Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-09-29
Portraits Of Dayy Crockett.

fishes the following letter from Bob ii
Crockett, Crockett's Bluff, Ark, il
which he saws:
I'm your issue of the goth inst. no
tice clipping from the Nashville amer
lean of the 18th inst, followed by som,
remarks by yourself as 10 a portrait o
Col. David Crockett In speaking o
the portrait on exhibition in the State
house in Texas. you say: 1T belongs
we understand, to a member of thu
Crockett family, who has offered it fol
sale to the State of Texas etc. This i,
a mistake. The painting to which you
ailude was never the property of any
member Of the Crockett family. In fact,
from its size, eight feet by ten, and the
character of the painting. it would be
out of place in 4 private parlor or draw
ing-room, and was originally painted for
some public gallery. The first time
ever saw this picture was in Cooks gal
lery of paintings in New Orleans, about
80 years ago. My father, John w.
Crockett, Col. Dayid's eldest son, car
ried me, then youth, 10 the gallery to
show me the picture. On entering the
room, and without taking a catalogue,
he led me directly in front OF it. Neither
of us spoke, but stood looking at the
painting-I for the first time-my father
had seen il before in Washington.
While thus occupied, an old gentle
man and his two daughters,
catalogue in hand, approached,
and the gentleman, referring to the
number, read, Full-length portrait of
Col. David Crockett, OF Tennessee
Ny father and myself stepped back TO
give them full view. The old gentle
man, after many complimentary re-
marks as to Col. Crockett's character,
turned IL my father, and, perceiving
that We had no catalogue, said: Sir,
that, pointing 10 the picture, : is a por-
trait OF Col. Davy Crockett He was
my father, SIR was the quiet reply.
Mr.. Cook, the artist, came up at the
moment, and, showing both, introduced
them, and ii was the beginning of a
lifelong friendship between the parties
"Your description accords with my
recollection OF tire painting. The old
man rests upon 4 right foot, the left
thrown slightly fol ard. The rifle lies
in the hollow of IL, left arm, and the
bright holds the COO. kin cap above the
light shoulder and hind the ear as if
catch the sound q" the hounds in the
ase. AT his feet crouch three bear
lgs-half hound, half cur-full size.
the distance is seen the Mississippi
yer. Altogether i: is a magnificent
racter painting, and think if Frank
70 could see it he could get an idea
Davy Crockett's original costume,
that mean to cri,icise Mr.. Mayo's
cup, for have never had the pleas
IF seeing him in his play of .Davy
ekett.'
And now, friends of my better
s. l have in any possession half
9Th, life-size portrait of my grand
Der (the relationship is purely acct
al on my part). which the Histori-
eocieiy of Tennessee can have for
ying purposes II they wish. Ii was
hted in 1884 sri is said by the few
h living wh' anew him to be an ex-
lent likeur.S IL is certainly strik-
& picture. Ind was drawn by cele-
Iratcd artist 81 that day, whose name
n have unfortunately forgotten. Being
painted while in Congress. the old gen
tieman had his store clothes on, and,
of course, the picture has nothing of the
hunter about it.
"Pardon me for stringing this out SO
Internationally. only intended to say
that no Crockett of old Davy's stock |
could. would or should sell portrait of
him to the State of Texas, or any 9TH
er man. Respectfully,