, 1889-10-09
OLD DAVY CROCKETT, NJ. C,
THE MAN WHO SAID HE COULD
WHIP HIS WEIGHT IN WILDCATS.

from the wild Woods of Tennessee-Ths
Story Found In the columns OF an Old
Philadelphia Publication.
The celebration Of the anniversary OF
the birth Of Davy Crockett attracted pub
lie attention to one Of the most remark
able men who ever lived in this state.
Comparatively few Of the present gener-
alton are familiar with the characters
tics of the famous Indian fighter, pioneer,
hunter and member Of congress
In looking through an old scrap book
today l found severalcopies of The Ariel,
a literary and critical gazette published
in Philadelphia. The number of Jan.
20, 1929, contains the following story OF
Davy Crockett, which may not prove un-
interesting just at this time:
Davy Crockett, a Tennessee member
Of congress. The facetious Mr.. K, OF
Ohio, tells a 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 a number Of his constitu-
ents at a raising. and Is telling them OF
his visit to the president.
WI AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The first thing l did," said Davy,
after / got to Washington was to 90 TO
the presidents house. Thinks 1, who's
afraid? II | didn't l wish l may be shot.
O., M A-u- - NJ r-..
from Tennessee so? says he; how do
you do. Mr.. Crocketty and he shook me
by the hand. although he knowed l went
the whole hog for jackson. II l didn't
| wish | may be shot. Not only that,
but he sent me a printed ticket to dine
with him. I've got 1t in my pocket yet.
If l haven't / wish / may be shot"
Here the printed ticket was exhibited
for the admiration of the whole COM
pany.) II went to dinner" said Davy,
land walked around the long table look
ing for something hat 1 liked. At last
/ o my seat just beside a fat goose.
and / helped myself to as much Us /
wanted. But l hadn't took three bites
when looked away up the table at q
man called fash (attache). he was talk
ing French to a woman or t'other side Of
h table. He lodged his head and she
lodged hers, and they got to drinking
wine across the table. II they didn't !
wish / may be shot. But when / looked
back again my plate was gone, goose
and all. So / jist cast my eyes down to
tother end of the table, and sure enough
l seed a white man walking of with my
plate. Says /, 'Helloo, mister; bring
ha.lr ,.w, ,l.eUr H. felol - l-l -
hurry, as you may suppose, and when he
set it down before me how do you think
it was? Licked as clean as my hand.
II it wasn't / wish / may be shot. Says
he, What will you have, sirT And says
l, You may well say that after stealing
my goose, and he began to laugh. II he
didn't l wish may be shot. Then says
l, Mister, laughi il you please, but 1 don't
half like such tricks upon travellers. If
| do | wish l may be shot, / then filled
my plate with bacon and greens, and
whenever l looked up or down the table
| held my plate with my left hand. II
didn't l wish l may be shot. When we
were all done eating they cleared every
thing off the table and took away the
table cloth, and what do you Think
there was another table cloth under IL.
II there wasn't / wish l may be shot.
Then l saw a man coming along carry
ing a great glass thing with a glass ian
die below, full of little glass cups with
something in them that looked good to
eat. Says !, Mister, bring that here
Thinks 1, let's taste 'em first. They were
mighty sweet and good, and SO I took
six of EN-. If l didn't I wish / may be
shot"
HIS WAY OF ELECTIoNKERING.
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 a most laugh
able story by a waggish Kentucky editor,
has taken that matter 80 seriously TO
heart as to publish certificates of his con-
duct on the occasion alluded to. Mr..
Clark, of Kentucky, and Mr.. Verplank,
New York, have both certified that his
conduct at the presidents house was
marked with the strictest propriety.'"
We are told that Mr.. Crockett is a SEN
sible man, but suppose that it is true that
he has something OF the ''half horse, half
alligator in his The Middle
sex Gazette, noticing him in the follow
ing manner. gives something betwixt q
c~aricature and a true picture of Mr..
Crockett and a large portion Of his con-
stituents:
''In some OF the western states great
muscular force is an indispensable re-
quisite in a successful candidate for pub
lie favor. This Mr.. Crockett-or, as he
is Familiarity termed, Davy-possessed in
an extraordinary degree; and, while his
competitor was telling the people of his
great merits, Davy was giving practical
evidence of his by grubbing up a stump
which two ordinary men would have
abandoned in despair. This striking de-
m~onstration of statesmanlike qualities
was irresistible to the yeomanry Of Ten
nessee, and the election of our worthy
Davy was by reclamation.
while OF his way TO Washington he
assured his companion that he could wade
the Mississippi with a steamboat on his
back, whip his weight in wildcats, and
ride q streak of lightning bare backed
Davy is the man who proposed to whip
all the animals in a menagerie, consist
ing Of a lion, a parcel of monkeys and a