Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-08-23
DEAF SMITH. THE SPY.

life, L have always entertained
strong admiration for the hero OF
San Jacinto. am fully conscious OF
his weaknesses, some of which are
quite glaring, but he had a certain
pluck, a Jacksonian stubborness,
which commanded the respect of
even his enemies.
There is an incident of Sam Hous-
tons career that is not generally
known, but which brings out as
prominently as any act of his life, the
sterling courage to which / refer, and
at the same time brings into notice
one of most extraordinary men OF
whom ever heard-who is the per-
son known as Deaf Smith, the Texas
spy, an intimate friend of Sam Hous-
ton.
At the time Texas succeeded in es-
tablishing her independence, the con-
stitution provided that Austin should
.be the permanent capital, where the
public archives were to be kept; but
the provision was inserted giving the
president discretionary power to re-
moveit temporarily to some safe point
in case OF danger from the inroads Of
a foreign enemy, or the power Of
sudden insurrection.
About two years after the Texas
revolution, the warlike Comanches
became so daring as to commit sew
eral outrages in the sight Of the cap
ital itself, whereupon Houston con-
sidered the condition Of matters war
ranted his availing himself Of the
provisions already mentioned. He
resided a. Washington, on the Brazos,
from which he dispatched messen-
ger, with an order commanding his
subordinate functionaries to send the
records to that place, which he an
nounced to be the seat of govern
ment pro tempore.
This produced the most intense ex-
element in Austin. The hotel-keep-
ers, grocers, boarding. houses and
gambling saloons foresay irretrieva-
BILE 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 mass meeting of the citizens and
farmers of the neighborhood was
held, and the most fiery and incendi-
airy speeches were made. When the
feeling of all were worked up to the
proper pitch, it was unanimously re-
solved to prevent the execution OF
mandate by armed resistance. A COM
pany Of armed men was organized on
the spot. At their head was placed
one of the most noted duelists in the
country. He had achieved quite a
fame during the war just closed, and
was unquestionably brave man, and
as unprincipled as he was desperate.
He was a man of no little Importance,
and it was with no little pride that
he took charge OF the men, who
unanimously called upon him to be
their leader.
So noted was Col. Morton that a
great many were convinced that
when Gen. Houston learned that he
headed this determined band he
wonld retract his ground and recall
the offending command. But they
mistook the mettle OF the old hero.
Colonel Morton pulled away with
his brief authority, declared that II
the President did succeed in remov-
ing the records by power OF over
whelming numbers, he would hunt
him down like a wolf and STAY him
wherever he found him, whether on
the street or in bed. He went so fan
as to send him a letter to this effect
and here is the identical answer he
received:
aIf the people or Austin do no
send the archives, 4 shall instantly
come and take them, and il Col
Morton can kill me he is welcome Il
my ear caps.
SAM HoUsToS."
On the reception Of this answer thu
excitement became greater than ever
The guard was doubled around the
State House, and picked sentinel
were stationed along the road to tn
capital, the military paraded from
morning till night. and caucus 0
] the ring-Ieaders was held in the cit,
han. Everything threatened a coming
storm.
Thus matters stood for severa
days, when the caucus at the city hal
was startled by the sudden arrival o
nsfranger among them. He did no
knock at the door nor attempt to asl
admission there. but climbed, I'm
noticed. with the celebrity of monkey
small oak, which stood beside tn
wall. and without a word OF warnin
sprang through lofty window, an
landed in the very room where tn
caucus was assembled. o1foff
The, stranger was clad In buckskiI
carried a long and heavy rifle in hi
hand, wore at the bottom Of his sus
pender an immense bowie-knife, an
held in his leather belt couple {
enormous pistols He was very Ia
and thin and as straight as an arrow
and as 1.-the and supple as a panthe
with a swarthy complexion, long j.
black hair, a rigid iron-like countt
nance, eyes Of glittering blacknes'
and as piercing as a stilctto. HI