The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-09-12
PARTICULARS OF HIS STRANGE
CAREER.
Aayentur es i'm Kent CONTEMPLATION
Of Republican Paper and Pro-
prietOr Of u Faro Bank.
AnAN OF GREAT NERVE AND OAR
ING.
baltimore Gazette.

eO.
that it was Marshal Bszaine,
OF France, who had redeemed nj f!evna
the lsurels lost ut Metz. That untortu-
nate soldier WAS found quietly living
midst the orange groves OF Spain with
his devoted wife and family. The more
probable report that followed, indicating
that Osman Pasha Is an American by the
name OF K. Clsy Crawford, seems well
sustained by cOrroboratlve testimony.
According to kilograms recently pub
Gshed IN the Gazette, l. b. Wlckllfie, OF
ut. Washington, Ky, and General
Joseph B. Reynolds, OF Chicago, have
both had letters from the American ad-
venturer in Turkey under the title OF
Osmsn Pashs. Any way, the inquiry OF
u Gazette reporter into the history OF
Crawford, who for a time resided In
Chestertown and edited q republican
newspaper, unfoldS tale OF adventure
which would only be appropriately
capped by ms appearance upon the VIC
tOriOus battlefield OF Plevns.
The information received Ms to the an
tecedents of Crawford show that his
father was school teacher IN Rogers
Vile, Tenn, where the future pasha was
barn. About the year 1858, when on
the threshold OF manhood, ne was APP
pointed cadet at West Point by Andrew
johnson, then member Of Congress from
Tennessee. At the institute he was n
Quick and apt scholar, ard was among
the highest o. his class. There, on the eye
OF graduating, he WAS expelled for steal
nd no brp L.
ing out of the war found him III Illinois.
lie enlisted as private IN one OF the
Illinois regiments; then enlisted battery
OF artillery in East Tennessee, and was
promoted step by step for bravery In a.
ton until ne attained the rank OF colonel.
In this capacity he led raid through
his native town of Rogersville. At the
close of the war he entered the liberal
service in Mexico, but for some reason he
was compelled to leave that service after
he had gained the rank OF major general.
He came back to this country, bringing
with him large quantity OF Mexican
b)ads and more available funds. In the
Year 1868 he appeared at Philadelphia
with plenty of money, and purchased the
lowering property, which lies between
the Delaware river and Neshsming
creek, in Bausslem township, Bucks
county. fourteen miles above Philadel-
phia. The beautiful mansion on the
place is directly opposite Beverly, New
jersey. He moved here with his wife,
beautiful and excellent LADY, his father-in-
law, in charge. These two properties
cost him about $4,000 He entered
politics and soon became very influential
in Bucks county. He WAS then demo-
crat, wore big ssmbrero, and claimed
20 be every inch y sOutherner. He talked
OF getting up an expedition for Cuba, but
his means began TO disappear, and he
sold his property, and in ms steam yacht
he started out anew 10 fresh fields OF adj
venture.
In the latter part OF 1869 he arrived at
Chestertown, Kent county in his yacht,
and decided at once TO locate there. de
bought the old Chambers mansloa III
that town for $4,000, and put $4,000 worth
O improvements upon 1t. He enter
tanned in pIinceiy style, and society soon
began TO cultivate him and his wife. The
latter gained the esteem of everyone, and
whenever any question as to Crawtord's
antecedents sprang up in the presence oil
her gentle and lady-llke department all
suspicious were quoted. She evidently
had both faith and confidence in her.
husband, and seemed devotedly attached
to him. HIS house was the scene ol
continued festivities, while his yacht WAS
every day upon the Chesapeake with
pleasant excursion parties, composed OF
the best people oil historic Kent EmbsI-
rGsments came upon him. Hia place
was mOrtgsged, his horses sold and his
yacht no more Piled the waters otthe bay.
He then started the photograph business
and the manufacture OF INK and pertum-
erv. lie also started faro bank, which,
by the way, many of the sons OF Kent
wei! remember. He then went into pol
tiles 10 retrieve his broken fortunes. he
was then an advanced republican, and
began ut once to maneuver 20 rs TO obtain
influence over the colored people just
enfranchiscd. lie managed 80 well rs TO
control the party not only in Kent but
throu5 hout the peninsula. He went from
place 70 place speaking to the colored
people, and excited the eumity Of
violent harangues. He started
paper called the FreemGH'S Journal,
and through its columns abused
and -landered the leading men OF the
county TO such an extent that his personal
safety was endangered. He went about
well armed aud seemed TO care nothing
for the threats made against him. During
the TOrbcrt CompsiCn his house WAS the
headquarters OF the Republican party
and he had for his guests the most promi-
nent men OF that party from Baltimore
aud other portions OF the state. NOtwith
sanding all hi. efforts old Kent went
Democratic. He still kept up MS abuse
OF the people, until one day visitor TO
Caestertown, seeing Crawford, said, 81
know that man. He WAS once IN the
penitentisry ut Richmond under my
charge The general, rs he styled
himself, kept up bold front
until the proofs were received
that he had b9en convicted in federal
court IN Virginia for robbing the mails
and sent to the peniten.iary, from which
place in few weeks he escaped Gov
ernor Walker was appealed to to take steps
to have MIN retnrnedto prs n, but during
the proceedings compromise was effected
the general promising to leave the state,
which he shortly atterward did. HIS,
wife returned TO her father and Crawford
sought service in the army of the Khe-
dive of Egypt, and it is thought pwas
transferred to the Turkish army.
He is now about lorty-seven years of
aoe near SIX feet m height WEIGHS ahOut
two hundred pounds and is symmetrically
built. He has black hair and beard,
bright eye and al intelligent countenance
His courage is uLquestlonable, aud he
bears upon his body number of sears
received in the front OF battle and in
private trays. His conversational powers
are excellent, and his manners those of
heightened and educated genetlmsn. He
is thoroughly unscrupulo1s, and while in
Kent he would stop at nothing to accom-
plsb purpose. He impressed all who
M, him oc @ mon of remarkable ability |