Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-05-20
THE TEXAS SCOUT.


equally with that of any OF the prom
inent actors of the war for indepen-
dence Of the Lone Star state. one of
whose counties is named for him.
He made his appearance in Texas
suddenly. at very early period in
the bloody history OF its struggle
with Mexico. where he continued to
reside until his death. which oe-
CURED about 1913. He had host of
friends. and was the particular favor
tie of General Houston, yet none of
these were ever able to learn the
place OF his birth or gather single
fact in rotation To his life previous to
his advent among them. If ques-
toned upon the subject. ne inyari-
ably placed his index finger upon his
lips. and if pressed further. his
brows gathered in big burrows, while
his intensely dark eyes seemed to
shoot forth sparks Of living fire.
Deaf Smith" could write with as
tonishing facility and correctness.
Denied completely the sense of hear
ing, nature had amply compensated
him with the kaenest vision and
power Of smell almost incredible.
1t was these powerful attributes
which lifted him so admirably for the
Perilous occupation Of scout, in
which capacity he rendered invalua-
bic service to General Houston's army
during the war for the independence
of Texas. He always went wherever
=
the duty. alone, almost invariably
succeeding in obtaining the informa-
ton required.
His private life was as eccentric as
that of his official. He never could
he persuaded to sleep under the roof
OF house or even to accept the
friendly shelter Of tent. no matter
what the condition of the weather
might be. Wrapped in a single
BLANKET. on the coolest nights. he
preferred to lie out in the open air,
count the stars, or gaze for hours at
the moon, when at its full. When
not in the employ Of the Texas army,
he hunted constantly, frequently alb
senting himself for weeks or even
months. on solitary expeditions into
the vast wilderness Of the great
About two years after the end Of
the Texas revolution q difficulty oc-
CURED between the new government
and a portion Of the citizens. The CON
stitution had fixed the city of Austin
as the permanent capital, where the
archives Of the public were to be kept.
with a reservation, however, of
power vested in the president to
order their temporary removal in
case Of danger from the inroads Of a
foreign enemy. or the force of a sud
den in7urrection.
The Comanches. the most impudent
and powerful tribe of Indians in the
Southwest began to commit their
characteristic atrocities within the
very sight of the young capital
Upon this demonstration OF what
might become serious hostilities,
General Houston. the president, who
resided 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
farmers Of the adjacent country was
called. After many fiery speeches it
was unanimously decided to prevent
the removal of the archives. by open
and armed force, if necessary. 10
that end company of 400 men was
organized. one moiety OF which, re-
lieviug the other at regular intervals,
should keep constant guard around
the statehouse 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
independence. and still more recently
had displayed desperate bravery in
two terrible duels. in both OF which
he had literally cut his antagonists to
pieces with his formidable bowie
knife. The colonel swOre by the
honor of a Texan that if General
Houston removed the records of the
state from Austin he would himself
hunt him down like a wolf and shoot
him with a. little ceremony He had
the impudence TO write to the hero
OF San Jacinto to that effect. The
whom nothing could intim-
idate. replied in the following note
of characteristic breyity:
iii the people of Austin do not
send the archives / shall certainly
come and take them; and if Colonel
Morton can kill mo he is welcome to
my ear-cap. y
On the reception Of the presidents
note the committee Of safety" held
continuous session in the city hall,
and everything betokened the burst
Ing OF o severe political storm
One day. while matters were in
lhis boiling condition, the committee
"a the city hall was surprised by the
sudden appearance Of a stranger,
whose mode Of entrance was as extra
ordinary as his looks and dress. Climb
ng unseen, a small bushy-topped .
ive-Oak which grew beside the wall I