Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1855-12-20


tenarce of Deaf Smith was stern and passionate
as ever A side view of his features might
have been mistaken for profile done in cas
iron. The one, too, was dressed in the richest
cloth, the other in smoke-tinted leather. Bu
that made no difference in Texas then; for the
heirs of heroic courage were all considered
peers-the class of interiors embraced none but
towards.
Presently two rifles exploded with simultane,
Gus roars. Colonel Morton gave prodigious
bound upwards, and dropped to the earth a
corpse Deaf Smith stood erect, and imme-
diately began to reload his rife; and then
having finished his brief task, he fastened a,
way into the adjacent forest.
Three days afterwards, Houston, accompani-
ed by Deaf Smith and ten more men, appear
ed in Austin, and, without further opposition,
removed the State papers.
The history of the hero of the foregoing an,
ecd1te was one of the most extraordinary ever
known in the West He made his advent in
Texas at an early period, and continued to re,
side there until his death, which happened
about two years ago. but although he had
many warm personal friends, no one could ever
ascertain either the land of his birth, or a sin
gle CLEAN of his previous biography. When
he was questioned on the subject, he laid his
finger on his lip, and pressed more urgently,
his brow writhed, and his dark eye seemed to
shoot sparks of livd fire. He could write
with astonishing correctness and facility, con-
Sidering his situation and although denied
the exquisite pleasure and priceless advantage
OF the Sense Of hearing, nature lad givcn am
pie compensation, by an eye quick and far Sec
ing as an cagls's, and smell keen and incrcdi-
bic as that of raven. lie could discover OBJ
jccts miles away in the tar-oif 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 diStn-
cuiSh the odor of dead carcass
1t was these qualitias that fitted him 50 well
for aspy, in which capacity he rendered inyal-
liable services to IIouston's army during the
war of independence. lie always went alone,
and generally obtained the information dc>ir-
ed. His habits in private lie were equally
singular He never could be persuaded to
sleep under the roof of house or even to use
tent cloth. Wrapped in his blanket he lov-
ed 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 hunting, being often absent
on solitary excursions, for weeks and even
months together in the Wilderness. He was q
genuine son Of nature. 4 crown up child oi the
woods and prairie, which lie worshippcd with
a sort of Pagan alteration. Excluded by his
nfrmities from cordial fellowship with his
kind, he made the inanimatc things Of the
earth his friends, and entered by his heart :
own adoption into brotherhood with the lu-
minares of heaven. Wherever there was
land or water. barron mountains or tangled
brakes of wild, waving cane, there was Deaf
Smiths home, and there he was happy; but
in the streets of great cities, in all the great
thoroushfales of men, wherever there was fiat
terry or fawning, base cunning or craven fear,
there was Deaf Smith an alien and an exile.
Strange soul 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 Oh
the magic word "life."