Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-07-20

the sort, that numerous and considerable
sums were wagered on the result. At
length the red orb of the summer touch
ed the curved rim of the Western hori-
zon, covering il all with crimson and gold.
and filing the air with a 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
preconcerted signal-the waving of a
white handkerchief-walked slowly and
steadily in opposite directions. counting
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 when he
chose. AS the distance was SO great.
both paused for some secouds-loug
enough for the beholders to fash their
eyes from one to the other. and mark the
striking contrast betwixt them. The face
of Colonel Morton was calm and smiling,
but the smile it bore had most murder
GUS meaning. On the contrary, the
countenance of Deaf Smith was as stern
and passionless as ever. A side view of
his features might have been mistaken
for profile done in cast iron. The one,
too, was dressed in the richest cloth, the
other in smoke tinted leather. But that
made no difference in Texas then; for the
heirs of heroic courage were considered
peers-the class of interiors embraced
none but towards.
Presently two rifles exploded with ST.
mu'tsneous roars. Colonel Morton gave
prodigious bound upwards, and dropped
to the earth corpse. Deaf Smith stood
erect, and Immediately began to reload
his rifle and having finished his brief
task. he FASTENED away into the adjacent
forest.
| Three days afterwards, Gen. Houston,
accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten
more men. appeared in Austin. and with
out further opposition removed the State
papers,
The history of the hero ofthe foregoing
incident. was one of the strangest and
most extraordinary ever known in the
W,st. He made his advent into Texas
at AN early period. and continued to Ie-
! side there until his death, which happen
ed some two years ago: hut although he
had many warm end personal friends. no
one could ever learn either the land OF
his birth. or single glesm of his previous
/ biography. When questioned on the sub
/ ject. he laid his finger on his lip. and If
pressed more closely. his brow writhed.
and his dark eye seemed TO shoot spark $
of livid fire! He could write with asto.
nishing correctness and facility, consider
| ing his situation, and although denied
the exquisite pleasure and priceless ad-
vantage 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
moving miles away in the far off prairie.
when others could perceive nothing but
earth and sky; and the rangers used to
declare that he could catch the scent of a
Mexican or Indian at as great distance
as buzzard could distinguish the odor of
a dead carcass.
II was these qualities which fitted him
so we'll for spy. in which capacity he
rendered Invaluable services to Houston's
army during the war of independence.
He always went alone, and generally OBJ
tanned the information desired. His ha-
bits in private life were equally singular
He never could be persuaded to sleep un-
der 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 yearning look at the
melancholy moon. When not employed
as spy or guide. he subsisted by hunt
ing. being often absent on solitary excur-
<iOns for weeks and even months togeth-
er in the wilderness. He was genuine
son of nature, grown up child Of the
woods and prairie. which he worshipped
with sort of pagan alteration. Excluded
by his infrmities from cordial fellow
ship with his kind, he made the inani
mate things of earth his friends. and en-
tered by the hearts own adoption into
brotherhood with the luminaries of hea-
! ven.
Wherever there was land or water.
barren mountains or tangled brakes of
wild waving cane. there was Deaf Smiths
home. and thore he was happy; bnt in
the streets of the great citios, in all the
great thoroughfsres of men. wherever
there was lattery or fawning, base cum
ming or craven fear. there was Deaf
Smith an alien and an exile.
Strange sooli-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 that magic
word life" He is dead-therefore lei
his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues
remembered with hope.