The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-10-12

career Of uninterrupted successes, rose
to be President of the United States ?
"A man ofa morbid, imaginative nature,
who perfectly understood and enjoyed
each of the stages in his journey through
life, Clay Crawford was not at all like
him. FTe is, or was, q type Of the
Grant species. If he be, indeed, the
victor OF Pievna, it will not, after all
prove a greater marvel than Grants
rise from the gutter to splendors very
much more substantial, if not more
Oriental, than were those which can
attend or await Osrnan Pisila. 'ie
East Tennessee is a weird region, and
no part of it is wilder than Haw K ins
county. This Clay Crawford business
is not its only contribution to American
legend. 1t is nearly a hundred years
now since it sent forth an adventurer
who achieved Il great: career, passed
through world of stirring events, and
lived Il long life. rI,.l. iI4s,s-.
u About the year 1901, Elias +. Bean, d
lad of. seventeen, started with II party
Of raftsmen bound, from the Holston to
the Mississippi. They foated down
from Beams station, trading by the
way, lost their raft upon the Muscle
shoals, and having purchased Il drove
of horses, continued their journey over
land toward Natchez. Here young
Bean met the famous frOnticrsman,
Capt. Nolan, who was about starting an
expedition into Arkansas. He Joined
this party, stealing away from his
brothers-whom he left to return home
without him--Over night. After many
ups and downs the detachment of No
ian's command, containing our hero,
was captured by the Indians some
where close upon the Texan border.
nd
the Indians only to be rccaptured by
the Spaniarels, who took them prison.
ers to the old town of San Antonio.
Here, after a while, they were released
! on parole, and having a turn tor taking
things easy and a genius for work, the
younger of the two Americans set him
self to work to learn the trade of !. hat
ter. He succeeded so well that in three
years he became the fashion, began to
make money, fell in love with Il native
beauty, and making strides toward his
fortune, when in an unguartled mo-
ment an opportunity to escape pre-
senting itself, he yielded to a sudden ii.
Of inconsistencies, abandoned his busi-
ness, deserted his sweetheart, and fled.
He was pursued, overtaken, brought
back, and as a penalty sent across the
Rio Grande and over the MeXique
mountains to the Pacific seas. In other
words, they took him to Acapulco,
where he was thrown into prison. He
occupied 4 dungeon in tho old fortress
for six years, his only cornrade a scor-
piOn, which he tanned and took into
his affections. - '.'.
In1S12 the first Mexican insurrection
against the Spanish power broke out.
1t was led by Padre Morelos, a dissolute
priest, but a patriot, II soldier and a
statesman" Reaching the sad old sea-
port, where Bean was confined, It re-
leased him u prisoner of half II dozen
years, but q man of undiminished
strength and arclor, little into his
thirties, and perhaps all the better for
his long confinement. He sought the
insurgent camp and leader. Morelos,
seeing before him an American, who
spoke two languages like a native, Il
stalwart, sOltlierIy fellow, just out of
prison and eager for active employ
ment, gave him first his confidence
and then his love. He became chief of
staff, next general of brigade, next
general of division, and smote the
Spaniard hip and thigh. At length,
the contest growing imminent, Il more
delicate If not Il more dangerous busi
ness presented itself. Morelos had
loved, setluced and cajoled from her
home noble Spanish dansel, whom
for many years he had concealed in the
mountains. She had borne him a sin
gle child, a son. In the midst of the
struggle, and at the critical point, she
died. The son was too young to go into
the field. He could not be left any
where to take care or himself. There
was really no safe place in all Mexico.
So MOrelos sent for Bean to counsel
what ShOIlII hp Innr Roam
that arms and munitions of war were
wanted; believed he could negotiate
for these in the States, and proposed
that he should Kill the two birds with
one stone-carry the lad out of harm's
way and bring back the needed mill
tary supplies. Morclos was delighted,
and Bean was dispatched on the double
| mission. He succeeded admirably; but
when he got back Morelos had been