The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-08
DAvY CROCKETT.
Ludicrous Anecdotes Concerning "Na.
furess NObIeman.

LudicrOus Anecdotes Concerning ma
fure's NObIeman.''
Houston Correspondence of the st. Louis
GlObe-Democret.l
To day a Globe-Democrat correspondent
called upon Mr., Asa Jarman, an aged resi-
dent of Houston and one of the early pion-
GERS of Texas. In his boyhood he was ac-
quainted with the celebrated DAVID Crockett,
both natives OF Tennessee, in the mountains
of which Crockett first saw the light. Mr..
Jarman evinced great pleasure in speaking
of frontiersman whose name is prominently
associated with the early history of the
southwest.
Up to the age of Is, said Mr.. Jarman.
Crockett was unable to read or write and
his boyhood was passed in the solitude of
the wilderness, hunting bears and raccoons,
which was his sole occupation and delight.
Removing into west Tennessee at a time
when il was a bowling wilderness, unten-
anted save by Bruln and the wild beasts, the
young David found an ample field for the pur
suit of a Nimrod-like life. Locating on small
river, the forests along whose banks had
never known an ak, he built log cabin and
carpeted his floor with bear skins. He was
now happy. With none to modest him, as
with gun-the old-fashioned flint-lock-and
dogs-Daniel Boone like-he sailed forth to
catch or kill his favorite coon or savage
bear.
The youthful pioneer was not long to re-
main undisturbed, for the country soon set
tied up, the wilderness was taken possession
of by the emigrant and the adventurer, the
country was laid off into counties and Davy
Crockett's occupation was partially gone.
In course of time Crockett was elected by
his fellow-citizens to the legislature at Nash
Vile. To such man as he, who had spent
his life among the wild scenes of the border,
beyond the pale of civilization, getting into
the legislature was a considerable event, and
many anecdotes are related by Mr.. Jarman
of Crockett during his first entrance on pub
lie life.
1t was during his first session as a 'legis-
lator" that Davy met with James X. Polk
afterwards president OF the United States,
but then only an unnOticed young lawyer
Both happened one day to be standing in a
crowd of members. Polk remarked that a
bill would be Immediately introduced to
to alter the judiciary. Crockett, who did
not know what the deuce the word judiciary
meant, briefly replied, ''1 s'pose so" and to
cover up his ignorance hastily slipped away
from the crowd. Soon after he got to Nash
vile, never having been IN a town before,
Colonel Crockett became the hero of another
experience, which, afterwards, when a mem
Der of congress, he was fond of relating to
his friends.
He was invited to pay visit to billiard
saloon-the best in Nashville. He had never
heard of billiards much and had never seen
them played. Arriving at the saloon his
curiosity was greatly excited at seeing some
men with long sticks showing and punching
at pretty red and white balls. The back
woodsman keenly watched the men as they
poked and hit the balls, which would roll off
into their proper receptacles. He left highly
pleased.
1t was during the same period that Crock
EFT was invited TO a splendid supper and
banquet at the fine and aristocratic mansion
of Mr.. Irwin, in Nashville. Colonel Crockett
arriving at the house strobe across the
gallery or piazza to the door. Look
the table cloths spread all over the
floor, never having before seen a carpet, ex-
cept the one OF bear skin which he had used
on his cabin floor in the woods. Not know
ing what the carpet was, and seeing no way
to get to the fire place except by crossing
what he believed to be the table cloth
Colonel Crockett, in full view of other
guests, cautiously looked this way and that
to see if there was any chance except by
crossing. At last he muttered to himself,
who in the hells afraid?" He crept around
the carpet till the fire place was
reached. Before supper was an
nounced Colonel Irwin and the boys
had high old time listening to
Davy's bar stories. Now, he had never
been at a banquet before, and alter the quests
were seated at the table negro waiting boy
came up to the back of his chair and asked
if he would have tea or coffee. Crockett
replied, Coffee, though 1 have plenty
sa'sporlla at home" Up stepped the boy
with.the coffee on a waiter. Crockett in.
sisted not only on taking the coffee. but the
waiter also, aud so he and the boy had it
lively for while.
Crockett was an old line whig and in his
first race for congress from Tennessee
"lIcket" Colonel Hunt, a democrat, awful
ly, beating him by tremendous majority.
While member of that body, and to his
daughter, who wrote asking his advice
about accepting the hand OF young
man in marriage, he addressed the
famous expression: First be sure
you're right; then go ahead"
And she did, to her satisfaction. Years
rolled on. and Crockett, singulsrly enough,
came to Texas, as General Houston did, in
time to take part in the great struggle OF 1886
against Santa Anna and the Mexican power.
While Houston was appointed to command
the Texan army, Crockett went to San An.
tonic and offered his services to Colonel
Travis, commanding the i'll fated garrison OF
the celebrated Alamo fortress. He persisted
with it's defenders. all of whom were put to
the sword by the Mexlcans. Crocketts body
was found in corner of the fortress, sur
rounded by a number of the slain of the
enemy. His name is embalmed in Texas
history as one of Travis immortal band.