The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-08-08

themselves into Congress, but David
Crockett shot himself thiihcr. 1t was
his wonderful skill rs marksman. and
his daring as bear r-hunter, which made
him so popular that when he chose to run
for Congress he usually distanced oil
competitors. HO could shoot o hum.
ming bird on the wing with single ball.
Seated upon the margin Of u river. he
would aim at a fish, and ~ soon as tho
crack Of his rife vas heard. one OF the
inmates Of the stream would be seen
struggling on the surface He used to
speak Of his battered old rifle in words
like these
She's a mighty rough old piece, but
love her, for she aud have seen hard
times She mighty seldom tells me lie.
Ii hold her right, she always sends the
bah where tell her"
Shooting was not his only qualification.
lie had other gifts and graces calculated
To win the favor of frontier population,
alihough il was his matchless skill with
the rifle that first drew attention 10 him.
lie was an abundant relator Of comic an
ecdotes. and an utterer Of those eccentric
remarks which arc passed from mouth to
mouth and form large part Of the com.
mon stock Of Wit 10 country place. For
~ or fifty years ago, ALMOST every news.
paper that appeared had story in il,
With the pane Of David Crockett ip il.
lie was born in East Tennessee in
1856, the youngest bat one Of six sons
Of John Crockett, who by turns was far
mer, miller and tavern keeper This
John Crockett was the son of an emigTant
from the north Of Ireland. who after
dghtipg with notsd courage tkroush the
Revolutionary war, settled 10 East Ten
nessee. There he and his wife were
murdered by the Geek Indians; one of
THAR soma vas woun.ed. and another was
carried into captivity and remained with the
Indians for seventeen years John Crockett
escaped. grew up, and IN due time. be-
came the father of the famous David
When the boy was seven years old his
faiher met with o misfortune which re
duced him to utter poverty 4 freshet
swept away a new mill 10 which be had
invested the savings of a lifetime. II
was carried of bodily. leaving not q
wreck behind. The unfortunate father
then removed 10 another country and
l"pcned small tavern not far from the
present city OF Knoxville.
|; happen ID. one evening. when David
vas tW0lye years Of age. that an old
DntohnaR, dFoyer. put up at his faith
err tavern. having with him drove of
cattle. Il this Dutchmau John Crockett
hired his son. as drover's boy. with the
understanding that he was TO help drive
the cattle as far ss Richmond and then
return. Away he went. and was soon in
high favOa with the Dutehman. from
whom he learned those Dutch anecdotes
and the Dutch brogne which he after
ward cmyl0yed with so much effect He
liked his master very we'll. but after trav.
cling some weeks with the cattle, he be.
came home sick ran away. joined n wag
oner bound for East Tennessee, and so
reached home again.
The next Winter his father sent him
10 school for the FIRST time in his life but
before he had been at school week, he
had = fight with one of the scholars. in
which he gained victory, and beat his
antagonist 50 severely that he dare not
show himself in school again. So he
played truant for several days; but dis.
covering that his father had found him
out, he thought it prudent 10 beat a re.
treat, a0d h red to another dFOver who
was going TO Virginia, Many were his
adventures. His employer, after i'll.
treating him in various ways, turned him
adrift hundred miles from home with on.
ly "a. There he joined a WAGNER once
more, aud sDon found himself at Balti.
more, wheTe. for the first time in his life
he saw q ship.
AS he stood on the dock gazing at the
ship with open eyes aud mouth, bewil.
dered at the sight, one of the sailors nc
costed him and asked him If he would
not like to go to Liverpool. Forgetting
his engagement with the WAGNER, he joy.
fully consented, aud rushed off to the
wagon to get his clothes. although ten
minutes before he did not know there was
snch thing as ship in the world. The
wagner positively refused to let him go
Watching his chance, however, he bund.
led up his clothes and started for the
wharf but it SO happened that in turn,
ing the corner of crowded street, he
B came full upon his master. who collared
him and brought him back.
j Leaving his Wagoner soon after, he
started psnniIess to work bis way home
|. First he worked awhile as laborer, and
with the money thus earned, he Travelled
u few miles toward Tennessee. When
his money was gone, he would stop and
work again for the first farmer who want
. ed him. Once he found himself an ap
prentice to halter for four year, and
worked for him few months until the
. halter failed and he was homeless once
more. AT length after two years absence
one winter evening he entered his faith
er's tavern with his bundle, aud askec
4 permission to rest. No one knew him
His father, somewhat iphFm old man
!, was waiting upon his guests, his mother
was cooking supper, and bis sister war
Also WORKING aboqt the hoRse. de re
7 Malned silent tor an h0Hr, when supper
!, being rpady he was asked to eome to tht
j, table, where the light falling HpoR hi
face his sister recognized him, The tru
ant had joyful gelpolne and he kept ths
II family late relating bis adventures.
! He now ser to work in earnest 10 as
+ sist his old father, to whoa he ha6
not given RDph help or oomfoFt hitherto
u BY six months haVd york ne paid ono o
| his fathers debts which had caused hi
| father much anxiety. Then he worked
i six months more to cancel note of $40