The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31

of Deaf Smith was as stern and passion
less as ever. A side view of his features
might have been mistaken for a 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 COW,
ards.
Presently two rifles exploded with
simultaneous roars. Colonel Morton gave
prodigious bound upwards. and d:opped
10 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 without furh.
er opposition removed the Stale papers.
The history OF The hero of The fore going
incident, was one Of the strangost and most
extraordinary ever known in The West
He made lis advent into Texas at an early
period, and continued 10 reside there until
his death, which happened some two years
ago; bul although he had many warm and
personal friends no one could ever learn
either The land Ofhis birth or single gleam
OF his previous biography. When ques-
toned on The subject, he laid his finger on
his lip, and if pressed more closely his
brow wrthed, and his dark eye seemed to
shoot sparks of livid fire! He could write
with astonishing correctness and facility,
considering his situation, and although de-
MED The exquisite pleasure and priceless
advantage Of the sense of hearing, nature
had given him ample compensation by an
eye quick aud Ear seeing as an eagles and
a smell keen and incredible as that Of a
ia en-. Hec uld discover an object moving
miles away in lie far of prairie, whcn
others could perceive nothing but caflh
and sky; and .he rangers used TO declare
,liat he could catch The scent Of Mexican
Of Indian al as great distance as buz
zard could Distinguish The oder Of dead
carcass.
1t was these quliies which fitted him SC
well FOR a spy, in which capacity he rem
dered invaluable services 10 Houston''
army duriog the waf Of independence -
lie always went alone, and generally ob
tanned The Information desired. His habils
in private lie were equally singular. liz
never could be persuaded to sleep uule'
the roof Of a house, or even To use a Ten
cloth. Wrapped in his blanket he lovec
to lie out in Ihe open air, under the blut
canopg Of pure ether, and count the star
or gaze win a yearning look at the mel
ancholy moon. When not employed as
, spy or guide, he subsisled by huniing be
ing ofen absent on solitary excursions 70
weeks in 'he,wdeness. lie WAS goouin
son OF nature, grown No child OF tn
8 woods and prairie, which he worshippe
with SORT Of pagan alteration. Exclude
by his infrmi,es from a cordial FELLOWSHIP
with his kind he made Tie inanimaie ,hing
| If eanh his friends, aud entered BY III
hearts own adoption inio broiherhoo
n with the lunIlnarleS oil heaven,
, Wherever there was land or water, bal
rem mountains or tangled brakes Of vii
, waving cane, there was Deaf Smiths hon
, and there he was happy; but in The street
OF The great cities, in all The g eat thorough
, fares oi men, wherever there was naIler
or lawning, base cunning or craven fea
n hcre was Deaf Smith an alien aud an c,
n lie.
+ Strange soul!-he hath departed on III
y long journey, away, among thnsc hiel
! brjgh, stars which were bis night lamp:
. aud he hath either solved or ceated to pos
4 der The deep mystery of ,hal magic wOr
. q ie." lie is dead--lherefore let his G
# rors reslin oblivion, and his virtues rcmen
bered with hope.