Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-05-12

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81 &SEA, ENEmi Anna. General
1aN A9a Houston is reclin-
XSS$;:ssss1s.;a ~ "a ing on sort of
I'm - w mattress under a
GS huge live-oak.
The scene represents few hours
after the battle OF San Jacinto, which
was fought on the bank of that river,
near the mouth of Buffalo Bayou, on
the 21st OF April, 1886, and IN which
struggle the famous Mexican general
was taken prisoner. General Houston
had been severely wounded in the
ankle, and the surgeon is the act of
administering to the gallant leaders
need. Near him, seated on log In
the attitude of listening, is his bosom
friend, the celebrated Texas spy, Deaf
Smith.
The history of Deaf Smith is one of
the most extraordinary ever known
in the West. HIS memory is revered
equally with the most prominent &C
tors in the war fop independence of
the Lone Star State, one OF whose
counties is named for him.
Deaf Smith made his appearance in
Texas at q very. early day in the his
tory of its struggle with Mexico. He
had % host of friends, and was par
ticniar iayorite OF General Houston,
yet none of these was ever able to
learn the land of his nativity, OF. gath
er single gleam OF bis previous bio.
graphy. If questioned upon the sub
iect, as be often was in the primitive
days OF his advent in the now great
Stata. l iEs1az1al his iRzles
hnger on his mouth, and If urged
further, his brow gathered in great
burrows. while his intensely dark eyes
seemed to shoot forth sparks OF fire.
No one had the temerity to again re.
fer to lis formnr life after the exper-
ience of first attempt to learn some
thing Of the strange man.
He could write with astonishing fa-
cility and correctness, and this, of
course, was the only means by which
he conld communicate with his fellow
men. Denied completely the sense OF
hearing. nature lad amply compen-
sated him with vision that was of the
keenest character, and power of
smell that was almost incredible. He
could discover objects moving miles
away on the apparently interminable
prairie, where others could discern
nothing but the earth and the horizon.
It was such remarkable attributes
that fitted him 80 we'll in the danger
GUS vocation Of spy, in which capacity
he rendered valuable service to Cen
eral Housion's army during the Texas
war of independence. He always went
where he was sent, alone, and almost
jnvarisbly succeeded in obtaining she
information desired.
Many stories of his bravery in bat.
tie and his many desperate duels are
current among the citizens in the re.
gion where he once lived, but l can
only relate one here.
About two years after the termina-
tion of the Texas revolution difficulty
occurred between the new government
and number of the citizens which
threatened most serious consequences,
even bloodshed and all the horrors of
civil war. The case was this: The
constitution had fixed the city of Aus
tin as the permanent capital, where
the public archives were to be kept,
with the reservation, however, OF q
power in the president to order their
temporary removal in case of danger
from the inroads of foreign enemy
or the force OF sudden insurrection.
The Comanches, the most powerful
tribe of Indians in the Southwest, be.
gan to commit atrocities within the
very sight of the capital itself, when
the president, General Houston, who
resided at Washington, on the Brazos,
conceiving that an exceptional emer.
gency had been provoked by these
acts of the savages, sent an order COM
manding those under him to send the
State records to Washington, which
he declared to be, foS the time being,
the seat of government.
1t would be absurd to try to describe
the stormy excitement which the re-
ceipt of the order raised in Austin.
The owners of hotels, boarding houses,
monte and faro banks, were nearly
distracted, for it meant death-blow
to their business. Accordingly they
determined to take the necessary steps
to avert the danger, by ignoring the
mandate of the president. They called
a mass meeting of the citizens and
farmers of the adjacent country, who
we're all more or less interested in the
question; and after many fiery
speeches against the asserted tyranny
of the administration, it was unani-
mously resolved to prevent the re;
moval of The archives by open and
armed resistance. To that end they
formed squad of 400 men, one.half
of whom, relieving the other at regular
times OF duty, should constantly guard
the state house until the danger had
gone by.
The commander of this force was
one Colonel Morton, who had achieved
considerable renown in the war and
still more recently displayed desperate
bravery in two terrible duels, in both
of which he had cut his antagonist
nearly to pieces with bowie Knife.
he was SO notorious for his courage
and reyengeful character, hts friends
thought that President Houston would