Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-04-11
DeRf Smiths Famous
Diael.

DUeA.
HOW SAM. HOUSTON SCOUT DROPPED
COL. MORTON, OF TEXAS.
Of all the famous duels recalled
by the San perhaps none WAS more
remarkable than that fought near
this city 10y Deaf Smith and CO..
horton.
About two wears after the Texas
revolution. a difficulty occur ed to-
tween the Government and por
zion of the people. which threatened
serious consequences. Briefly, the
Constitution made Austin the per
rhauent Capital, but empowered the
President tn order the temporary
removal of tie archives iii case OF
danger from foreign enemy OF
sudden insurrection Thinking that
The exceptional emergency had ar
rived, as the Un,Ianches were com
mittiny ravascs within sight OF the
Capital, President Houston, who
then resided at Washington, on the
Brazus, dispatched AN order COM
lnanding his subordnates to ssnd
Tie State retords to that town.
Il is impossible to describe the eA
element which the PRONUNCIATION of
this order raised in Austin. The
keepers OF hotels, boarding houses,
gt''ccries am! iaru banks we're agllast.
The iiicastire would be death blow
to their business A mass meeting
WAS caI,eG, and the farmers Of the
surrounding county, who were all
more ut less interested in the qucs-
ton, came in. After many tiefy
speeches it was unanimously resoiv-
ed TO prevent the removal of til"
archives: Fcur hundred armed men
volunteered to guard the State
house. The con1mandcr Of this
force was Uul. Morton, who had
distinguished himself in the war for
independence, and more Recently in
two desperate duels, In both Of
which he had cut his antagonists
nearly to pieces with the bowie
knife. Indeed, from his reputation
tor vindictiveness as we'll as cotr=
age, it was Thought that President
H"nston would renounce bis pur=
pose as soon as he should learn who
was the lender of the oppasition:-
Mnrtcn swore that if the President
succeeded III removing the records,
he would himself hunt him dowii
like wolf. He even wrote the
hero Of San Jacinto to that effect
The latter replied in note of la
comic brevity:
If the people of Austin do not
send the archives, / shall certainly
come and take them and il Col
Morton can XIII me he is welcome
To my car=cap.'
On the reception of this answer
the guard was doubled around the
State House, ch"sen scnIlnels were
statioued along the roads leading t"
the Capital, armed men patroled the
streets, and Select Committee
weht into permanent session in the
City Hall. One day this Commit
tee were surprised by the sudden
appearance Of stranger. whose
mode of entering the room was ex-
traordinary as his looks and dress.
He did not knock at the closed door,
but climbing small, bushy-topped
live oak, which grew beside the wall
he leaped through the lofty window
He WAS clothed in hnckskin, carried
long and heavy rifle in hand, wore
at the bottom of his left stispeadcr
II large bowie knife, and lad 1T his
leathefn belt couple of pistols hall
the length OF his gun. He WIS tall
straight as an arrow, active as p
panther in his motion. He lad 4
dark complexion, lhxuriant, lett,
hair, and piercing black eyes.
'Who are y"n who TINS presume
to intrnde among gentlemen with
out taSitatinn 2 demanded Col. Nor
ton in his most ferocions manner.
The stranger returned his stare
with compound interest, and laio
his long bony finger on his lip.
who are you 2 Speak { or II
Gnt all answer out of your heart
shouted Morton. The stranger re-
moved his finger from his lip ant