The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-01-16

before such shot
| Such was the general habit of thought
and feeling prevalent throughout Texas
at that period.
At evening a vast crowd assembled at
the place appointed for the duel, and
heavy bets were made on the result
At length the red orb of the summer
sun touched the lurid rim of the western
horizon, covering it all with crimson gilt,
and filling the air with food of burn
ing glory, and then two mortal antago-
nists, armed with pondcrous rifles, took,
their station back to back, and at pre-
concerted signal--,he waving of q white
handkcrchief--walked slowly and steadi.
ly off in opposite directions, counting
their steps and until each had measured
fifty. They both had completed the Civ
ca number about the same instant, and
then they wheeled, eoch to FIRE when he
| chose.
As the distance was great, both paused
for few seconds-long enough for the
beholders to fash their eyes from one to
the other and mark the striking contras.
between them The face of Col. Morton
was calm and smiling, but the smile it
bo.e had strange murderous meaning.
On the contrary the countenance of Smith
was stern and passionless as ever A side
view Of his face might have been mista-
ken for profile done in cast iron. The
one, too, dressed in broadcloth, the other
in smoke tanned leather. But it made
no difference then in Texas; the heirs of
her tic courage were all considered peers.
Presently two rifles exploded with sim
Infamous roars. Col. Morton gave
prodigious bound upward, and fell to the
ground corpse Deaf Smith stood erect,
and Immediately began reloading his RI
fe, and then having completed his brieS
task, strobe away to the adjacent forest.
Three days after, Houston, accompan-
led by Smith and ten others, appeared in
Austin. and without further opposition
removed the State papers.
The history of the hero Of the forego-
ing anecdo,e was one of the most extra
ordinary ever known in the west. He
made his advent in Texas at an early pc
riod. and continued to reside there until
his death; and although he had many
warm friends; no one could ever ascer.
tain the land Of his birth or a single
CLEAN Of his previous biography. When
questioned on the subject he laid his fn-
gers on hi, lips, and if pressed more un-
gently his brow withored, and his dark
eve seemed to shoot sparks Of livid fire,
He could write with astonishing correct
ness He could discover objects on the
far of prairie miles away, when others
could perceive nothing but earth and sky.
! and the rangers used to say that he could
| discover the scent Of Mexican or Indi-
an at as great distance as a buzzard
could distinguish the odor Of dead car.
| cass
1t was these qualities which fitted him
so well for a spy, in which capacity he
rcnd red invaluable services to Hous-
tons army during the war Of Independ-
cnce. He always went alone and gencr-
ally obtained the information desired.
His habits in private life were equally
singular He could never be persuaded
to sleep under the roof of house, or
to use even a tent cloth. Excluded by
his infrmaties from cordial fellowship
with his kind, he made the inanimate
things Of earth his friends, and entered
by his hearts adoption, into brotherhood
with the luminaries of heaven. Where
ever there was land or water, barren rocks
or tangled bcaks of wild, waving cane,
| there was Deaf Smith hohIe, and he was
happy; but in the streets of great cities,
in all the greLt thoroughfsrcs of men,
wherever there was fattery 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 has either solved or ccasedto pom
DIR the deep mysteries Of the maei word
life"
He is dead-thcreforc let his errors
rest in oblivion. and his virtues be remem-
bered with hope.
Ess~A brilliant entertainment was Civ
en- to Judge Douglas and wife at the
house of Charles W. Baker, Esq. Madi-
son Avenue In the course of the sve-
ming the Little Giant was called out aDd
nade a brief speech. in his happiest vein
but only incidentally touched upon poll
ties. Among the guests were Archbish-
op Hughes, Hon. John Mckeon, and