The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-04-11
LIZ A N z o U S d.
DNAR SM1IgEgo
The Celebrated Eexan spy.

The Celebrated Texan spy.
Abouttw wears after the Texan revo-
LUTON. difficulty occurred between the
new government and portion OF the peo-
ple. which threatened the most serious
eonseouences-even bloodshed and hor-
rors of civil war. Briefly the cause was
this: The constitution had fixed the city
Of Austin as the permanent capital, where
the public archives were TO be kept, with
the reservation, however, OF Powerin the
president to order their temporary removal!
in case of danger from the inroads OF
foreign enemy, or the force OF a sudden
insurrecuOn.
Conceiying that the exceptional emer-
aency had arrived. as the Camanches fre-
ouentIy committed Tavages within sight OF
the capital itself, Houston, who then resi-
ded at Washington, on the Brazos, dis
patched an order commanding the suboF-
dinate functionaries TO send the state re-
cords TO the latter place, which he de-
clared to be, pro tempore, the seat OF gov
ernment.
1t is impossible to describe the stormy
excitement which the PRONUNCIATION OF THIS
fiat raised in Austin. The keeper OF no.
tells, boarding-houses, groceries and iaro-
banks were thundersiruck, maddened TO
frenzy; for the measure would be death
blow TO their prosperity i'll business; and,
accordingly they determined at once 10
take the necessary steps to avert the dam
ger, by opposing the execution OF Hous-
tins mandate. They called a mass meet
ing of the citizens and farmers of the cir
eumIacent country, who were all more or
tad he
many fiery speeches against the asserted
tyranny of the administration, 1t was unan-
imously resolved to prevent the removal
Of the archives by open and armed resist
auce. To that end they organized a COM
pany of four hundred men, one moiety OF
whom, relieving the other at regular peri
ods Of duty, should keep constant guard
around the state-house until peril passed
by. The commander of this force was
one Colonel Morton, who had achieved
considerable renown in the war for Inde-
pendence, and had still more recently dis
played desperate bravery Ill two desPer-
ate duels. in both of which he had cut his
antagonist nearly TO pieces with the bowie
knife. Indeed, from the uoiorlety OF his
character for revenge, as well as courage,
j, was thought that President Houston
would renounce his purpose touching the
archives, so soon as he should learn who
was the leader of the opposition.
Morton, on his part. whose vanity fully
equalled his personal prowess, encouraged
and justified the prevailing opinion by his
boastful threats. He swore that If the
President did succeed in removing the lee
ords by the march of an oVerpowerlng
force, he would then himself hunt him
down like a wolf, and shoot him with little
ceremony, or stab him in his bed, or way
Law him in his walks of recreation. He
even wrote the hero of San Jaclnto TO that
effect. The latter replied in note OF la
comic brevity:
"If the people of Austin do not sendthe
archives, | shall certainly come and take
them. and if Col. Morton can kill me, he
is welcome to my ear-caP."
On the reception of this answer, the
guard was doubled around the state-house.
Chosen sentinels were stationed along the
road leading to the capital, the military pa
raded the streets from morning till night
and select caucus held permanent ses,
sion in the city hall. In short everything
beiokened coming tempest.
One day, while matters were IN this
precarious conditions, the caucus at the city
hall was surprised by the sudden appear
ance of stranger. whose mode OF enter
ing was as extraordinary as his looks and
dress. He did not knock at The closed
door-he did not seek admission there at
all; but climbing unseen a small bushy
topped live oak, which grew beside the
wall, he leaped without sound or warning
ihrougI-a lofty window. He was clothed
altogether in buckskIn, carried long and
very heavy rifle in his hand, wore at the
button of his left suspender large bowie
knife, and had in his leathern belt couple
of pistols half the length of his gun. He
was tall, straight as an arrow, active as a
panther IN his motions, with dark COM
piexion and luxuriant jetty hair, with a
severe iron-like countenance, that seemed
never to have known smile, and eyes of
intense vivid black, wild and rolling, and
piercing as the point of dagger. His
strange advent inspired thrill ofinvolun-
iary fear, and many present unconsciously
grasped the handles of their side earns.
s.t"Who are you, that thrs presumes to
intrude among gentlemen without invita-
toni" demanded Col. Morton ferociously
essaying 10 COW down the stranger with
his eye.
The latter returned his stare with COM