Weekly Calaveras chronicle. (Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, Cal.) 18??-1874, 1867-12-07
Deaf Smith, the Texan Spy.

Despite the cloud which hangs over
the closing days of Sam Houston's life,
| have always entertained a strong ad-
miration for the hero of San Jacinto
[ am fully conscious of his weaknesses,
some of which were quite glaring, but
he had certain pluck, Jacksonian
stubbornness which commanded the
respect of even his enemies.
There is an incident of Sam Hous-
toms career which is not generally
known, but which brings out as prom
inently as any act of his, the sterling
courage to which l refer, ard at the
same time brings into notice one of the
most extraordinary men of whom have
ever heard-that is, the individual
known as Deaf Smith, the Texan Spy,
an intimate friend of Sam Houston.
At the time Texas succeeded in es-
tabishing her independence the con-
s,itution provided that the city of
Austin should be thepermanert capital,
where the public archives were to be
kept; but the proviso was inserted,
giving the president discretionary power
to remove them temporarily to some
safe point in case of danger from the
iuroads of foreign enemy, or the
power of sudden insurrection.
About two years after the Texan
revolution, the warlike Comanches be-
came SO daring as to commit several
outrages within sight of the capital
itself, whereupon Houston considered
this condition of matters warranted his
awaiting himself of the provision of the
constitution already mentioned. He
resided at this time at Washington, on
the Brazos, from which place he dis
patched messenger, with an order
commanding his subordinate functional
ries to send the State records to that
place, which he announced to be the
>eat of government pro tempore. This
produced excitement in Austin. The
hotel keepers, groceries, boarding hous-
es and gambling saloons foresaw ire
trievable ruin. They gathered together
and denounced the proposed Outrage. ,
Gradually the muttering took shape,
until, despite the constitutional war
ranty for the step, it was resolved that
the thing should not be done.
A company of armed men were or ,
gauized and at their head was placed
Colonel Morton, one of the most noted
duelists in the republic. He had
achieved quite fame during the war
just closed, and was unquestionably a
brave man, and as unprincipled as he
was desperate. He was fellow of no
little conceit, and it was with no little
pride he took charge of the men, who
unanimously called upon him to be their
leader. So noted indeed, was Colonel
Morton that great many were con-
WINGED that when General Houston
learned that he headed this determined
band, he would hasten to retract his
ground and recall the offending COM
mand. But they greatly mistook the
mettle of the old hero.
Colonel Morton, pulled up with his
"brief authority declared that if the
President did succeed in removing the
records by the power of overwhelmir g
numbers, he would hunt him down like
a wolf, and STAY him wherever he found
him, whether on the streets or in his
bed. He went so far even as to send
him letter to that effect, and here is
The identical answer be received:
IF the people of Austin DO not send
the archives, l shall instantly come and
take them, and if Colonel Morton can
kill me he is welcome to my ear cap.
SAM HoUsTON.'
On the reception of this answer the
excitement became greater than ever.