Las Vegas Gazette, 1872-11-30

ing days of Sam Houston's life, I have al ways tr.tertained a strongadmiration for the hero of San Jacinto. I nru conscious of his weaknesses, some of which are quite glaring ; but he had a certain pluck, a stubbornness, which commanded the respect of even his eaemies. Theie is an incident of Sam Houston's career that is njt generally known, but which brings out as prominently as any act of his life, that sterling courage to which I refer, and at the same time brings into no notice - tice notice one of the most extraordinary men of whom I ever he ird the person known as Peat nith; the lexas Spy, anil intimate friend of Sam Houston. Ai the time Texas succeeded in establish" ing her independence, the constitution pro- idea that Austin should be the permanent capital, where the public archives were to be kept ; but the provision was inserted jriv ing the 1 resident discretionary ponrerto re remove - move remove it temporarily to some sale point, in case of the inroads of a foreign enemy, or the power ot a sudden insurrection. About two years after the Texas revolu tion the Comanches became so diring as to commit several outrages :n the sight uf the capital itself, whereupon Houston consider ed the condition ot matters warranted his availing himseif of the provisions already mentioned. He resided at that time at Washington, on tho Brazon, from which he despatched a messenger with an ordr commanding his subordinate f unctionaries to send the records to that place, which he anounced to be the seat of government pro tempore. J his produced the most intense excite ment at Austin. The hotel keepers, grocers, bourding house and gambling saloon pro prietors foresaw irretrievable ruin. They gathered together and denounced the pro' posed 1 outrage." Uradually the mutter mutter-ings - ings mutter-ings took shape, until, despite the constitu constitutional - tional constitutional warranty for the step, it was resolved that the thing should not be done. A mass meeting ol the citizens and farm ers of i ho neighborhood was held, and the most liery ar.d incendiary addresses were made. When the feelings of all were work' ed up to tho proper pitch, it was unani unanimously - mously unanimously resolved to then prevent the execu tion of the mandate by armed lesisiauce. A conwauy ot armed men was organized on the spot. At their head was placed one of the most noted duli&ts in the country. He had achieved quite a fume during the war just closed, and was unquestionably i brave man, ami as unprincipled as he was desperate. He was a man uf no little im portance, and it Was witli no little priiie that he took charge of tho men who unani unanimously - mously unanimously called upon him to be their leader. So noted was Uolonel .Morton that a great many were convinced thut when Genen.1 Houston learned that he had headed this determined band he would hasten to retrace his ground and recall the ofleudiiig com mand. Hut they mistook the metilo ot the old hero. Colonel Morton, piiífsd up with his brief authority, d dared that it the President did succeed m removing the records w power ot overwhelming numiier ha would hunt him down like a wolf, and slay him wherever he found him, whether on the streets or in bed. llcwent so fir as to tend him a letter to thut effect, uud Leie is the identical answer he received: "If the i.eoole of Austin do not f end the archives, I siiiul instantly come and take them, b'.d if Uolonel Aiorton can kid me Le is welcome to m tar caps "Sa v Houston. " On the reception of iheauw..rihc exicle exicle-meiit - meiit exicle-meiit become g.'eater than ever. The tuurd wis doubled around the Mate House, and picket sentinels were stationed along tne the road to the capital, tne military par.meu Com morning till night, and a mucus of tho ringleaders was held in the city hall. Everything tureatened a coming storm. Thus mutters stood for several day., a' en the caucus at tho city hall was startled by the sudden arrival of a stranger among them- He did not knock at the door nor at attempt - tempt attempt to ak admission there, but, uu noticed, climbed with the ce'erity of a monkey a small oak which stood beside the wall, and withe ui a word of warning sprang through a lofty window, and lauded m the very room where the caucus was assembled. The stranger was clud in buckskin, car carried - ried carried a long and heavy rule in his hand, wore at the bottom of his suspeuder au im- niense bowie knife, and held in bis leather belt a couple of t normous pistols, lie wag very tall, thin, and struight as an arrow, and as lithe and supple as a panther, with a swarthy complexión, long, jet black hair, rigid, iron-like countenance, eyes of gbt tering blackness, and as piercing as the point of a sliictto. His sud len appcarence among them wag so startling thai they lusUueUvely grasped their arm. "Who are you that come among gentle gentlemen - men gentlemen uuiivittc'.'" il.ounJcred Col. jlorion, staring at hi in. furiously , The stranger turned hi' black eyes upon him, aud stared at Liin,but the only answer he made wag by placing his lingers upon his hps Who are you? Speak, or I'll run you through?'-shouted Morton, driven to fury by the cool, contemptuous gaze of the other, bo now lock his finger from Lis lips aud placed it opon his kuil'e. i be exasH-rated Colonel drew back his dagger and was advancing upon the stranger, when Several interposed and held him back. ''Let Li ui alouc, Morton, Don' l you see he s crazy?" At this juncture Judge Webb stepped for forward - ward forward and spoke to the stranger iu a Liiid, respectljl manner " My good friend, I suppose you hare made a mistake. '1 his is a paral m es.nijj to which none but meuber i uJaiiUed." 1 be stranger did not seem to understand the words, but he did the conciliatory man manner. - ner. manner. His irou features relaxed somewhat. acd s.epping to a table upon which were implements of w nun.' be took op a pen aiii rapidly traced the words. '1 mm oeaf!

A correspondent in speaking of the extent to which drinking was carried only a few yers ago in San Francisco says: It is said that the Arabs have a thousand names to de designate - signate designate the lion. Scarcely less multitudinous was the California drinking vocabulary. "From the time the habitual drinker takes his morning cock-tail, to stimulate an appe appetite - tite appetite for breakfast, ho supplies himself with un indefinite number of racy little compounds that have the effect of keeping him always mor or less briiTitd And where saloons line the streets, and you can not meet a friend, o; make a new acquaintance, or strike a bar bargain - gain bargain without an invitation to drink, which amounts to a command and where the days are hot, and you see men issuing from the saloons licking their lips after their iced mint juleps and where Brown, who has a party wun mm, meeis you as you enter tne saloon Mnd says 'Join us' nnd where it is the fa fashion - shion fashion to accept, such invitations, and rude to refuse them what can a thirsty man do? Ono reason," he coutinues, "for so many drinks being consumed is the fact that there is ever some liberal soul who is not content till he has ranged some twenty of his ac quaintanccs at the bar; and when each one is supplied with a ' drink,' he says,' My res respects - pects respects tjjou, g-ntlemen; when the twenty heads are siniiiltaneonsiv thrown back, and down go 'Straight nrandies,' 'Queen Char Charlottes,' - lottes,' Charlottes,' 'Stone fences,' and so on through the whole scire." Wh re there are so ninny ready to treat, there can of course be no lack of those wil wil-lingto - lingto wil-lingto avail themselves ofthechnnce of com coming - ing coming in for a share of the general order for "drinks f .r the crowd." The:c is n story told of a waggish old Judge who whs wont, to find some sport in taking advantage of the pro pro-i - i pro-i ensity of these h:nigcrs-on to indulge their bibulous propensities at the expense of oth others. - ers. others. ''Come, let us nil take a drink," he would exclaim to the thir-ty group in waiting for such a summons. The bur is forthwith lined with the motley crowd, each ordering his favorite tipple. At the word of cornnmnd from the Judgu the potations are Miiiulu Miiiulu-ncously - ncously Miiiulu-ncously disposed of. "And now," the pro proposer - poser proposer would s.iy, drawing a long breath of satisfaction, "now let's nil pay our drinks," which each would sorrowfully proceed to do. "When I used to fend idore at Altoona, the old man came around one dny, and says he: 'Boys, the one who sells the most be between - tween between now and Chri-tmus gets a vest pattern as a present. 'Maybe we didn't work for that ven pattern ! I tell you there were some tall ttories told in praise of gDodg about that time; but the tallest talker, and the one who had the most check of any of us, was a certain Jonah Squires, who room-id with me. He could talk a dollar ott of a man's pocket when the man only intended to spend a six-pence; and the woman Lord bless you they just handed over their pocket hooks to him and let him lay out what he liked f.r them. Ore night Jonah woke me up with, 'By Joe, old fellow, if you think that ere's got cotton in it, I'll Wing down tho sheep it was cut from and make ma own his old wool. ' J'wont wear out either, wore a pair of psnts of that stuff for five years, and they areas pood now as when first put them on. Take it at thirty cents and I'll say you don't owe me anything. Eh too dear? Well, call it twenty-eight cents. What d'ye say? All right. It'ia bargain.' I could feel Jonah's band play playing - ing playing about the bedclolh for an instant: then, rip! tear! went something or another, and I hid my bead under the blankets, perfectly convulsed with laughter, and perfectly sura ihit Jonah had tin. the best sheet from top to bottom. When I awoke next morning I found the back of my night shirt split from t he tail to the collar-band-' ' A correi ponder t of tho Cin:nnat Commercial sajB : The oolhul-Cla(Hia i'sterj are wrecked at last. Tbej made a great deal of tipise during thi six or teven jean since they came to tbia city from C'iiicintiati. They hare failed in ererythinf they have undertaken. The? started a stock Iroktr'a cfiice in TKall strict, amid tho blowing of

He then held up the paper to the especta. tors as a natural apology for his seeming discourtesy. "Will you be obliging enough to inform us ffhat your business is with this meeting V The stranger answered this question by handing a letter to the Judge.the superscrip superscription - tion superscription upon which was, ''1'otho Citizens of Austin." The seal was broken audit was read aloud: "Fellow Citizens: Though in error and deceived by the arts of traitors, I will give you three more days to decide whether you will surrender the public archives. At the end of that time you will please lytme know your decision. "Sam Hoüftov." After the letter was read, the deaf man waited a few moments for a reply, then turn turned - ed turned to leave the hall At this momen; Colo nel Morton interpose.! with a lowering brow, tui'l beckoned him to the table. The stranger obeyed. Col. Morton wroie: Toa were brave enough to insult mo by your threatening looks five m 'nut s ago; arn yon brave enough to give me satisfaction?" The sir-anger instantly penned the rep y. "I am at your service." The Oolon . 1 again wrote: "Who will be your second?" This was the answer: 'T am too generous to seek an advantage, and too brave to fear any on the part of others, I therefore never need the aid of u second." Morten wrote: "Name your terms." Thá stranger wrote without a moment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this evening; place, the left bank cf the Colorado, oj.pocite Austin, weapons, rifles; distance, a hundred yards. Do not fa,il to be in time." The last sentence was not calculated to sooth the feelings of the irritated Colonel, and he compressed his lips as he read it. The next moment thj stranger strode across the floor and disappeared through the winnow in the same manner he had entered. "Is it possible that yo i are goiiii to fight that man?" exclaimed Judge Webb. "He is a mute if not a mauinc. Such a meeting I fear will tarnish the lustre (f jour laurels-" '.You are mistake," sail tin Colonel with a smile. "Thiif man is a hero whose fame stands in the records of a dozen of bat tlei and almost as many bloody duels. Besides, he is the fivo.ite emissary and bos;ira fviotid rf Houston. If I have the good fortuno to kill him, I think the President will retract his vow against venturing any more on tho field of honor." "You know him then? Who is he?" asked several. -Deaf Smith." 'Impossible! It cannot be. Smith was slain at San Jacinto." replied Judge Webb. "There njain your Honor is mistaken" said Morton. "The story of Smith's death is a mere fiction, gotten np by Houston for the purpose of saving his friend from tho vengeance of several Texaos, on whose con conduct - duct conduct he had acted the part of a spy. I learn learned - ed learned the artifice a year ago." " Then you are a madman yourself. Col Colonel. - onel. Colonel. Deaf Smith was never known to miss his mark. He 1ms been known to have brought down ravens in tin ir flight, and has picked o!f comanches and Mexicans at a dis distance - tance distance of two hundred yards. "The Thing is settled. I fancy I can do a little of that business myself.'' "Hut for God's suke," persisted the Judge, henrnin excited, "I don't want you to bo murdered " "Who is going to be?" ns'ed tho Colonel, ns he coo'y smoked his cigur aud smiled in his usual wny. "Why. you. if you undrtako lo fight Deaf Smith "This thing is all arranged as I said, i few moments go, i nd I wouldn't h ick out if I was certain to be shot; tor what is death to dishonor?" Such was the absurd sentiment in Texas at the time, and such, we feir, is too pre prevalent - valent prevalent among civilized nations. Toward evening a large crowd ass"mb!ed

An Illinois editor sporta tho name of Doubleblower. New l'ork pays one million of dol lars yearlyfor gas, Why is a mouse like a load of hay ? Because the cat'll eat it. A new and very fashionable shade of color is known as neutre. Berlin'gets twenty-four hundred American newspapers daily. A college of journalirm is to he opened in Paris next January. If your pianoforte should catch fire, the best plan is to play on it. Blue and black are the only colors tdmissable for gentlemen's neck wear this Fall. A baby was recently left on a door doorstep - step doorstep in Puducah, Ky., so drugged that it soon died. People are discussing the prcpie ty of abandoning the fashion of New Year's Day calling. The wealth of Iowa.J equally divid' ed, would give $601 03 to evf ry person in the State. The census of the city of Vienna has been completed, and show a population of 900,000. , An exchange paper states than Ben. Franklin's writing desk was re. 'ently sold or ten cents. Pride and vanity are purveyors if trouble and danger ; proud per ons are never safe norhappy. A'properous merchant has for his notto : '-Early to bed early to rise ; iever get tight, and advertise." One hundrpd and twenty-one pat patents - ents patents have been granted on windmills '.n the United States since 1854. Woman ought to do all she can to make this earth a paradise for men, as it was all her fault he lost the other. ""Keep'cm alive, boy ! kcep'em al ive !" said an old physioian to his young brother practioner. "Dead nen pay no bills,'' p"hecareTéssñesá'"is in new word which the present generation has round it necessary to invent for the benefit of prosperity. Of all sad words of tongue or pen, Th saddest nro these you might have Ben, mikim's desk for pennies ten. A lady informs us that she1 finds more difficulties in husbanding her nine daughters than she does in hus husbanding - banding husbanding her rcsourcH- President Thiers has received a despatch from President Gsant con con-ralulating - ralulating con-ralulating him upor. tho progress of republicanism in France. A joungdady in ahirt fagtory at Lewiston'performeu the feat of Pitching into the shirts 96 kbosoms, in the space of five hours. A peace-maker at Gilman, 111., put an end to a quarrel between two of fiis ncighbors.by drawing a rvolr er and shootinggboth of them. A Detroit roofjh threaten to "put a head" on a clergyman of that town, and was rewarded for kindness by a blackand-bluishness about the eyes. At tho really select partiei and receptions of the coming seaionwiue will be banished from the table and no "cold tea" provided in the gentío man's dressing room. The present absurd fashion of wearing the front hair "banged" or iginated in English nurseries, where the hair of very young children is out in this fashionto keep it out of their eyes. "Home is the place for boy, said Sprinks to his eldest pride and Joy,-- "Yes," said the youngster, dutifully, 1 1 like to stay at home all tho time, but ma send me off to school." A French woman said that she never loved anrthiBg. 'You love vour children Yf suggested a friend.' " IFhen they were little," the said. 'And you love diamonds!" When they ari large." Subscribí for the GaieTIS mí. lend it to your fncnfc.

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. INTARIIBLT IS ADTAXCE. One copy, one year $4 00 One copy, six months, 2 60 One copy, three months, 1 50 No subscription will be received for less lan three months. RATES OE ADVERTISING. First insertion, each square, $2 00 Subsequent insertions, each square, 1 60 Ona square is equal to one inch of space. Yearly advertisements inserted at a lib liberal - eral liberal discount. T n sient advertisements will have to be paid in advance. Advertisements not staling the nnmber cf insertions, will lie continued at our op option - tion option and charged accordingly. All communications devoid of intermito the public, or intended to pre mote private interests, .will be charged as advertise advertisements, - ments, advertisements, and payment required in advance. If personal in character, we reservo the rigut to reject any such article or advertise advertisement. - ment. advertisement. MAIL ARRANGEMENTS. The Post otiice will be open daily, except Sun Sundays, - days, Sundays, from 7;30 a. m., until ü p. m. tiuudays from 7:30 to 8:30 A. M. MAIL CLOSES DAII.T. Eastern at Western at 9 P. M. 2 p. u. Letters for registration will not be receiv received - ed received after 4 v. u. Postmaster. Territorial Directory. V. 8. OEFICERS. Delegate to Congress, J. M. Gallegos- Governor, Marsh Oiddings. Seeretary. W. F. M. Amy Chief -Justice, Joseph G. Palcn. Associate " 2d Dist. II. S. .lohníon. 3d . Warren Bristol. Surveyor General, Ja. K. Proudfif Superii.tendent of Iadian Affairs, N. Pope. U. H. Marshal, Joliu Prat. V S. Assessor, W. L. Warning. U. S. Attorney, T. B. Catron Collector Internal Revenue, G. A. Smith, itegister Lrnd Oflice, A. U. Iloyt. U. S. Depositary, Receiver U. S. Land Office, an 1 Agent for Piying Pensions, K. W. Little. Postmaster at Las Vegas, ü. V. Stcboins. Clerk Ü. S. Court, 1st Dist., W Dreedon. 24 " J. C. Hill. a 44 3d " IraM. Bond. TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. Attorney General, T- F. Conway. Treaauror, A. Ortiz y Salazar, Auditor, i Trinidad Alarid. Adjutant General, IVm. M. (iiddings. Quartermaster General, Edward Miliar, Librarian, J. C. McKenzie. AS MIC I' EL TOCKTT OFFICERS. Probate Judge, Desiderio Romero. Clerk of Probate Court, J wis Marque. Sheriff, Lcoo Pinard' Coroner, Treasurer. Antonio A. Romero. Road Commissioners, Eugenio Romero and Jose HantoS lauibfíl. School Commissioners, Severo Bica, Be Be-nigno - nigno Be-nigno Jarimillo, Lonuo Labadi and Manuel Dare la. MILITARY. DISTRICT STAFF. Col. Gordon Grancr. Corad' e Dint N. M Lieut. W. J. Sarlla, A. A. A. (i.-nerul. Lieut. Cel. rred. Myers, Dep. Q. M GenL, Chief Q nartermaster. CapU Wm.il. Nash, Chief Com'y. Sub. Fr. C- T. Alexander, (lift Med. OQictr, M.i J R. M Potter. Chipf ParmmntPi- - - j -- -. Lt. P. Willard, Comdg. Gourds. Kscort. 4c. li, C. C Morrison, Act. Engineer Officer, O EX ERAL STATE. Sj CapL A. J. McGonnijle, Depot Q. II, r ort Lmon, Mj 'A. B. Carey. Paymaster. Kaj. E Bridgraan, fay master:

A German agricultural paper prints a plea for long furrows. The turning of the plow and the commen commencing - cing commencing of a new furrow require more exertion in the plowcan and tho team than continued work on a straight line; and how great may really be the loss to time from frequent inter interruptions - ruptions interruptions in short turns may be shown by the following calculations: In a field 225 feet long, five and a half hours out of ten are used in re" directing the j)!ow; with a length of 575 feet, four hours are sufficient for the purpose; and when the plow can proceed without interruption for 8v0 feet, only one and a half hour of the daily working time is consumed. A little country boy ran away front school on Wednesday to go nutting. During the expedition lie feil twice out of one tree, to the im immediate - mediate immediate danger of breaking his neck, was licked by one of the other boys whese breath was materially lessened by stumbling against his btotnach, ran a eliver into hid knee, and was bitten on the neck by a new kind of bug' JFlien ho got home his father anointed hiui with the boss end of a billiard cue, and the next day at school the teacher escorted him twice around tho room by his sorest car. He says that nut3 are bo wormy that it dont pay to go after them. If you lose a watch, dog, or child, or if you desire people not to trust jour wife, you ru?h to your local paper, knowing that everyone will read the advertisement. Uut you will plod along in business year uf ter year, without calculating how much you are losing by not advertís-. inz it. A school girl during lr examina-, tíon repeatedly called the patriarchs patrdgrs. hereupon one of the auditors remarked : She u making game of the patriarch. This Sid Sidney - ney Sidney Smith said, Was the most perfect pun he knew. SIGSS AXD TOKENS. The Gridiron To take down the gridiron from the nail where it is hanging with the left hand, is i sign that there will be a broil in the kit cheu. The Mirror If a mirror is tro' ken it ia a sign that a good look ing glass will be missed in that house. A Funeral To meet a fuucral procession is a sign of death. Pw;kUbook To loso a pocket pocket-Looi - Looi pocket-Looi containing a quantity ailfer ii nnlucky.

at the place appointed for the meeting nnd so reckless Were tho people regarding the issue at stake a human l;f , pm!i ips twj that there were all manner of jokes, and jiot a few wagers laid upon thi result. At length, as the sun saik below the hori zon, the two mortal antagonists appeared on the open sp.c jand s'r "I ba.-k to !:ic!:. At the wavim of the hindkerchi'-f they be gan pacing oft' from each other, both step- iiiig exactly logeincr. as u inej were Keep ing time to the tap of a drum. They com completed - pleted completed the distance at the same instant, 4hen they wheeled so as to face each other and to fire as soon as possible. As they were separated by a considerable distance, th.y raised their rifles and paused a moment to ta e aim. The pauce was long enough for the crowd to pbin.e from one to the other, and not the expression o' their facos. Colone: Morton was calm and smil smiling; - ing; smiling; but the smile wss a murderous one far more terrible than the severest scowl conld be. Deaf Smith, howe. r, was as rigid and pvsioulcss as evei. Pis profile might have been supposed to have bee cut in stone, so exprussiouless was it. The form er was aUire.1 in the finest broadcloth, and tho other was attired in a sinnke-tinted leather. Tne next instant both rifles eiplododsim ultaueously, Colonel Morton gave a smith' ered shriek, sprang upwai d, and fell to the ground dead. Deaf Smith stood unmoved aud begun reloading his rifle, which b .-ing done be turned away and disappeared in the adjoining forest. Tbw: days alter, Gen. Houston, acconv panied by deaf i'mith. and ten other men uiade.their appearance in Austin and with out further opposition removed the bute piper. Deaf Smith, as I remaiked before, was one of the mot extraordinary men eer known in the West He appeared in Tex Texas - as Texas at an early period and resided there un until - til until his death, whieU uccurr.d over down rears K. "e had many ardent friends but nothing definite was ever !e?.med regird regird-ing - ing regird-ing his early life. Whether he ever ac ac-, - , ac-, claimed Houston with it was never known. for the old hero never enlightened any one

as far as I can learn upon the, matter. When deaf Smith was questioned upnn the matter, he laid his finger upon his lips, aud if pressed, his black eyes gave such a rebuke that no one dare question him further. Although deprived of the faculty of hearing, nature, as is often the case, seemed to compensate him by giving him an eye as keen nnd far-reaching as an eagle's and a smell as perfect as a raven's. He could discern Comanches so far off on the prairie that f'ey were invisib'e to the eve of the most experienced rangers and his friends declare he could scent a Mexican when miles away. Gifted iu, this extraordinary manner, it will be seen that he possessed just the quali' ties to make him a successful spy; and his services to Houston during the Vxas war for independence were invaluable. He generally went alone nnd vnrv rarely failed to obtain the information desired. He had many erratic habits- No persua persuasion - sion persuasion c.'uld induce him to sleep under the roof of a house, Wi'h his blanket wrapped about li i in he loved to lio out in tHe open air, under the fctar-gemmed firmament. When not engaged as a spy, he lived by hunting' and was often aosent for months on his excursions. He was a genuine son of na nature, - ture, nature, at home only when upon the prairies or in the woods, or when engaged in the tliriiliivg excitement of the hunt, or the more fiery thrill'of the clash of arms aud tho roar of battle. Shut i. lit by his infirmity' from the close companionship of friend, he made the in inanimate - animate inanimate things of earth his friends. Wher Wherever - ever Wherever there was water or land, barren rocks or tangled brakes of wild cane, there was Deaf Smith's home, nnd there he was hap happy - py happy ; but in the Btreets of great cities, iu all the great thoroughfares of men, wherever there was flattery or fawning, base cunning or craven fear, there was Deaf Sru.th an alien aud exile. People.