The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-01
DEAF SMITH THE SCOUT.
THE STORY OF A DUEL FAMOUS IN
TEE ANNALS OF TEXAS.

strange FRONTIER Sman Tor Whom
One OF the Counties OF the Lone
Star State Is Named.
FROM the Ne,o York Recorder.
In the main corridor of the magnificent
capitol at Austin, Tex, there hangs an inn
mense painting. 25x15 feet at least, in
cased in massive gilt frame The figures
are life-size, and among the most prominent
are Gen. Sam Houston, Deaf Smith" aud
Santa Anna. The time represented in this
historical work is Immediately after the
battle Of San Jaointo, fought on the bank
OF that river, near the mouth OF Buffalo
bayou, on April 81, 1886, in which
memorable struggle the famous Mexi-
that fight Gen. Houston was severely
wounded In the ankle, and in the painting
he is seen reclining under the grateful shade
of large live oak, and a surgeon Is in the
act OF administering TO the gallant Amerl.
can soldiers needs Near him, seated on a
log, in the attitude of listening, is his bosom
friend and fnvorite. Deaf Smith, Among
the assembled group of prlvates standing
by. one has In his hands a rope, with his
eyes fixed on Santa Anna, seemingly inn
pressed with the idea that lynching would
whose cowardly acts at the taking Of the
Alamo had sent 80 many brave men to an
unwarranted fate.
The history Of deaf SMITH is one of the
most extraordinary in all tho annals of the
frontier. The memory of that remarkable
man is revered equally with that of any Of
the prominent actors in the wer for inde-
pendence of the Lone Star state y one OF
whose counties is named for him. He made
in 10 af n
very early period in the bloody hiss
tory Of its struggle with Mexico, where he
continued TO reside until his death, which
occurred about lS4S. He had host OF
friends, and was the particular favorite of
Gen. Houston, yet none Of these were ever
able 10 learn the place Of his birth or gather
a single fact in relation to bis life previous
to his advent among them. If questioned
upon the subject, he invariably placed his
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 astonish-
ing facility and correctness Denied conn
pletely the sense OF hearing, nature had
amply compensated him with the kecnest
vision and power of smell almost 10
credible.
The rangers used to declare that deaf
can or Indian at as great a distance as a
buzzard could distinguish the odor of q
dead carcass"
1t was these powerful attributes which
fitted him so admirably for the perilous
occupation of scout, in which capacity he
rendered invaluable service to Gen. Hous-
tons army during the war for the iude-
pendence of Texas. He always went
wherever he was sent. no matter how
10 ba al al f1w
ably succeeding in obtaining the informa-
ton required.
His private life was as eccentric as that
of his official. He never could be persuaded
to sleep under the roof OF house OF 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. be preferred to lie out in
the open air. count the stars, or gaze for
hours at the moon, when at It's full.
When not in the employ Of the
Texas army, he hunted constantly fire.
quently absenting himself for weeks or even
months, on solitary expeditions into tho
vast wilderness Of the great southwest. He
was genuine son of nature, a grown-Uu
child of the forest and praries, whose
beauties he worshiped with all the super
stition of the ancient Druids. His infrm-
titles probably were the principal cause OF
this, which excluded him from cordial
fellowship with man, he was once con-
PEELED TO cultivate the friendship Of the in-
animate things Of earth, which to him we're
companions, for they, to, like him, were
voioeless. Many stories of his heroic con-
duct in battle and his wonderful stoicism
and utter absence of fear in frequent des-
perate duels are current among the people,
among whom, or, rather, their Immediate
ancestors, he lived for so many years. |
have space at my disposal for only one.
About two years after the end of the
Texas revolution difficulty occurred be-
tween the new government and portion of
the citizens. The constitution had fixed the
city Of Austin as the permanent capital ,
where the archives of the public were to be
kept with a reser walton, however, of a
power vested in the president to order their
temporary removal in case OF danger from
the inroads of foreign enemy, or the force
of a sudden instruction.
The Comanches, the most impudent aud
powerful tribe OF Indians In the southwest,
began to commit their characteristic atrocl-
ties within the very sight OF the young
capital. Upon this demonstration Of what
might become serious hostilities, Cen Hous-
ton, the president, who resided in the town
of Washington, on the Brazos, dispatched
an order commanding those under him az
Austin TO send the state records to Wash
ington, which he declared TO be pro tempore
the seat of the government.
It is impossible TO describe the storm Of
excitement the PRONUNCIATION of the order
raised in Austin. Only those who have ex-
perienced a county seat fghtn in Kansas
are able TO appreciate the magnitude of
such q row. The owners Of monte banks
faro banks and other devices for gambling
together with the keepers OF hotels, board
log houses saloons, ETC., were nearly dis
tracted. The measure meant to them
death blow to the prosperity in business.
A mass meeting Of the citizens aud farmers
of the adjacent country was called. After
many fiery speeches It was unanimously
decided TO prevent the removal of the
archives, by open aud armed force, If nee
essary. To that end q company of 400
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 Col. 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 liter
ally cut bis antagonists 70 pieces with his
formidable bowie knife. The colonel swore
bv the honor of Texan that II Gen.
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 Jacinto TO that effect.
The general, whom nothing could iutimi-
Hate rapliad In tina folio wing nofa of char.