The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-06-21
GAIT JACK oRAwFoRDs STORY,


An exceedingly interesting musical
and literary entertainment was given at
Fort Myer last evening, which was well
attended by the cavalrymen stationed
there. Captain Jack Crawford, who re-
lieved Buffalo Bill--William f. Cody
as chief of scouts, and who Is Familiarity
known as the poet scout of the frontier,
was present, and gave several Of his
touching poems that brought the tears
out of the eyes of many grizzlcd vet
eran present who had sepved with him
on the frontier against the Indians. He
also related in touching way, and one
whose influence was felt throughout the
audience, of how Bin Reed, n we'll
known Western scout and hunter, was
led to sign the pledge and stick through
life to IT, One day when Captain Jack
had been off on scout, and In the
evening, himself and horse being very
tired, he was just about going into camp
for the night, when the sound of reyclry
and laughter was coming TO him down
the canyon, he decided to push on until
he should reach the party, thinking IL
was his own party. When he arrived
in sight of the party he found it con-
sisted of number of scouts, miners and
prospecters, who, when they saw him,
gave him the hearty Western greeting
that men on the frontier only know how
10 give. The men were having good.
time over jug Of whisky, and Bill
Reed, who was acquainted with Captain
Jack, at once invited him 10 come up
and Join them. He said that they had
lost track of the Fourth Of July, and
were celebrating the occasion tiien. as
the chances were very favorable for
them TO get scalped most any time of the
day or night, and he did not want TO
miss celebrating the glorious Fourth. z
Captain Crawford declined, saying
that he was total abstainer. Upon be-
ing pressed very much he finally took
the jug in his hands and said, Boys,
before drink want TO tell lyou little
story, and see If you sill insist on hay
ing me drink with YOU" He then re-
lated how he had promised his dying
mother on her death bed that he would
never, as long as he lived, touch q drop
Of intoxicating liquor; how that prom
ise had caused her to die happy with q
smile on her face He said that he felt
that smile was there still, and that she
was looking down on them and him
now, to see If they would make him
break that promise and cause that smile
to give place to look of sorrow and
pain. He then made a pretense of
raising the jug to his lips, when bull
let from the six shooter of Bill Reed
shattered the jug into thousand
pieces, and with o great strong Western
expression he said that that was his
signature to the pledge which he in,
tended to keep TO the end of his life,
and that when his mother in heaven
heard the echo Of that shot she would
know that it was his signature and
would be happy. He has kept 1t ever
since.
Miss Eva Crawford, the Captains s
daughter, bright and charming young
lady from the West, gave several splen-
did recitations, which, like the Cap
tain's, were loudly encored. Mrs.
Marco, the wife Of Professor Marco,
also rendered several recitations and
solos that made the house shake with the
applause that they were received with
and that would have made her fortune
on the stage, while the Professor so dc
lighted the boys that they would hardly
permit him TO put away his violin, in
oiotiiS again anu uSuiii Vhut hO ohOutu
respond to their encores, and no Won
der, for on the violin the Professor has
but few equals and no superiors. Pro-
fessor Cross, the. ventIfloquist, is too
well known in this city to need any
thing said of him. Had the men at the
| fort their way he would probably be
! there yet exhibiting the wonderful
knowledge of Bobby. The perform
ance of Messrs. Berry and Daugherly
on the fife and organ were on par with
the rest of the splendid entertainment
after the performance was over, through,
and Miss Eva Crawford and the other
ladies present, there were over dozen
signatures to the pledge obtained, and
in that way those who signed obtained
a copy of Captain Jacks poem, my
Mothers Prayer" and his autograph
and photograph.