Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-03-09
DEAF SMITH, THE SCOUT.
ONLY ONE RIFLE SHOT, BUT +
WAS A FATAL ONE.
Story of a Duel Famous I'M the
Annals of Texas.

-
In the main corridor of the mag
nifcent capitol at Austin, Texas,
there hangs an immense painting,
25x Isl feet, at least, incased in a
massive gilt frame. The figures
are life size, and among the most
prominent are General Sam Hous-
ton. Deaf Smith, |" and Santa
Anna. The time represented in
this historical work is Immediately
after the battle of an Jascinto,
foughton the banks of that river,
near the mouth of Buffalo Bayou
on April 81, 1885, in which mem,
orable struggle the famous Mexl-
can leader was taken prisoner. In
that fight General Houston wss
severely wounded in the ankle, and
III the painting be is seen reelin-
ing under the grateful shade of "a
large live oak and surgeon is in
the act of administering to the
gallant American soldiers needs.
Near him, seated on log, in the
rttitude of listening, is his bosom
md and favorite, deaf Smith, !"
.S,ew York Recorder.
history Of aDeaf Smith" is
,one. 'Se most extraordinary in
all the h.. 1s Of the frontier. The.
memory of that remarkable man
is reyered equally with that of any
of the prominent actors in the
war for independence of the clone
Star State, one of whose counties
is named for him. He made his
appearance in Texas suddenly, alta
very early period in the bloody
history of its struggle with Mexi-
CO, where he continued to- reside
until his death, which occurred
about 1S4S. he had a host of
friends, and was the particular
favorite of General Houston, yet
none Of these were ever able to
learn the place of his birth or
gather a single fact in relation to
his life previous to his advent
among them. If questioned upon,
tl,s subject s. q gsasiabI laced
6l lgsf Upon bis o. aHa
ifs pressed further, hissLrows gath
cred in big burrows, ,swhi1e his in
tensely dark eyes seemed to shoot
forth sparks of living fire.
1Deaf Smith" could write with
astounding facility and correct
ness. Denied completely the sense
of hearing, nature had amply COM
pensated him with the keenest
vision and a power of smell almost
incredible.
1t was thes powerful attributes
which fitted him so admirably for
the perilous occupation of scout,
in which capacity he rendered in
valuable service to General Hous-
toms army during the war for the
independence of Texas. He al
ways went wherever he was sent,
no matter how dangerous the duty,
alone, almost invariably succeed
ing in obtaining the information
required.
His private life was as eccen-
trio as that of his official. He
never could be persuaded to sleep
under the roof of house or even
accept the friendly shelter of q
tent, mo matter what the condition
Of the. weather might be. Wrapped
in single blanket, on the coolest
nights, he preferred to lie OUT in
the open air, count the stars, or
gaze for hours al. the moon, when
at its full.
When not inthe employ of the
Texas army, he hunted constant
ly, frequently, absenting himself
for weeks or even months, on soli-
tary expeditions into the vast will
derness of the great Southwest.
About two years after the end
of the. Texas revolution, a diff
Guilty occurred between the new
government and a portion of the
citizens. The constitution had
fixed the city of Austin as the per-
manent capitol, where the archives
Of the public were to be kept, with
a reservation, however, of a power
vested in the president to order
their temporary removal in case of
danger from the inroads of a for
eign enemy. or the force of sud-
den insurrection.
The Comanches, the most I'M
pudent and powerful tribe of In
dians in the Southwest. began to
commit their characteristic atroc-
tiles within the very sight of the