The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-10

I affair. tt was the sensation OF the day.
The papers were full of It. Although
freebooting exploit, there was Rooin-
Hood dash about it that pleased the pubic
taste, and when Crawford was forced out OF
the Mexican service it made him quite
lion on the frontier. 1t is said that he was
officer OF the day on the occasion when
MaXimiian was shot. 1t is certain that ne
was possessed o! many trophies OF the dead
Emperor when he came East which ne uld
in 1867, Just after the collapse OF the en-
pire. He had not wasted his substance. On
the contrary. he had added 10 it. The sack
OF Bagdad, it was believed at the time, had
Welded handsomely, and it was not the only
expedition which he had made. When he
made his appearance in Washington he was
full-handcd.
BECOMES A KING IN WALL STREET.
His old friend Andrew johnson was
President, and would doubtless have helped
him il he had required it. But be did not.
He had tried his hand as robber, raider,
and soldier, and had mind for speculation
on a larger scale. Hc would become king
OF finance. He would emulate the rising
glory Of Fisk. He would enter Wall street.
| One lucky operation after another multi
piled his wealth until he found himself mas
| ter OF lordly million. He fell in love again,
married beautiful lady living on the Hud-
son, bought great estate near Philadelphia,
and began career OF luxury and pleasure.
Our correspondent is quite right IN ms
reference. Crawford did certainly live like
an Oriental. But he was not satisfied. All
Of sudden, about three years later. ne
grew moody, restless, ana on one Inc
morning he turned up missing; Gonc-no
one knew how; no one knew where. but,
assuredIy. he went, and from that day to
this has not been heard OF by any of his old
companions in any OF his old haunts.
THE MYSTERY CLEARED. ...
Our correspondent clears up the mystery.
He says positively that he kno1cS that Clay
Crawford went to Egypt, that he enlisted
in the service of the Khedivc, that ne sue
cecded so we'll that he was promoted and
transferred to the service OF, the Sublime
Porte, and that he is no other than the hero
OF Plevna. 1t is very like. Nothing could
be more characteristic. Crawford never
lacked audacity or courage. wild imagi-
nation. an adventurous spirit, and child
like faith in his destiny. 4 tall, ra-
ther handsome man, with light-brown
hair, and eyes OF peculiar gray,
he would arrest attention anywhere. Clad
in the brilliant uniform OF Il field marshal
OF the Turkish army, with icwelled colt
upon his brow and flashing scimitar by
his side. mounted upon an Arabian charger,
he would he very distinguished in appear
ancc. And thus it is that Osman Pasha is
not Bazane, but reckless and remarkable
adycnturer, r. Clay Crawford by name,
from Hawkins county, Tenn. Stranger
things have happened, but this is strange
enough.
TO the foregoing long story. the Knox
vile Iitunc adds:
We met Crawford iii Knoxville in Janu-
arv. 1861 He was then commissioned rs
colonel OF artillery and had opened re-
cruitinr office at the corner OF Gay and
Main streets. knowing something OF his
previous history, he Impressed us as being
the most insinuating and accomplished raS-
cal we had ever encountered, and when,
Il short time aitcrward. we heard that
he had broken into the Branch Bank
of Tennessee, at RogcrSvillc, and taken
charge OF Il vast amount OF blank notes,
which he filed up with forged sigma
lures and put in circulation, we were not
disposed to question the accuracy OF the
remark OF Il wcl-known Federal General,
then in our city, that he ''would steal the
Southern Confederacyi ii he could only carry
it away" We could supplement the Cou-
iier-J OurTatS narrative with numerous eX-
PLOTS reported OF Crawford, all showing
the same genius for laWleSS and startling adj
venture, but it is not necessary.
That r. Clay Crawford possesses the
ability to play the role OF Osman PaSha no
one who knows him will question for mo-
ment. His acquaintance generally had
very little confidence in his physical cour-
age, but his superiority OF intellect was
universally recognized. His personal adj
dress was fine and his impudence unlimited.
His sclf-confidence was abundant. He felt
himself equal to any responsibility, and we
doubt not he would to-day assume COM
mand Of the entire Turkish army with
as little diftidence as he felt when he &C
ccptcd colonefs commission from Andrew
johnson; and he would not hesitate to be-
tray the whole force to the Car If thereby
he could install himself as chief ruler OF the
Turks. He is undoubtedly a genius-avery
bad one-ft for "treason, stratagems, and
spoils." There is no enterprise too daring
for his adventurous spirit.
known facts all favor the story that OS-
man Pasha, the hero of Pleyna, is none
other than Il. Clay Crawford, Of East Ten
ncSSec.