St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-23
FAMOUS oLDDAvY CROCKETT
Anecdotes of the Man Who Gould
Whip His Weight in Wildcats.

Whip His Weight in Wildcats.
Nashville American.
The recent celebration of the ami
versary of the birth of Dayy Crockett
has attracted public attention to one Oh
the most remarkable men who ever
lived in this state. Comparatively few
of the present generation are familiar
with the characteristics of the famous
Indian fighter, pioneer. hunter and
member of congress.
In looking through an old scrap book
to-day l found several copies of the
Ariel, a literary and critical gazette pub
liShed in Philadelphia. The number of
Jan. %, 1929, contains the following
story of Dayy Crockett, which may not
prove uninteresting at this time:
Davy Crockett, Tennessee member
of congress. The facetiOus Mr.. T., Of
Ohio, tells good story in which this
congressman from the wild woods of
Tennessee figures as the hero. The
reader will suppose Davy returned
from the first session he had the honor
of representing the people in congress.
He is to suppose, further, that Davy
has fallen in with number of his con-
stltuentS at raising and is telling them
of his visit to the president.
The first thing l did," said Dayy.
latter l got to Washington was to go to
afraid? If didn't l wish / may be
shot. Says L: Mr.. Adams, am Mr.
Crockett from Tennessee So says
he; how do you do, MIR. Crockett?' and
he shook me by the hand, although he
knowed / went the whole hog for Jack
son. If | didn't l wish l may be shot.
Not only that, but he sent me printed
ticket to dine with him. I've got in my
pocket pet. If haven't l wish | may
be shot" (Here the printed ticket was
exhibited for the admiration of the
whole company. Il went to dinner"
said Davy, land walked around the
long table looking for something that
liked. At last took my seat just be-
a3 much as / wanted. But l hadn't
took three bites when I looked
away up the table at a man
called fash (attache). He was talk
ing French to woman on t'other
side of the table. He lodged his head
and she lodged hers, and they got to
drinking wine across the table. If they
didn't | wish l may be shot. But when
| looked back again my plate was gone,
goose and ali. So l jist cast my eyes
down to t'0ther end Of the table and
sure enough | seed white man walk
ing off with my plate. Says /, Hello,
fetched it back in hurry, as you may
suppose, and when he set it down be-
fore me how do you think it was?
Licked as clean as my hand. If Ii
wasn't wish may be shot. Says he,
What will you have. STRIP And says /,
Y GU may well say that, after stealing
goose and he began to laugh. If he
didn't, wish [ may be shot. Then says
L: Mister, laugh, if you please, but
don't half like such tricks upon travel
ers. Ii do, wish l may be shot,
then filled my plate with bacon and
greens, and whenever | looked up OF
down the table held my plate with my
left hand. If l didn't, wish l may be
eating they cleared off the table
and took away the tablecloth,
and what do you think-there
was another tablecloth under 1t. If
there wasn't wish may be shot. Then
l saw man coming along carrying a
great glass thing with glass handle
below, full of little glass cups, with
something in them that looked good to
eat. Says l, Mister, bring that here
Thinks [, let's taste 'em first. They
were mighty sweet and good, and so
took six of 'em. If didn't, l wish
may be id"
The Ariel of Feb. Z, 1929, contains the
following: 1.-The Hon. David Crockett,
member of congress from Tennessee.
who has been made the hero of most
laughable story by waggish Kentucky
editor, has taken that matter so serious
ly to heart as to publish certificates of
his conduct on the occasion alluded to.
Mr.. Clark, of Kentucky, and Mr.. Yer
plank, of New York, have both Ger
titled that his conduct at the presidents
house was marked with the strictest
propriety.
1--WE are told that Mr.. Crockett is
sensible man, but suppose it is true that
he has something of the ''half horse,
half alligator in his manners. The
Middlesex Gazette, noticing him in the
following manner. gives something be-
tWiXt a caricature and true picture of
Mr.. Crockett and large portion of his
constituents:
I'm some of the Western states great
muscular force is an indispensable
requisite in a Succ eSsful candidate for
public favor. This Mr.. Crockett-or,
as he is familiarly termed, Davy-pos-
sessed in an extraordinary degree; and,
while his competitor was telling tho
people of his great merits. Davy was
SIfluS CfiuODCO VI Ills ny
grubbing up stump which two ordi-
nary men would have abandoned in de-
spair. This striking demonstration OF
stateSmanlike qualities was irresistible
to the yeomanry of Tennessee, and the
election of our worthy Davy was by &C
clamation.
while on his way to Washington he
assured his companion that he could
wade the Mississippi with steamboat
on his back, whip his weight in Wild
cats. and ''ride streak of lightning
barebaeked." Dayy is the man who
proposed to whip all the animals in
menagerie, consisting of lion, par
eel of monkeys and zebra. On GER
tain occasion he said he intended to
speak in the house of representatives.
for he saw no reason for being diffident,
as he could flop any man in it"
The fact that Davy produced evidence
in refutation of the charges made
against him by the s'good Mr.. K. of
Ohio" does not detract from the inter
est of the story. In the succeeding
numbers of the Ariel no mention is
made of Mr. Crockett having denied
the above statements of the Middlesex
Gazette; so the present generation
must either accept them as truth or ac-
count for non-denials OF them by pre-
Stunning that Mr.. Crockett was not long
in discovering that public servants are
open to public criticism, and that many
stories are told at their expense.
In this connection it may not be inap-
propriate to relate an aneedote of DaYy
which l remember to have read, and
which has been recently credited to Tom
Corwin, of Ohio.
Crockett was sitting in hotel al
Washington in company with a number
of other congressman. A member from
Massachusetts, whose name do not re-
member, was standing in the door,
Turning to Dayy.he called out: Crock
EFT, here come some of your constitu-
ents." Davy arose, walked to the door.
and calmly surveyed drove of mules
being driven down the street.
"Where are they going?, asked the
member from the Bay state.
They are going to Massachusetts TO
teach school," replied Davy, without
changing the expression of his face.
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