Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-11
DEAF SMITHS DUEL.
THE KIND OF MgN SAM HOUSTON EN-
PLoYRp As MESSENGERS.
film Nasilc In Wheeling LoAder.l

PLoYED As MESSENGERS.
tJim Nasiic 10 Wheeling Loader.l
When The adventurous and irrepres
siblc iron,iersman on the outskirts o.
civilization crowded down into th'
far Southwest, even into Mexico, anf
by a series of aggressive acts whicl
resulted in tho massacre Of the Almc
(where fell some Of tho most heroic
spirits that e,er graced the annals Of
any land,) and eliminated in the
victory of San Jocinto, by which Texas
became an independent govern
ment under the administrations
Of General Sam Houston, known rs
the I.one Star" Republic, and after.
ward admitted as a State into the
Union, such was the heroic daring,
the cool courage Of the actors in the
drama that the heroes Of antiquity
compared to them were bnt rs over
grown children. 1t Is sad to think
the march of civilization, 40 called,
will pass over the territory wrested
by their valcr from the mongrel Span.
lard, and its very occupants will
consider the names Of Travers, Bowie,
Crockett and other kindred souls as
nothing but myths.
The machinery of the young repub-
lie was runing in Austin, its then
Capital, situate on the east bank OF
the Rio Colorado, with the usual null
titudinous mixture OF humanity, such
as Senators, saloonists, Representa-
tives, roughs, lawyers. Lobbyists and
those Of every grade and calling
who earn their bread by the sweat Of
other peoples brows. These people
were thrown into a violent state ol
excitement by an order from Presi-
dent Houston TO move the govern.
ment achives from Austin to Houston,
as there was a large force of Conan.
ches not many miles from Austin,
laying waste the ranches, and it was
thought they might make descent on
the seat of government and destroy
the archives. Hence, the Presidents
order for their removal, according to
an act of the Legislature, "For the
preservation Of the public archives, SO
made and provided"
The citizans of Austin, seeing in
this measure the decadence of their
city and their hopes, kicked against
the measure at once, swore it was a
trick ofthe President to enhance the
value ofhis property III Houston, at
their expense, thatithey we're fully able
70 protectthe city from the Comanches
and from President Houston, also,
and they would not, alloy any person
to move one 'picayane's worth Of pub.
lie property out Of Austin as long as
one of them liveu to defend it.
And they set about making their
word good by enrolling and equipping
three hundred men at once, and con-
sideripg the personnel of this force
and its being organized atthe Capital
for their own existence as holding the
seat Of empire, it seemed to get Presi-
dent Houston in tight place. The
man who was TO command the force
was a singular person-Colonel Nor
ton, gentleman, IN tho SOIthern
acceptation ct the term chivalrou' to
fault, fearless as the Numidlan lion,
quick as a flash at his weapons, OF
which he cnrried tie sdrest and dead.
liest.s Strong, wifeys and muscular
was he, and there was q latent ferocity
underlying bis calm demeanor that
was truly terrible. '' -'
1t meant death to his opponent.
Within the year previous 10 our story
he had fought a duel with rifles and
killed bis man at the FIRST fire, and
twice in an encounter with bowie