Morris tribune., 1889-08-21
Davy Crockett's Birthday.


On Aug. II was celebrated at Lime
stone, Tenn, with due honors, the 1881
anniversary of the birth of David Crock
EFT. pioneer, hunter, soldier, politician
and patriot. Members of the Crockett
family still survive among the most re-
spected citizens of Tennessee.
Stripped of the romance and eNagger-
alton that cover it, the character of the
famous backwoodsman has thrilling in
cident enough still left. David Crockett
was man to be honorcd in and of HIM
self. His father was all Irish revolution
airy veteran, who became an inn keeper
near Knoxville, Tenn, when David
was very young. The boy was hired out
and sent 400 miles away from home when
he was II years old, but he ran away
and came back on foot Then he was
sent to school, But four days ended his
career there, for he gave another boy
terrible thrashing and ran away again,
this time from home. After ups and
downs and hardships for several years
he returned. To show how good he
was, Davy worked year to pay debt
of SO for his father
After that this strange character went
to school six months, and, man grown as
he was, learned his A, B, c. But another
language, the alphabet of the heart, be-
gan to trouble him. After six months
schooling, all he ever had, Davy broke
off his book learning abruptly and
sought wife. He had several severe
love disappointments, but it is 4 pleasure
to record that he got over them all, and
was at length happily married at the age
of %.
His career was thence upward. He
was noted and mighty hunter, and be-
came IN immensely popular politician,
although AT first he could barely read and
write He served four terms in con-
grrs>. aNl vas noted for his shrewdneSs,
Independence and wit His strong point
in entertaining an audience was his
funny stories. There was much of the
Abraham Lincoln character about him.
1t is type that no country but the
United States has furnished in modern
times, the type that is nearest the heart
of nature Of any civilized man. 1t j..
fast vanishing from among us.
Crocketts sayings are quoted !, this
day. His motto in congress was this.
am at liberty to vote as my COY ,sioro, =, 4
Judgment dictate to be right, witho' = 49,? ,l-o Of
any party me or the driver 3 NV LoaIS Win
his whip in hand, commanding mo 70 cna,wo-
haw, just at his pleasure.
Crockett remained in Tennessee till
the Texan struggl' for INDEPENDENCE,
loSo-9o, when b. went to Texas. His
llIe hau oeen full of adventure. His
oeatn was p TT of the closing scene in a
great tra ,edy. Like Byron at Misso-
lons"' Crockett threw himself heart
anu Jul into the cause of liberty. He
was one of the historic 40 who enacted
70 thrilling story of the defense of the
Alamo He was also one of the six sur
vivors of that defense who surrendered
to the Mexican general, Santa Ana.
They were shot down in cold blood,
March 6, 1886, although they were pris-
oners of war. Thus Davy Crockett died,
like the hero he was. Many burlesque
and exaggerated stories are told on him
He himself wrote a genuine autobiog
raphy in 1884, which is still extant. Il
isvery entertaining and full of Crockett
isms. One Of Days sayings will live
forever. 1t is this:
Be sure you are right, then 80 ahead.