San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-12-13
Dnvy CrOckelg.

After the surrender OF Uen. COs
on the 10th Of December 1885, the maiI
army of Texas was disbauded, leaving
about one hundred men to garrison th'
Alamo. In January 1886, David Crock
EFT, who had just left Tennessee, came
to Texas for the purpose Of assisting
the struggling patrio is. While on hi
way to the fortress just mentioned, hi
stopped at the Swisher residence a
Gay Hill, washington Co.. to rest and
reoupcrate after his long journey, bo-
fore beginning bis duties as soldier
It happened that on the d ay which
Col. Crockett arrived, I had been out
hunting with q party of friends, and
killed my second and believe my
last deer, which I tied behind my
saddle, reaching home with it about
nightfall. Col. Crockett surprised me
by coming out and assisting me in ia
king it down from the horse. inquiring
in q general manner concerning ths
shooting of the animal. complimenting
me highly by calling me his young
hunter, and bantering me to shoot
ing match, accepted this PROPOSE
tion, since he offered to shoot off hand
and give me rest As a matter of
course, my pride swelled at once, until
1 would not have changed places with
the president himself. We tried our
skill with the rifle every day he re.
NAMED with US, and my recollection
is that we made a drawn match of it.
His rifle I we'll remember. 1t was
ornamented with silver plate let into
the stock, upon which was engraved
David Crockett" and he called it
"Bessie." At the time l saw Col.
Crockett, Judge him to have been
forty years old. He was stout and
muscular, about six feet in height and
weighing one hundred and eighty to
two hundred pounds. He was of
florid complexion with intelligent grey
eyes. He had small side whiskers in
cliuing to sandy. His countenance,
although firm and determined, wore
pleasant and genial expression. Al
though his early education had been
neglected, he had acquired such pol
ish from his contact with good society
that few men could eclipse him in con-
versation. He was fond of talking
and had an ease and grace about him
which, added to his strong natural sense
and the fund of anecdotes that he
had gathered, rendered him irresisti.
BILE. During his stay at my fathers it
was rare occurrence for any of US
to get to bed before twelve or one o.
clock. He told US great many anec-
dotes, many of which were common
place and amounted to nothing within
themselves. but his inimitable way
of telling them would convulse one
with laughter. I reccollect only two
or three He said he never knew
why the people Of his District elected
him to Congress, as it was matter he
knew precious little about at the time
and he had no idea what he would be
called on to do when ha arrived at
Washington but his friends assured
him he would soon find out Upon
their saying so he consented to run
and was elected.
On his journe y to Washington City,
be concluded to 60 by way of Nash
vile and fall in with some other
for company's sake. In
those days the journey to Washington
had to be made on horse back.
Crockett was riding along one day,
of the jolly times he had
in the swamps Of the Obion, hunting
bear etc, when James X. Polk over
took him and entered into conversation
with him. Among other things that
gentleman remarked:
"Col. Crockett, 1 think it probable
that the present Congress will make
radical change in the Judiciary"
Crockett said in relating this:
Now, so help me God, knew no
more what radical change and 'Ju-
dietary meant than my horse, but look
Jog straight into Mr.. Folks face as
though | understood all about it,
replied. IL presume So" To which he
added laughingly, 1T was not long
before | found an excuse for parting
company with Mr.. Polk.
Col. Crockett had not been long in
before be found himself
famous. Biographies Of his early life. 4
giving glowing accounts of his
great hunti1g exploits were pablish-
ed and circulated broadcast. Not less
.i., s-.,sr- bo-ses vrere sold b~ di1sr .