The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-08-24
DEAF SMITH, THE TEXAN SPY

consequences-even the bloodshed anC
horrors of civil war. Briefly, the caus,
OF this The constitution had fixed tn,
city of Austin as the permanent capita
where the public archives were kept, with
the reservation, however, of power in
the President to order their tempora
ry removal, in case Of danger from the
lnroads of foreign enemy, or the force
Of sudden insurrection.
Conceiving that the exceptional emer
gency had arrived, as the Camanches fre.
quently committed ravages within sight
of the capital itself, Houston, who then
resided at Washington, on the Brazos,
dispatched an order commanding his sub.
ordinate functionaries to send the State
records to the latter place, which he de-
clared to be pro tempore, the seat of Gov
ernment.
1t is impossible to describe the stormy
excitement which followed the promulga-
tion Of this fiat raised in Austin. The
keepers of hotels, boarding houses, groce-
F.! rleS and faro banks were thunderstruck,
maddencd 70 frenzy, for the measure
would be death-b blow to their prosperity
in business, and accordingly, they deter
mined at once to take the necessary steps
to avert the danger, by opposing the ex-
ecution of Houston's mandate. They
called a mass meeting of the citizens and
farmers of the circumjacent country, who
were all more or less interested In the
question and after many fiery speeches
against the asserted tyranny of the admin
istration, it was unanimously ly resolved to
prevent the removal of the archives by
open 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 con-
slant guard around the State house until
the peril passed by. The commander of
this force was one Col. Morton, who had
achieved considerable renown in the war
for independence, and had still more re-
Gently displayed desperate bravery in two
desperate duels, in both Of which he near
ly cut his antagonists TO pieces with the
bowie-knife. Indeed, from the notoriety
Of lis character for revenge, as well as
fer courage, it was thought that Presi-
dent Houston would renounce his pur-
pose touching the archieves, so soon as
he should learn who was the leader of
the opposition.
Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully
equalled his personal prowess, encouraged
and justified the prevailing opinion By
his boastful threats. He swore that if
the President did succeed in removing
the records by the march Of an overpow-
erins force, he would then himself hunt
him down like a wolf, and shoot with lit
tie ceremony, or stab him in his bed, or
waylay him in his walks of recreation-
He even wrote the hero of San Jacinto
to the effect The latter replied in note
Of laconic brevity:
"If the people Of Austin do not send
the archives, | shall certainly come and
take them and if Col Morton can kill
me he is welcome to my ear-cap"
On the reception of this answer the
guard was doubled around the State house.
Chosen scntineis were stationed along the
road leading to the capitol, the military
paraded the streets from morning till
night and select caucus held perma-
ncnt session in the city hall. In short,
everything bctokened coming tempest.
One day, while matters were in this
precarious condition, the caucus at the
city hall was surprised by the sudden ap
pearance Of stranger, whose mode of
entering was as extraordinary as his looks
and dress. lie did not knock at the clos
ed door; he did not seek admission there
at all but climbing unseen small bushy
topped oak, which grew beside the wall,
he leaped without sound or warning
through lofty window. He was clothed
altogether in buckskin, carried long
and heavy rife in his hand, wore at the
bottom of his left suspender large bow
ie- knife, aud had in his leather belt
couple of pistols half the length of his
gun. He was tall, straight as an arrow,
active as a panther in his movements,
with dark complexion, and luxuriant jet
ty hair, with a severe, iron countenance,
that seemed never to have smiled, and
the eyes of intense vivid black, wild and
rolling, and piercing as the point of dag
ger. His strange advent inspired thrill
Of involuntary fear and many present un-
consciously grasped the handles Of their
side-arms.
"Who are you, that you thus presume
to intrude amongst gentlemen without
invitation ?'' demanded Col. Morton fero-
ciously, essaying to COW down the stran-
with his eye.
The latter returned his stare with COM
pound interest, and laid his long bony
finger on his lip as sign-but of what
the spectators could not imagine.
"Who are you? 2" "Speak or | will
cut an answer out of your heart p shout
ed Morton, almost distracted with rage by
the cool, sneering gaze of the other, who
now removed his finger from his lip and
laid it on the hilt of his monstrous knife.
The fiery colonel then drew his char
ger and was in the act of advancing upon
the stranger, when several caught and
held him back, demonstrating.
sIet him alone, Morton, for God S