The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-17
Vl..................NO. 80.
DAVY CROCKETT

we Go not recollect Of having ever seen
III pr'nt the following characteristic anec-
dote of that renowned "Amercan back
woodsman" (,s he is deuominated in the
New Cyclopedia') pavy Crockett. tits
literally true, nevertheless, The incident
Was witnessed by the writer.
"Cr"ckett was on an election TOUR
IL was about that time in the summer when
the FARMERS l';'L laid by their crops. Due
""''ce had been given that Crockett was
to speak At Lawrencelurgh, n small village
III Lawrence County, Tennessee. At tho
time appointed there was Goodly num-
! Ger Of c"uniry people present. Our hero
VIA" on hand early, and according to his
custom, he, for IN hour or so before ,ak;,n
the s:a'rd amused the boys by .teIipg
yarns, etc. In the crowd of men who
we're thus enjoying Davy's eccentrici,ics
'''Fe was q goodnature'!, though rather
ve'da"t' country chap. about twenty one.
lie was clad i'll the plancst 'homespun'-
coFp'raS pants AMI coarse cotton Shirt
IN striking contrast with this unpretendinq
costume he wore bran-new fur hat and
the peculiar manner in which he bore him.
self under this covering showed that he was
rot only very proud of it, bat that it was
the First article Of the Kind that he was ever
n,stcr OF.
'Cr"cSett, at the conclusion of hearty
laueh over one Of his stories, took occasion
TO compliment the new fir hat of our
friend.
And now, Jim,' said Davy Che had heard
the chap addressed by that familiar na,ne.l
"what would you think if I were to saw
that could take that hat cut il into two
pieces, anu then put it together SO that il
would be AS perfect as ever 2
'oh! you couldn't do any thing of the
kind replied the countryman.
I'll bet you a quart Of whiskey of st.
says Crockett.
Done says the proprietor Of the fur
l1ereupon Davy took the lat, and with
his pocket knife cut directly through the
br'm and crown. dividing it ia twain.-
Then taking half of the hat in each hand
he exposed the divided chapeau to the
spectators, in order that there should be O
mistake about the matter. You see. gen.
:lemen, said lie, that there is no cheating.
You see that the hat is cut clear open.'
Yes they all resp onded.
The crowd looked on with intense anx.
'e'y to SEQ how this thing was 10 end
most Of them, however, knowing, from
C'ocIett.s character, that lie would come
out victorious and give them good laugh.
Our green country friend, meanwhile, was
already laughing at the prospect Of win
ming hia wager,
Crockett then commenced blowing his
breath npon those parts of the divided hat
which he proposed to reunite, and at the
same time uttering some mysterious words,
and attempting some peculiar manipula-
tons, which, lie contcnded, were to accom-
plish the magical work. All at once he
ceased his efforts, and looking round upon
'he crowd, said, in very serious tone ,
Gentlemen, upon my word have forgot
ten how. Jim has won the whiskey.'
Evory body instantly saw the point of
the joke, and the roar of laughter that fol-
lowed can be m'rs easily imagined than
d 'scribed. AS for poor Jim he stood per-
fec'ly amazed at his stupidity in not fore.
seeing that quart Of old rye would be
but poor compensation for his new fur
hat'-Harpers Magn=ine.