Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-09-21
ssss IS, DEAF SMITH, 4..
The Celebrated Texan Spy.


About two years after the Texan revolution, a
difficulty occurred between the new government
and a portion of the people, which threatened the
most serious consequences, even bloodshed and
this: ~ sa-
Their Constitution had fixed the city of Austin
as the permanent capitol, where the public ar
chieves were kept, with the reservation, howev-
er, of apower in the President to order their tenn
porary removallin caseof danger from the inroads
of:anenemy, or theaforce of a sudden insurrec-
Conserving that the exceptional emergency had
arrived, e as the Camanches frequently committed
ravages within sight of the capital. ITSELF -Hous
ton, who then resided at Washington on the Bra
EOS, dispatched an order, commanding his subor-
dinate fnctionaries send the records to the lat
terplace (which be declared to bepro ten1pore, the
Seatsof Government. aaE - >@ss' h:s9*2 as<s
tits impossible to describe the stormy excite
ment which followed the promulgation ofthis fiat
raised inlAustin. The keepers of hotels, board
ing houses, groceries and faro-banks were thun-
derstruck maddened to frenzy; for the measure
would be the death blow to their prosperity in
business; and accordingly, they determined at
once to take the necessary steps to avert the dam
ger,by opposing the execution of Houston's man.
date, They called mass meeting ofthe citizens
and farmers of the circumiacent country, who
were 1norcor less interested in the question; and
after many fiery speeches against the asserted ty
raffny Of the administration, it was unanimously
resolved to prevent the removal of the archieves
byopen and armed resistance. To that end they
organized four hundred men, one moiety of whom
relieving the other at regular periods of duty,
should keep constant guard around the State house
until the peril was past The commander of this
force was Colonel Morton, who had achieved con-
siderable renown in the war for independence,
aandsfad still more recently displayed desperate
bravery in two desperate duels, in both Of which
] he bad cut his antagonists nearly to pieces with
the Bowie knife. Indeed, from the notoriety of
his character for revenge, we'll courage, it
was thought that President Houston would re-
nounce his purpose touching the archieves. SO
soon as he would learn who was the leaderof the
opposition. stss5o,} 3. ' .s.1e:et
Morton on his part, whose vanity equalled his
personal powess, encouraged and justified the pre-
yailing opinion by his boastful threats.
He awore that il the President did succeed in
removing the records by the march of an over
powering army, he would then hunt him down
like wolf, and shoot him with little ceremony
orstab him in his bed, or waylay him in his walks
ofrecreation. He even wrote to the hero of San
Jacinto to that effect. The latter replied in a
note of laconie bravery 8. 7'e.5E <. 58s..
ssIfi the people of, Austin do not send the ar.
chieves,9 4 shall certainly come and take them:
and tifColonel Morton can kill me he is welcome
to my ear cap. ''aas 10 T:#1.ssaaa>l 1i.5 * = -
Dnthe reception of this answer the guard was
doubled around the State house! Chosen senti
neisawere stationed along the road leading to the
capital the military paraded the streets from
morning until night and select caucus held per
manent session in the city hall In short, every
thing betokened coming tempest
One day, while matters were In this precariou'
condition., the caucus at the city hall, was sur
prised by the sudden appearance of a stranger
whose. mode Of entering was as extraordinarily a
his looks and dress. He did not knock at tn,
closed door--he did not ask admission there at Ill
but climbing unseen,za small bushy topped oak
which grew beside the wall, he leapeu withou
sound or sarning through lofty window. H
was clothed in buckskin, carried a long and heaV
rifle IN his hand, wore at the bottom of his LEI
sushender large. Bowie knife, and had 'iD hi
ieashern belt couple of pistols half the lengt
.ofSsis gus. He was tall, straight as an arrow
active as apanther in his motions, with dark com
plexiony and luxuriant jetty hair, with a. severe
ironshkeacountenance that seemed never to hav
known IA smile, and the eyes of intense vivi
black wild and rolling, rand piercing as the pon
- His strange advent inspred IA tn rill of involuu
taryfear, and many present unconsciously GRASP
ed!the handles of their side armsgo.a5' ajt3 ie'
.ssMEhog are YOU that thus presumes to intrud
amongst gentlemen without inpitationp dema1
ded dGolai Mortonyi ferociously, essaying to CO
down stranger his eye,jo 'sa7 asot' a4
The latter trethrned his istare with compour
interest, and Laid bis long bony fingers on
lips, sign-but of what sign the spectato
could not imagine sssesss - 'szss s''ss
D ssNKho are; you. Speak! or i will cut an a
swefsom youf heart!'' shouted Morton, almo
distracted with rage by the cool, sneering gaze
the other, who now removed his fingers from
lips and laid iton the hilti of his Bowie knife.
The. fiery colonel then drew his dagger, al
was in 1.-The act of advancing upon the strange
when fseyeral caught and held him back reno
stratinga-F afssd
.sLet him alone. Morton, for Gods sake,
you'notperceive that he is ctazy!" es,
At that moment Judge Webb, man of shre'