Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-04

our coach, and for the first time made bis
acquaintance. He was quite gentlemanly
talked we'll and 'ntellisently, and, at the re-
quest of the passengera' agreed to
He pushed ahead singing, and
presented quite picturesque appear
snce as he reigned his pony up on top of a
high hill, and scanned the horizon for Indians
Our fears were greatly relieved by his pres.
ence. for be was not only we'll versed i'll Indi.
an strategles, but was an excellent shot, and
one of the most daring of men,"
We met again, and l learned something of
his history. His early life had been EN- FILTERED
by the acts of an Incorporate father, which
prevented him from going to school, and final
'y brought a most estimab.e mother to the
grave. When in the army he vas
to dot down his first poems-for at this time
he could neither read nor write, but simply
made his cross-and from this period forward
he began his career as the Poet Scout. Amid
the long hours Of his confinement in the hos
pisital, the kind Sisters of Charity aided him
to obtain the rudiments of IN education 80
that when he had recovered, he could crudely
convey his poetichl illusions to paper. give
ooe verse of his first poem:
"'Tis plucky regiment,
Ill try to sing song,
l hope you'll pay attention
For 1 won't detain you long.
They always did their duty,
And you bet they did it we'll.
And they fought in the late engagement,
Which took place near Fort Hill"
Chorus-In the old Virginia lowlande,
Lowlands, Iowlands,
In the old Virginia lowIands low.
After the war. Jack conceived the idea of go.
ing to the Black Hills, and was strongly recon-
mended both by Gov. Hartranft, of Pennsylva-
MIA. and Gen. Sherman, as "a gentleman Of in.
telllgence and character, who had served gal.
lantly and faithfully during the late war" he
was among the first to enter the Hills, and
among the first to bring gold bearing quart
out of them. he was also sent out from
hostile bands of Indians, and consti-
tinted chief of scouts of the Black
Hills rangers. During the Indian cam paign of
1876, Capt. Jack was second in command OF
Zen. Crooks scouts and superseded Buffalo
Bill as chief. on the Oath Of August of the
same year. In the saddle but few men hav.
enacted such feats as the Poet Scout" he
code nearly four hundred miles through q
country teeming with savages, and at another
time three hundred and fifty miles in less than
four days, beating five fresh relays Of courier.
and coming out five hours and sixteen minutes
head. he was the bearer of dispatches for the
New York Herald. containing an account OF
he battle of Slim Buttes. and for which he
r"ic act he received $500, and upwards Ct
5000 more to pay for horses he hao
killed while ON the route. We met him in the
Hills after this famous ride. and found Jack
quite proud of it. as we'll he might be.
Perhaps one OF the most remarkable charac-
teristics Of the Poet Scouts life, is his total
abstinence, for this is a very rare quality to b.
fouud among men of this kind on the frontier
1t is accounted for OF the ground of his
fathers career. added thereto by promise
given his dying mother. that he would never
drink, and he has faithfully kept that prom
Use.
These incidents and reflection upon the life
Of a scout have been evoked by beautifully
printed and beautifully bound book, entitled
"rbe Poet Scout. Capt. J. w. Crawford"
which lies before me, embellished with an ex-
c.llent engraving of tho suthor, and many fine
lustrations. printed by II. Keller & o., Sar
Francisco. Cal. The book 81 ives an interesting
history of the life of the author. about as we
have stated it, accompanied with sketches AND
Incidents, and then follows his songs of the
mountain, the mining camp, and the prairie
The songs are on various TOPICS, on matters of
facts which have passed under the authors OBJ
servatiou. Some of them closely resembI.
those by Bret Harte, specimen of which il
entitled "Rattliu' Joe's Prayer" We give:
''Jist pile on some more O. them pire knots
An squat yoursers down on this skin,
An, Scotty, let up on your growlin'-
The boys are all tired q yer chin.
Allegheny, jist pass round the bottle
An give the lads ali square drink,
An as soon as yer settled III tell ye
yarn as IL please ye, think"
I'm Sad Tonight" flows smoothly, and ba
an excellent vein Of poetic beauty. I quot,
one verse:
"Other skies have clouded DER me,
Other mons have shown less bright,
But, fair star of hope before me,
Thou hast been my beacon light"
Two verse. from "Only Mine,
Killed." will convey to the reade,
the fine sentiment of the whole
''Only a miner killed
Oh! is that all?
One of the ,imbers caved;
Great was the fall,
Gushing another ono
Shaped like his God.
Only miner lad
Under the sod:
Only miner killed!
Bury him quick,
Just write his name on
piece of stick.
No matter how humble .-.-.
Or plain be the grave,
The master and slave.'
s'Wild Bill,'' who was murdered in Dead
wood just q few days before I reached tina,
city, was great friend of Capt. Jack, the Poe,
Scout. After Bills death the author wrote
some highly complimentary verses on his dead
friend. one of which quote as q good speci
men of the whole:
You buried him meath the old pine tree,
lu that little world of ours,
His trusty rife by his side
His grave all strewn with flowers;
His manly form in sweet repose:
That lovely silken hair
tell you, pard, it was sight.
That face SO white and fair"
One brief selection from Spring in the
Black Hills will indicate the poetic tempera
ment of the rustic bard, who sings 30 sweetly
in the following verse:
beautiful spring in the highlands of nature.
Snow on the hili-teps and grass in the vale
Sunshine is beaming on each living creature,
And not even one SORROW our joys to assail.
Ihe pine trees are bowling and bending be
fore US.
The miner is building his new cabin home
The voice of the wind seems to whispe,
above rs,
Angels watch DER you where'er you may
roam
A beautiful tribute, Indicating fine imaei.
nation, is paid to the memory of Little Kit, 81
con Of his old fr1end-Bufalo Bill: