, for the measure would be death
blow to their prosperity in business; and
accordingly, they determined at once to
take the necessary steps to avert the dan
ger, by opposing the execution Of Hous-
tons mandate. They called mass meet
ing Of the citizens and farmers of the cir
cumjacent country, who We're all more or
less interested in the question, and after
many fiery speeches against the asserted
tyranny of the administration, it was unan.
inously resolved to prevent the removal
Of the archives by open and armed resist
ance. To that end they organized com
pany Of four hundred men, one moiety of
whom, relieving the other at regular Pc
rioas Of duty, should Keep constant guard
passed by. The commander Of this force
was one Col. Morton, who had achieved
considerable renown in the war for indie
pendence, and had still more recently dis
played desperate bravery in two despe-
rate duels, in both Of which he had cut
his antagonists nearly 10 pieces with the
bowie knife. Indeed, from the notoriety
of his character for revenge, as well as
courage, it was thought that President
Houston would renuunce his purpose
touching the archives SO soon as he should
learn who was the leader of the opposi-
ton.
Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully
equalled his personal prowess, enconr-
aged and justified the prevailing opinions
by his boastlul threats. lie swore that if
the president did succeed in removing the
records by the march of an overpowerinc
force, he would then himself hunt him
dow like a W osff, anS shoot him with lit
tie ceremony, or stab him in his bed, or
waylay him in his walks OF recreaiion.-
He even wrote to the hero Of San Jacinto
to that effect The latter replied in note
Of laconic bravery:
s'lf the people Of Austin 90 not send
the archives, shall verlanly come and
take them and If Col. Morton can Kill
me, he is welcome TO my ear-cap!'
In the reception OF this answer the
guard vas doubled around the sta,e-huuse.
Chosen scn,inels were stationed along the
road leading TO the capitol, the military
paraled the streets from morning ill light,
and select caucus held permanent ses-
sions in The city hall. In short, every
thing betokened coming tempest.
One day while matters were in this
precArious con .iiiion, the caucu, at the
city hall was surprised by the appearance
Of Il stranger, whose mode Of entering was
as extraordinary as bis looks and dress. .-
He did not knock at the closed door--he
did not seek admission there at all but
climbing unseen in a small bu>hy topped
live oak, which grew beside the wall lie
leapea withou, sound or warning through
a lofty window. He was clothed alto
gether in buck skin, carried long and We
~ heavy rifle in his hand, wore at tie
bottom OF his left suspender large bowie
knife; aud had in his !ca,hern belt a
couple Of pistols hallthe length Of bis gun.
He was tall, straight as an arrow, active
as a panther in his motions, with dark,
npiexlon-like countenance, that seemed
never TO have known smile, and eyes Of
intense vivid black wild and rolling, aud
piercing as The point of a dagger. His
strange advent inspired a thrill OF invol-
uniary fear and many present unconscous-
ly rraspea the handles Of their side arms.
''Nho are you, that thus presumcs to
intrnte among gentlemen without invita-
ton ?n demanded Col. Morton, ferocious-
ly essaying to COW down the stranger
with his eye.
Tile latter returned his stare with com
pound interest, and laid his long, bonr
fingers on his lips: as a sigh bu, of wha,
the spectators could not imagine.
"Who are you? Speak ! or | will cut
an answer on, Of your heart - shouted
Morton, almost distracted VIII rage ty
the cool, sneering gazs of the ether, who
now removed his finger from his lip, and
laii il on the hilt OF his monstrous knife.
The fired Col. then drew his dagger,
and was in the act Of advancing upon the
stranger, when several caught and held
him back, demonstrating.
'tLei him alone Norton for Gods sake.
Do you not perceive that he is crazy?"
A, The moment Judge Webs, a man of
shrewd intellect and courteous manners.
stepped forward and addressed the intru-
der in the most courteous manner.
"My good friend, presume YOU have
made mistake in the house. This is a
private meeting, where none but members
are admitted"
The stranger did no. appear 10 cempre-
hep1 tho IL. i,,,f h.