East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-10-27
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER q, 1889

prehend the words, ont he couiu not lai
to understand the mild and deprecator,
> manner. His rigid features relaxed, an,
moving to table in. the center of tn,
: hall, where there were materials and i'm
: plements for writing, seized a pen anC
, traced one line:-"I am deaf" He ther
, held it up before the spectators, as sor
of natural apology for his own wants o
, politness.
Judge Webb took the paper and wrote
. a question. Dear sir, will you be Sc
obliging as to inform us what is you
business with the present meetingw
The other responded by delivering {
letter inscribed on the back "To the citi
zens of Austin" They broke the sea
and read it aloud. 1t was from Houston
and showed the usual terse brevity of his
style.
Fellow ClrIzENs:-Though in error
and deceived by the arts of traitors,
will give you three more days to decide
whether you will surrender the public
archives. At the end Of that time you
will please let me know your decision..-
SAM HousToN.
After the reading, the deaf man waited
a few seconds, as if for reply, and then
turned and was about to leave the hall,
when Colonel Morton interposed, and
sternly beckoned him to come back to
the table. The stranger obeyed, and
Morton wrote: "You were brave enough
to insult me by your threatening looks
ten minutes ago, are you brave enough
now to give me satisfaction"
The stranger penned his reply: 81 am
at your service?"
Morton wrote again: "Who will be
your secoud?" a.
The stranger reioined: 'I am too
generous to seek an advantage, and too
brave to fear any on the part of others;
therefore \ never need the aid Of see
ond,
Morton penned: "Namc your terms"
The stranger traced, without mo-
ment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this
evening; place, the left bank of the Col
orado, opposite Austin; weapons, rifles,
and distance hundred yards. Do not
fail to be in time"
He then took three steps across the
floor and disappeared through the win
| dow as he had entered.
"What!" exclaimed Judge Webb, "is
tend to fight that manP He ISL IS VES mute,
if not positive maniac. Such meet
ing, fear, will sadly tarnish the lustre
Of your laurels."
"You are mistaken" replied Morton
| hot ,c hos
fame stands in the record of dozen
battles, and at least half as many bloody
duels. Besides, he is favoite emissary
and bosom friend of Houston. If have
the good fortune to kill him, think it
will tempt the President to retract his
vow against venturing any more on the
field of honor"
You know theman, then. Who is he?"
asked twenty voices together.
"Deaf Smith," answered Morton,
cooly.
"Why, no, that cannot be. Deaf
Smith was slain at San Jacinto," remark
ed Judge Webb"
"There again, your honor is mista-
KEN said Morton. The story of Smiths
death was mere fiction, got up by
Houston, to save the life of his favorite
from the sworn vengence of certain Tex
ans, whose on conduct he had acted as a
spy. l fathomed the artiiice twelve
monts since,"
"If what you say to be true, you are a
madman YOURSELF" exclaimed Webb :
Deaf Smith was never known to miss his
mark. He has often brought down ra-
vens in their most rapid flight, and kill
cd Camanches and Mcxicans at the dis
tance of hundred and fifty yards"
"Say no more" answered Colonel Nor
ton, in tones Of deep determination; "the
thing is already settled. ] have already
agreed to meet him. There can be no
disgrace in falling before such shot, and
if succeed my triumph will confer the
greater glory"
Such was the general habit ofthought
and feeling prevalent throughout Texas
at that period.
Towards evening, vast crowd as
semblcd at the place appointed to witness
the hostile meeting; and so great was the
popular rccklessness as to affairs of the
sort, that numerous and considerable
sums were wagered on the result. At
length the red orb of the summer sun
touched the curved rim the western hori-
zon, covering itall with crimson and gold,
and filling the air with food 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-thc waving of
white nkcrchief--walked slowly and
steadily off in opposite directions, count.
ing their steps until each had measured
fifty. They both completed the given
number about the same instant, and then
wheeled, each to aim and fire when he
chose. As the distance was great, both
paused for some seconds--long enough
for the bcholdcrs to flash their eyes from
one to the other, and mark the striking
contrast betwixt them. The face of Col
onel Morton was calm and smiling, but
the smile it bore had most murdcrous
meaning. On the contrary, the coun-
tcnancc of Deaf Smith was stern and
passionlcss as ever. A side view of his
features might have been mistaken for q
profile cone in cast iron. The one, too