San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-04-14
THE TEXAS SCOUT.

IrlenQss ana Was the particular IaFof
tic 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. II ques-
toned upon the subject. he invari-
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.
.sDesf Smith could write with as
tonishiDg facility and correctness.
Denied completely the sense of hear
ing, nature had amply compensated
him vita the keenest vision and u
power OF smell almost incredible.
It was these powerful attributes
which fisted him so admirably for the
perilous occupation of scout. in
which capacity he rendered invalua-
BILE service to General. Houston's army
during tie war for the independence
of Texas. He always went wherever
he was ssnt, no matter how dangerous
the duty, alone, almost invariably
succeeding in obtaining the informa-
zion required.
His private life was as eccentric as
that of his official He never could
be persuaded to sleep under the roof
Of q 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 70 lie out in the opea 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 Of even
months, on solitary expeditions into
the vast wilderness of the great
Southwest.
About two years after the end Of
the Texas revolution a difficulty oc-
Cured between the new government
and portion of the citizens. The con-
stitution had fixed the city of Austin
as the permanent capital, where the
archives OF the public vera to be kept,
with 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 9 sud
den instruction.
Ths Comanches, the most ;mpudent
and powerful tribe of Indians in the
Southwest began to commit their
characteristic atrocities within the
very sight of the young capital
Upon this demonstl alton of what
might become SERIOUS hostilities,
General Houston, tina president. who
resided in the town OF Washington,
on the Brazos. dispatched an order
commanding those under him at
Austin 20 send the state records to
Washington.
A mass meeting Ct the citizens and
farmers of the adjacent country was
called. After many fiery speeches it
was unanimously decided to prevent
the removal of tho archives, by open
and armed force, if necessary. To
that end company of 400 men was
organized, one moiety of which, re-
heving 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 a 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 as little ceremony. He had
the impudence to write to the hero
of San Jacintu to that effect The
general. whom nothing could intim-
idate, replied in the following note
of characteristic brevity:
"1f the people Of Austin do not
send the archives | shall certainly
come and take them; and If Colonel
Morton can XII me he is welcome to
my ear-cap."
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 a severe political storm
One day. while matters were in
this boiling condition. the committee
in the city pail was surprised by the
sudden appearance Of a stranger.
whose mods Of entrance was as extra
ordinary az his looks and dress. Climb
ing. unseen. small. bushv-topped
live-oak which grew beside the wall
OF the bu lding, he leaped without the
slightest warning. through a high
window md was Immediately in the
presence Of the secret guardians Of
the city welfare. He was dressed
throughout in buckskln, the seams of
his trousers and coat heavily fringed
and tie front of the latter beaded
and pCrcupined after the fashion of an
IndiaG chiefs costly garment of state.
He carried long. very heavy rifle
in his right hand. wore at button on
his coat an immense bowie knife. and
In hia belt brace of Gint-lock pistols
half as long as his gun.
who are you that dares to intrude
amoag gentlemen without being in
vited?" numbered CIT Colonel Nor
ton, at the same moment enGeavor-
ing 10 COW down the stranger by the
ferocious glance of Lis eye.
The stranger returned the colonel's
stare with compound interest, at the
instant laying long, bony finger on
his lips as a sign. bus Of what import
tho committee was at a loss to deter
mine
"Who are you2 Speak, or I will
cut an answer out OF your heart"
yelled the incensed colonel, almost
insane with rage at the calm. sheer
ing manner of the stranger, who now
az this last demonstration of the iras
chile colonel, removed the finger
from his lips and laid his hand on
tAs hit OF his Immense bowie