Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-05-27

dCIS VI lAS "a SCSi 1Sii' "-4 - ~
manding those under him to send the
State records to Washington, which he
declared to be, for the time being, the
seat of government.
It 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 dis
tracted, for it meant a death-blow to
their business. Accordingly they de-
termined 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 farm
ers of the adjacent country, who were
all more or less interested in the ques-
ton; and after many fiery speeches
against the asserted tyranny Of the ad-
ministration, it was unanimously re-
solved to prevent the removal Of the
archives by open and armed resistance
To that end they formed a 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 revengeful character, his friends
thought that President Houston would
rescind his order as soon as he learned
who was at the head of the resisting
force in Austin. The colonel was as
vain as he was courageous, and he en-
couraged the general idea by boasting'
He 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 like wolf,
or stab him in bed, or even waylay
him in his walks of recreation. He
had the audacity to write to the hero
Of San Jacinto to that effect. The
general, whom nothing could intlmi-
date, answered his insulting note in
the following characteristic brevity:
"If the citizens of Austin 10 not
send the archives, | shall certainly
come and take them and if Colonel
Morton can kill me, he is welcome to
my ear-cap.
On the arrival of the president $
note the colonel doubled the guard
around the state-house; chosen senti-
nels were stationed along the avenues
leading to the building, and the mill
tary marched through the streets OF
the disturbed city from morning until
night. A continual session Of the
committee of safety was held in the
city hall in short, everything beto-
kened the bursting of severe pohti-
cal storm over the city.
One day, while matters were in this
boiling condition, the committee in
the city hall were surprised by the
sudden appearance ola stranger, whose
mode of entrance was as extraordl-
nary as his looks and dress. He did
not knock at the closed door; he did
not seek admission there at all, but
climbing, unseen,a small, bushy-topped
live oak which grew beside the wall OF
the building, he leaped without warn
ing through high window and was
Immediately in the presence of the
committee. He was dressed through
out in buckskin, the seams of his
trousers and coat heavily fringed, and
the front of the latter beaded and por-
cupined, after the fashion Of costly
Indian garment. He carried long
rife in his right hand, wore at but
ton on his coat large bowie knife and
in his belt a brace Of pistols. He was
tall, straight as an arrow, active and
quick as a panther in all his motions
magnificent specimen Of the old-time
frontiersman, genus long since van
ished.
His strange advent into the secret
session caused a thrill Of involuntary
fear among its members, and many
seized the handles of their knives OF
pistols.
who are you that dares to intrude
among gentlemen, without being In
vited?" thundered out Colonel Nor,
ton, at the same time trying to co"
the stranger by his eye.
The stranger thus insOlently ad'
dressed, returned the colonels stare
with compound interest, at the same
time laying his long bOny finger on his
mouth, as a sign-but of what the