Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-03-09

the archives, Dy open anu armed
force, if necessary. To that end
g company of 400 men was organ.
ganized, one moiety of which, re.
lieving the other at Irregular inter.
walls, should keep constant guard
around the State house until the
peril passed by. The commander
of this force i'll rebellion against
the authorities was Colonel Nor
ton, who had achieved >considera-
BILE renown in the war for inde-
pendence and still moro recently
had displayed a desperate bravery
in two terrible duels, lin both of
which he had literally cut hia
antagonist to pieces with his for
midable bowieknife. The colonel
swore by the honor of a Texan
thatif General Houston removed
the records of the State from Aus
tin he would himself hunt him
down like a wolf and shoot him
with as little ceremony. He had
the imprudence to write to the
here of San Jacinto to that effect.
The general, whom nothing could
intimidate, replied in the follow
ing note of characteristic brevity:
aIf the people of Austin do not
send the archives / shall certainly
come and take them; and if Col:
onel Morton can kill me, he is
welcome to my ear-cap."
On the reception of the presi-
dents note the .Committes OF
Safety" held a continuous session
in the City Hall, and everything
betokened the bursting of a severe
political storm.
One day, while matters were in
this boiling condition, the COM
mittee in the city hall was sur
prised by the sudden appearance
of a stranger, whose mode of en-
trance was as extraordinary as his
looks and dress. Climbing. un-
seen, a small, ,bushy-topped live
oak which grew beside the wallof
the building, he leaped without
the slightest warning through a
high window, and was immediate
ly in the presence of the secret
dams of be city's welfare.
81
.buckskin, the seams Of his trous-
ers and coat heavily fringed and
the front of the latter beaded and
porcupined, after the fashion of
an Indian chiefs costly garment
of state. He carried long, very
heavy rife in his right hand, wore
on button on his coat an i'm
mense bowie knife, and in his belt
a brace Of fiint-lock pistols half
as long as his gun.
"Who are you that dares to in
trude among gentlemen without
being invited?" thundered out
Colonel Morton, at the same mo-
ment, endeavoring to cow down the
stranger by the ferocious glance of
his eye.
The stranger returned the colonel s
stare with compound interet, at
the instant laying long, bony
finger an his lips as sign, but of
what import the committee was at
loss to determine.
"Who are you! Speak, or l will
cut an answer out of your heart, y
yelled the incensed colonel, al
most insane with rage at the calm,
sneering manner of the stranger,
who lat this last demonstration
of the irascible colonel, removed
the finger from his lips and laid
his hands on the hilt of his
immense bowie.
The fiery colonel upon this
movement drew his dagger, and
was in the act of advancing upon
the stranger when several friends
interfered, and, holding him back,
demonstrated: "Let him alone,
Morton. for Gods sake! Don't you
see the mans crazy?"
At-th:s juncture Judge Webb, a
man of fine intellect and a
courteous gentleman in all his
department, stepped toward the
stranger aud addressed him in q
most respectful style: .t'My good
friend, I presume you have made
q mistake in the house. This is o
private meeting, where none but
members are admitted"
The intruder did not appear to
understand the words of the Judge
but he could not fail to COM
prehend the mild, depfecatory