The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-06-11
Deaf Smiths Duel.
TIE WAY SAM noUsToN's SCOUT
DROPPED COM. MORTON.

About tws years after the Texas
revolution, difficulty occnscd between
the new government and a portion OF
the people, which threatened serious
consequences. Briefly, the constltu-
ton made Austin the permanent capt.
tal but empowered the President 70
order. the temporary removal OF the
archives in case of danger from for
eicn cMmy or sudden insurrcctlon.
Thinking ,Ls exceptional emergency
had arrived. as the 6opanches were
committing ,avagos within sight Of Ing
ca pi,al President Houston, who then
resided az Washington on the Brazos,
dispatched au order soDmanding his
subordinates to send tie State rceofds
to that town.
1, is impossible to describe the ex.
ciiement which the promulgation OF
this order raiscd in Austin. The
Lecuers IF hotels, boarding houses,
groceries and laFo bapks were aghast.
The measure would be a death'bloH %
their business. A mass m"eting was
cslleI and Ihe farmers of he surround
in. country, who wer" all m"e or less
interested in The QUESTION. came in.
Aftrr many Gerry speeches. it was un'
aniuousIy resolved TO pres"Rt the re:
moynl of the archiNyes -Four hupdreq
armed men volunteered to guard tine
state House. The commander of this
force was Goional Morton, who had
Distinguished himself in tho WAY iar IL
depruderce ADD mere recently in two
d.sr.ra,p dnelS. in bot5 Of which he
had cut his an,agoo;.is g"arly t" pieces
with the bnwir.knife. Indeed. ffoS'
bis reputation for vindiciiveness, as
we'll MS courage, it vas ,honght that
President Houston would renounce hls
purpose as soon us he should earn whH
vas the leader of the opposition. Nor
ton swore that if the President succeeded
in removing the records, he wouid him,
self hunt him down like wolf. he
wrot- the hero Of San Jacinto 10 thai
effect The latter replied in a note ol
laconia brevity:
.If the people Of Austin do not send
the archives, | shall certainly come apo
take them and if Colonel Morton car
kin me. he is welcome to my car-cap.
On reception Of this answer, the
puard was doubled around the State
House. chose. sentinels were stationed
along the road leading TO the capital
armed men pa,rolcd the streets, aud .
select committee vert into permanent
session in tia city hall.
One day th;, committee were sur
prised hv the sudden nrp'@sanc9 OF
stranger whose mode Of entering the
room was as extraordinary as his looks
and dress. lie did not knock at the
closed door. but climbing small bushy'
topned lve.oak which grew h'slda the
wall Lc leapcd through lofty win:
dow He was clothed in buck skin
carried long AMI leayy rife in hi:
hand wore at the b"rtom o! his let,
suspcnder large bowic; knife. and had
in his leathcrn belt couple OF pistol,
T. .lf the length # his Gun. lie was
tall, straight a. an arrow, active as
u nthrr in his motions. lie had
dark compIrxion. luxuriant je'fy hair
and perciug black eyes.
"Who ore you, who thus presumes tc
in,rude among gentlemen without lnVl
,a,ion ?' demanded Colon J Norton, II
lis his most f;rocious ma'ncr
II. stranger rciuru'd his stare Wit
compound interest, and laid his Ions
bony Guger IN his lip.
WHO are you 7 speak or ~ cnt al
answer ou. of your heart 4" shoute'
Morton. The stranger removed hi
fiogrr ir"m his lip and laid it. on th'
hllt of his mrnslr'us knife.
The fiery $solode+'d-'-s-Als-dw" knife
but was friged and held back "hr
him alone. Morton, for Gods sake
exclaimed his friends. "Do you no
see that he is crazy y
At this u cmcnt Judge Webb, mo-
Of shrcwA and courteous manners, step
ped faryard and addressed the intrude
i ..,,., ~ anssalp