Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-22
GENERAL SAM. HOUSTON.

| About two years after the reVolutlOn Ien.
Houston had his first difficulty with the
people. Under the Constitution the Capital
had been fixed at Austin, but power was
given TO the President to order the tempo
rary removal of the archives i'll case of dan
ger. The Comanches were committing raw
ages within sight Of Austin, and Gen. Hous-
ton ordered the State records to be forward
ed to him at Washington, Texas. This
caused much excitement in Austin, and 400
| men placed themselves about the State
| House to prevent the removal. Col. Nor
! ton, leading spirit of the revolution, was
| at their head, and wrote to Gen. Houston,
| who well knew his character as a hghtlng
man, that if the archives were removed ne
| (Morton) would hunt him down like wolf.
| Gen. Houston replied in note OF charac-
| teristic brevity: "If the people of Austin
do not send them shall come and get them,
| and if Col. Morton can kill Inc he is well
come to nv ear.cap." The guard was at
once doubled, patrolmen were ut once placed
on the roads, and select committee went
into permanent session in the city hall.
During a sitting Of that body one who
was unannouuced suddenly stood in their
midst, having gained entrance by means Of
| a tall live oak which grew against the Win
| dow: his earb and arms were those oil a
hunter and, being spoken to by Colonel
Morton, he placed his finger on his lips
and remained silent. Colonel Morton flew
into q rage and seized him, when the stran-
ger drew his bowie knife at the same in
slant that Morton's friends held him back.
Another member of the body spoke to the
stranger, saying that the meeting was pri-
vate one, and that he presumed the gentle
man had mistaken the house. AT this he
walked to 81 table and wrote one line: u
am deaf" Judge Webb then wrote: Tell
us your business" when letter was hand
ed him, addressed to the citizens of Austin,
which the Judge read aloud as follows
Fellow citizens: Though in error, and de-
ceved by the arts Of traitors, will giTeyou
three days more to decide whether or not
YOU will forward to me the archives. At
the end of that time you will please let me
know your decision. SAM HOUSTON.
The deaf man waited Il few moments for a
reply, and was about to leave, when Colonel
Morton handed him note saying: You
were brave enough 10 insult me; are you
brave enough to give me satisfaction ?" The
mute wrote: II am at your service" and
after fixing terms he left by the window.
| Morton was told he would be killed, as he
was to fight Deaf Smith, who never missed
his man; but he could not be shaken in his
resolve. The weapons used were rifles,
the distance WAS a hundred PAGES, and the
time sunset. A vast crowd saw the duel.
Morton was dressed in broadcloth, his an
tagonist in smoke-tinted buckskin. Both
were cool and stern At the given signal
both fired at the same instant. Morton
sprang into the air and fell dead, a ball in
his heart Deaf Smith quietly reloaded his
rifle and walked into the forest. Three days
afterward he came with General Houston
and ten others in Austin and the archives
were removed without further opposition.
While President of the Republic, Houston
received challenge to fight q duel, sent by
a man whom he regarded as greatly his in
ferior, socially. Turning 10 the bearer of
the challenge, he exclaimed, in voice full
of INDIGNANT scorn: ''Sir, tell your princ-
pal that Sam Houst on nerer fights down hiNw
1t was his habit to deliver his message to
the Texas Congress orally. a few days be-
fore one of his inaugurals member OF Con-
gress said to the President that the body
would be better pleased if he would prepare
written messages that it would be treating
them more respectfully to write them out,
and besides they could be preserved for
future reference. Accordingly on the day
fixed for the inauguration he appeared with
large roll OF paper in his hand, tied with
blue ribbon and marked in large letters
'Inaugllral" He addressed them with the
roll in his hand, waving it gracefully that
all might see 1t, and concluding with q
polite bow, handed it to the clerk and
walked out of the chamber. When opened it
proved to be only blank paper.