The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-10-11

Some days ago We printed . bris

OOuV ~syD ~ w H
co mmupicaticn from . western ex-
change calling attention 10 the brill
liant schievemeuts Of Osman Pasha
Of the Turkish army, and advancing
the theory that the Oriental leader
is none other than Colonel r. Clay
Crawford, formerly Of East Tonnes.
see, and afterwards resident Of this
State. This theory has been some.|
what damaged BY the testimony Of s|
few who claim to have personally
known Osman Pssha, but the Mem.
phis (Tenn) Avslsaohe now comes
to the front with o sketch Of Craw.
fords career, which certainly leads
very naturally to the first conclusion
that Asman and Crawford aro one.
Crawford's father Was o school mas
ter In Rogersville, Tenn, whore his
boyho Cd was passed, and in 1853 the
youth was given an appointment to
West Point by Andrew johnson, thon
Q member Of Congress, from the 6rst
district Of Tennessee. Young CrAw.
ford had had considerable education
for tho region and the period, and
was able to take good position and
70 make rapid progress At the militia
Try academy. But what no gained 10
learning no Lost 10 couduot. He
was . restless, excitable, orea-
ture, porpetuslly involving himself
aud others In trouble, aud never osn-
tent with established law. Tho re-
suit was inevitable, though longer de-
Iaysd than could have been expected.
He was expelled. sod left West Point
with character for Intelligence and
ambition, but also for recklessuess,
which attended him In after life.
Having some little money ho went 70
Now York, whore no lod lie Of al
tornate luxury and privatiou, finally
bocomlng enamorsd of woman Of
no character snd starting With her
for Tennessee. At Wyethsville, Va,
they pot up at Q hotel. where his first
really criminal step was taken. There
happened to bc lodged there At the
samo time o rich old cattle dealer,
just returned from Alabama. He
was loaded down with money. The
temptation was too great for poor
Crawford. He noted oil the points
Of the case, waited for his intended
victim to retire, and, when all was
still and dark, stolo softly to the
loom Of the cattle dealer. The old
man was sound asleep, and tho young
mara uder got away With tho swag,
which he had carefully deposited uu.
der tho owners pillow. About mid.
night the sleeper awoke, and very
, naturally felt to 6nd whether his
treasure was safe. Il was gone. He
happened to be cool, keen, resoluts
, man. Ho had noticed tho wild
young fellow with o pretty young
woman, bad observed the attention
they had paid him, and imme diatcly
bis suspicion fell upon them. lie got
quietly out Of bed, and without dis
turbiug any one, sought the room OF
the landlord, to whom he communion
, ted the circumstances Of the robbery
and his belief thereon. Tho landlord
shared his opinion. They procured
| O light and . weapon. Then they
, went together to the apartment Of the
adventerous stranger. lnstead oi
. knocking, as they might have done,
considering that there was lady o.
we'll ss . gentleman within, they sud.
denly turned the bolt, and. the door
being unlocked, they walked 10 A
sight indeed met their astonished
gaze. There, seated. upon tho floor,
J. was our ex-cadet and his mistress, the
: candle between them, busiIy Engaged
10 counting the cattle dealers mons
ley. The arrest Was made ct once.
The trial and conviction speedily
: followed, and. 10 . few weeks, Craw-
, ford found himself 10 the State Pri-
D son Of Virgioia, st Richmond.
How long be remained 10 durenoe
vile il not positively known, but
! samstime 10 1869 hs Was again bs.
irieuded BY Andrew johnson, who
finally got him . commission in ths
D Army OF the Cumberland. Here be
: BY various means, acquired money
end lost reputs, until he found Il 60
for to resign and take service 10 Mex.
loo with Juarex, under whom he
rose to the rank Of general Of divis-
: ion. He found it an easy matter In
7 this position 10 add TO his store,
. and in 1867 he rsturhed 10 New
! York, where be married q beautiful
! lady living on the Hudson, then
came TO Philadelphia and purchased
|. the Lsuning property, ON the Della
ware river, opposite Beverly, N. J..
; where for three years he lived more
) like Sultan than an American citi,
/ zen, with the exception that he be-
, came one Of the leading Democrats
Iof Bucks county. Then ho sudden.
lly disappeared, and whom next heard
, OF was in the service Of the Khed'
hive Of Egypt, being afterwards
promoted end transferred to The
. service OF the Sublime Porte. He
il now the hero OF Plevna Craw-
= ford never lacked audacity or oolir,
!. |age. He bad Q wild imagination,
!, Ian adventurous spirit and . child.
like faith in his destiny. A tall
rather handsome man, with Light
a brown hair, and eyes Of . peculiar
> gray. he would arrest attention any