Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-14


bottle and gives him drink. He'll b
mighty apt, before he drinks, to thro,
away his tobacco. So, when he's done
L pulls my twist out Of t'other poke
and gives him a chaw. Inever likes t
leave a man worse off than when
found him. If had given him
drink and he had lost his tobacco, b
would not have made much" So WEI
did his honest bluntness and horse sens
on all subjects take with the peopl
that, In 1897, he was sent to Congress
On his way to Washington, an Incl
dent occurred that has been often told
but viii bear repetition in every gener
alton:
when l arrived In Raleigh, tn
weather was cold and rainy. Upon 20
ing to the tavern, the CT ovid did no
give way that might come to the fire
l was roofing my way, not in a GOOD
humor, when some fellow staggered NJ
to me, and cried out: 'Hurrah fol
Adams John Quincy.
Said l, Stranger you had better hur
rah for hell and praise your Owl
country
"'And who are you? said he. re
piled:
81 am that same David Crockett
fresh from the backwoods, half horse,
half alligator, little touched with the
swapping turtle. I can wade the Mis-
slssippi, leap the Ohio, ride upon a
streak of lighting, and slip without a
scratch down a honey locust. 1 can
whip my weight in wildcats, and If
any gentleman pleases, for ten dollar
bill, he can throw in panther. can
hug bear too close for comfort, and
eat any man opposed TO Gen. Jackson"
Every soul there had heard of Davy
Crockett, and after this outburst, he
had his choice of corners at the fire.
place. But he subsequently became
opposed himself to Jackson, and after
three terms IN Congress was defeated
by the overpOwering popularity of the
hero of the Hermitage, He seems to
have taken his ill-fortune rather
hard. Abandoning State and country,
he joined in the Texan war Of indepen-
dence, taking an active part in the
field. OF his many perilous adventures
and escapes in that contest we have
not left space to speak. The siege and
fall of Alamo have been written on
American hearts in letters of fire.
Crockett's journal has the following
under date of Feb %, 1886:
Il had little sport this morning be-
fore breakfast. The enemy had plant
ed piece of ordnance within gun shot
during the night and commenced a
brisk cannonade point blank against the.
spot where / was snoring. l turned
out pretty smart and mounted the
rampant. The gun was charged again,
and fellow stepped forth 10 touch her
of, but let hum have it and he keeled
over. a second stepped up. snatching
the match from the hand Of the dying
man, but the juggler handed me his
rife, and the next instant the Mexican
was stretched on the earth. A third
came up to the cannon. Ny compan-
on handed me another gun, and fixed
MIN off in like manner 4 fourth, then
/ fifth, seized the match, who both net
he same fate. Then the whole party
gave it up as bad job, leaving the can
ION ready charged. l came down. took
ny bitters and went to breakfast"
On that final, fateful morning, March
}, 1886, Santa Anna stormed the Alamo
n force. Six only of the garrison re-
NAMED alive when they surrendered.
rocket stood alone in an angle of the
ort; ike a lion at bay. His eyes
ashed fire, though his face was
overed with blood from a deep
ash across his forehead. Twenty
fexicans, deal and dying, lay at his
eet. His rife was a bundle of shat !
cred splinters. Castrillon, to whom |
hey had surrendered wished to spare
heir lives, and approaching Santa
Anna said: 'Sir, here are six prisoners
have taken alive. How shall 1 dispose
them?" The Mexican general an
wered querulously: Have 1 not told
on how to dispose of them?" Imme-
lately the butchers began their work.
rocket, entirely unarmed, sprang
Ike a tiger at the throat of Santa An
a. A dozen intervening swords were
leathed in his heart, and the slaugh-
+ was complete.