Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-14
The Sturu Teller.
deaf SMITH," SCOUT.

The history of "Deaf Smith" is one
of the most extraordinary in all the
annals of the frontier. The memory OF
that remarkable man is revered equal
ly with that of any of the prominent
actors in the war for the independence
of the "Lone Star State," one of whose
counties is named for him. He made
his appearance in Texas suddenly, at
a very early period in the bloody his
tory of its struggle with Mexico,
where he continued to reside until his
death, which occurred about 1S4S. He
had a host of friends, and was the
particular favorite of General Houston,
vet none of these were ever able to
learn the place of his birth, or gather
single fact in. relation to his life pre-
vious to his advent among them.
"Deaf Smith" could write with as
tonishing facility and correctness.
Denied completely the sense of hearing,
nature had amply compensated him
with the keenest vision and power OF
smell almost incredible.
The rangers used to declare that
"Deaf Smith" could catch the scent of
q Mexican or an Indian at as great a
distance as buzzard could distinguish
the odor of dead carcass.
He always went wherever he was
sent, no matter how dangerous the
duty, alone, almost Invariably succeed
ing in obtaining the information re-
quired.
|. His private life was as eccentric as
that of his official. He never could
get persuaded to sleep under the roof
of house, or even to accept the friend
ly shelter of a tent, no matter what
the condition of the weather might be.
Wrapped in a single blanket, on the
coolest nights, he perferred 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, frequent.
ly absenting himself for weeks, or even
for months, on solitary expeditions
into the vast wilderness of the great
Southwest.
Many stories of his heroic conduct
in battle, and his wonderful stoicism
and utter absence of fear in frequent
desperate duels, are current among
the people, among whom, or, rather,
their immediate ancestors, he lived for
so many years. We, have space at our
disposal for only one.
About two years after. the end of
the Texas revolution a difficulty oc-
Cured between the new government
and portion of the citizens. The
constitution had fixed the city of Aus
tin as the permanent capital, where
the archives of the public were to be
kept, with a reservation, however, of
a power vested in the president to or
der their temporary removal in case OF
danger from the inroads of foreign
enemy, or the force of sudden insur-
rection.
The Comanches, the most important
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, dis
patched an order commanding those
under him at Austin to send the State
records to Washington, which he de-
clared to be, pro tempore, the seat of
the government.
1t is impossible to describe the storm
of excitement the promulgation of the
order raised in Austin. Only those
who have experienced "county seat
fight" in Kansas are able to appreciate
the magnitude of such a row. The
owners of the banks, faro-banks,
and other devices for gambling, to-
gether with the keepers of hotels,
boarding houses, saloons, etc., were
nearly distracted. The measure meant
to them death blow to the prosperity
in business. 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 forces, if
necessary. To that end 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 authori-
ties 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 10th
of which he had literally cut his an
tagonist to pieces with his formidable
bowie-knife. The colonel swore by
the honor of 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 down with as little ceremony.
He had the imprudence to write to the
hero of San Jacinto to that effect.
The general, whom nothing could in
timidate, replied in the following note
of characteristic brevity: