The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-11-05
Denf Smith, the Spy.

Despite the cloud that hangs over the
closing days of Sam Houston's life.
have always entertained a strong admira.
ton for the hero Of San Jacinto. an
fully conscious Of his weaknesses some
Of which are quite glaring, but he had q
certain pluck, Jacksonian stubbornncss
which commanded the respect of even his
enemies.
There is an incident of Sam Houston
career that is not generally known, but
which brings out as prominently as any
act Of his life, that sterling courage tC
which | refer, and at the same time
brings into notice one Of the most extra
ordinary men Of whom | ever heard
whom is the person known as Deaf Smith
the Texas Spy, and intimate friend O
Sam Houston.
At the time Texas succeeded in estab
fishing her independence, the constitution
provided that Austin should be the per
mauent capital, where the public archive:
were to be kept but the provision was
inserted giving the President discretion
AIRY power to remove it temporarily, tc
some safe point in case of danger from
the inroads Of foreign enemy, or the
power of sudden insurrecton.
About two years after the Texas revo.
luton the war-likc Comanches became SC
daring as to commit several outrages in
the sight of the Capital itself, whereupor
Houston considered the condition Of mat
ters warranted his availing himself of the
provisions already mentioned.
He resided at that time at Washington
on the Brazos, from which he dispatched
a messenger, which an order commanding
his subordinate functionaries to send the
records to that place, and which he an
nounced to be the seat Of government. pre-
tempore.
This produced the most intense excite
ment in Austin. The hotel keepers
grocers, boarding houses and gambling
saloons foresaw irrctrievable ruin The
gathered together and denounced the
proposed outrage" Gradually the
mutterng:: took shape, until despite the
constitutional warranty for the step, i,
was resolved that the thing should not b,
DONE
a mass meeting Of the citizens anC
farmers Of the neighborhood, and the
most fiery and ,incendiary speeches were
made. When the feelings of all were
worked up to the proper pitch, it wa
unanimously resolved to prevent the exc
cution of the mandate by armed resist
auce.
A company of armed men was organ
lied on the spot. At their head wa
placed one Of the most noted duelists i
the country. He had achieved quite {
fame during the war just closed, and wa
unquestionablp brave man, and as un
principled as he was desperate. He wa
man of no little importance, and it wa
with no little pride that he took charg,
OF the men, who unanimously called upol
him to be their leader.
So noted was Colonel Morton that ,
great many were convinced that whel
General Houston learned that he ha,
headed this determined band he woul,
hasten to retrace his ground and recal
the offending command. But they mis-
took the mettle Of the old hero.
Colonel Morton, pulled up with hi
"brief authority" declared that if th'
President did succeed in removing tn
records by power of overwhelming mum
bers, he would hunt him down like a wolf
and slay him wherever he found him
whether on the streets or in the bed. Ill
went so far as to send him letter to thi
effect, and here is the identical answer h
received
"lf the people Of Austin do not scn'
the archives, | shall instantly come ant
take them, and if Colonel Morton cal
kill me he is welcome to my ear caps.
SAM HoUsToN."
On the reception OF this answer the ex
citement became greater than ever. Th
guard was doubled around the Stat
House. and picked sentinels were station
ed along the road to the capital, the mil
itary paraded from morning till night AN
caucus of the ringleaders was held i
the city hail. Everyirg threatened
coming storm.
Thus matters stood for several days
when the caucus at the city hall wa
startled by the sudden arrival of strang
er among them.
He did not knock at the door nor al
tempt to ask admission there, but clint
ed, unnoticed with the celebrity of moi
key, a small oak which stood beside tn
wall, and without a. word Of warnin
sprang through lofty window, and LAND
ed in the very room where the caucus wi
assembled.
The stranger was clad in buckskin ca
ried long and heavy rifle in his han'
wore at the bottom of his suspender q
immense bowie-kniie, and held in h
leather belt couple of enormous pistol
lie was very tall, thin, and straight as a
arrow, aud as 1.-THE and supple as pal
ther. with swarthy complexion, long j
black hair, rigid, iron-like countenanc
eyes of glittering blackness, and as pier
ing as the point of a stiletto.
His sudden appearance among the'
was so startling that they instinetivel
grasped their arms.
''Who are you that comes among geI
tlemen uninvited 7" thundered Colon
Morton, staring at him ferociously.