The record-union., 1893-03-08
DEAF SMITH, THE SCOUT.
Story of a Duel Famous in the
Texas Annals.
sam Houston's Bosom Friend and His
Remarkable Goodness and Bravery
in Danger-A Strange Frontiersman
After Whom One of the Lone Star
Counties was Named.

In the main corridor of the magnificent
Capitol al Austin, Texas, there hangs an
immense painting, twenty-five by fifteen
feet, at least, incased in a massive gilt
frame. The figures are life-siZe, and
among the most prominent are General
Sam Houston. deaf Smith, and Santa
Anna. The time represented in this his
torical work is Immediately after the bat
tie OF San Jacinto, fought on the banks OF
that river, near the mouth of Buffalo
Bayou, on April 2l, 1886, in which MEM
orable struggle the famous Mexican
leader was taken prisoner. In that light
General Houston was severely wounded
in the ankle, and in the painting he IS re-
clining under She grateful shade OF
large oak and surgeon is in the act OF
administering to the gallant American
soldiers needs. Near him, seated on
log, i'll the attitude of listening, is his
bosom friend and favorite, deaf Smith,"
says the New \ ork Recorder.
The history of Deaf Smith" is one of
the most extraordinary in all the annals
of the frontier. The memory of that re-
markable man is revered equally with
that OF any OF the prominent actors in the
war for independence i'll the Lone Star
State,' one of whose counties is named
for him. lie made his appearance in
Texas suddenly, at very early period
in the bloody history of its struggle with
Mexico, and he continued to reside there
until his death, which occurred about
1913. He had a host Of friends, and was
the particular favorite of General HouS-
ton, yet none of these were ever able to
learn the place OF his birth or gather q
single fact in relation to his life previous
TO his advent among them. II ques-
toned upon the subject he invariably
paced his index finger upon his lips, and
If pressed further his brows gathered in
big burrows, while his intense dark
eyes seemed to shoot forth sparks of Gv-
ing fire.
IDEAL SMITH could write with aston
ishing facility and correctness. Depied
completely the sense of hearing, nature
had amply compensated him with the
keenest vision and a power of smell al
most incredible.
1t was these powerful attributes which
fitted him SO admirably for the perilous
occupation of scout, in which capacity he
rendered Invaluable service to General
Houston's army during the war for the
independence OF Texas. He always went
wherever he was sent, no matter how
dangerous the duty, alone, almost inya-
riaDly succeeding in obtaining the infor-
nation required.
His private life was as eccentric as that
of his official. He never could be per-
suaded to sleep under the roof of a house,
or even to accept The friendly shelter OF a
tent, no matter what the condition of the
weather might be. Wrapped in single
blanket, on the coldost nights, he pre-
terred to lie out III the open air, count
the stars, or gaze for hours at the moon
when at It's full. When not in the en-
ploy OF the Texas army he hunted con-
slantly, frequently absenting himself for
weeks, or even months, on solitary expe-
ditions into the vast Wilderness OF the
Southwest.
About two years after the end of the
Texas Revolution a difficulty occurred
between the new Government and por-
ton of the citizens. The Constitution
had fixed the city OF Austin as the per-
manent capital, where the archives of the
public were TO be kept, with reservation,
however, OF power vested III the Presi-
dent to order their temporary removal in
case of danger from the inroads of for
eign enemy, or the force of a sudden in
Surrectlon.
The Comanches, the most impudent and
powerful tribe Of Indians in the South
west, began to commit their characteristic
atrocities within the very sight of the
young capital. Upon this demonstration
of what might become serious hostillties,
General Houston, the President, who re-
sided in the town OF Washington, on the
Brazos, dispatched an order commanding
those under him at Austin to send the
State records TO Washington.
A mass meeting OF the citizens and far
mers of the adjacent country was called
After many fiery speeches it was unani-
mously decided to prevent the removal
of the archives, by open and armed force,
if necessary. 70 this end company OF
four hundred men was organized, one
moiety OF which, relieving the other at
regular intervals, should keep constant
guard around the State House until the
peril passed by. The commander of this
force in rebellion against the authorities
was Colonel Morton, who had achieved
considerable renown in the war for indie
pendence, and still more recently had
DISPLAYED desperate bravery in two ter
ribIe duels, in both of which he had liter
ally cut his antagonists to pieces with his
formidable bowie knife. The Colonel
swore by the honor OF Texan that ii
General Houston removed the records OF
the State from Austin he would himself
hunt him down like wolf and shoot him
with as little ceremony. He had the i'm
pudence to write to the hero of San
Jacinto to that SELECT. The General,
whom nothing could intimidate, replied
in the following note of characteristic
breVity:
'If the people of Austin do not send the
archives | shall certainly come and take
them, and if Colonel Morton can kill me
he is welcome to my earcap."
on the reception of the Presidents note
the Committee of Safety" held a contin-
uous session IN the City Hall, and every
! thing betokened the bursting of a severe
political storm.
One day, while matters were in this
boiling condition, the committee in the
! City Hall was surprised by the sudden
! appearance of stranger, whose mode OF
entrance was as extraordinary as his looks
and dress. Climbing, unseen, a small
| bushy-topped live oak which grew be-
| side the wall of the building, he leaped
without the slightest warning through
| high window, and was Immediately il
the presence of the secret guardians OF
the city's welfare. He was dressed
throughout in buckskin, the seams of bis
| trousers and coat heavily fringed, and
the front of the latter beaded and porcu-
pined, after the fashion of an Indian
| chiefs costly garment OF state. He carried
| q long, very heavy rifle in his right hand
wore at button on his coat an im-
mense bowie knife, and in his belt brace
of tint-lock pistols half as long as his
gun.
"Who are you that dares to intrude
! AMONG SellbleuleA HlluOub pSlHS luNlI'
! ed?n Numbered out Colonel Morton, at
the same moment endeavoring to COW
| down the stranger by the ferocious glance
of his eye.
The stranger returned the Colonel.
stare with compound interest, at the in
stant laying a long. bony finger on hl
lips as sign, but OF wnat import thI
sommittee was at loss to determine.
"Who are you? Speak, or L will Gu
an answer out of your heart" yelled th
lncensed Colonel, almost insane witt
rage at the calm, sneering manner of tn
stranger, who now, at this last demon
LStratin1, of the ir.,sci hla CnlnnaI n1.n.