Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-12-24
HEROIC DAVY CROCKETT.
INCIDENTS IN THE CAREER OF A MOST
REMARKABLE MAN.


Private Pension BIil-1he Siege OF
tho Alamo His Record Of the stirring
Events Which Occurred There.
Colonel David Crockett was 4 most
remarkable cnaIac or. a man far in adj
vance # the times in which he lived.
Reared in the hum Ter walks of life. Tut
endowed with strong will power, an
unremitting erSevprance. and a brave
heart. he rose todistnction and renown.
III was born at Limestone, on the
NolachUcky River in eastern Tennessee,
on August IL. 1856 His father, soldier
in the Revolutionary war, was tho
owner OF q tavern on the road from
Abingdon to Knoxville, where David
passed his loyhood. Colonel Crockelts
education consisted of exactly TWO
months aud -four days schooling, hc
benz otherwise self educated In the
Creek VAR Of 1sl3-li he Was found
fighting in the rlnks as private soldier
under General Jacksoi. When peace was
decl red he settled on Shoal Creek, a
Il -olate rcgioi Of the State A COM
mu ny OF reckless characters having
ncc Il together at this place, it was
! necessary TO es aLli,h q temporary gov.
crnu eut, and Colonel Crockett was
elected magistrate H. was soon after.
waId candidate for the Legislature,
q q made a successful race 10y shooting
at q, cses and rcciting amusing stories.
He Vas twice reelected, but devoted
absusclf Iriucipsslly TO bear hunting. un-
tl, IN the year 1927. when lie MAS elected
to Congress by tn, party OF Androw
jackson At Washington lie obtained
notoriety for the eccentricity OF his
manners and languageS or his life
while at the capital many amusing sto-
ries are told
o one occasion he was in conversa-
with fellow member from Massachu-
sits, when drove Of mules were seen
TO pass.
"Thcre goes some of your constitu.
enls. remarked lis con panion. "Yes,
Iepied Colonel Crockett. they are
gong TO Massachusetts, to teach school "
This incident is typical Of the man.
G ted with an exhaustess fund OF
humor, he was always ready to turn
joke to lis own account
Ia 1929 he was again elected 90 Con-
gr-ss, uut soon aiterward changed from
partisan TO an opponent Of Jackson's
administration q
For this course he encountered tho
most bitter pposiion fn mi The admin
i,triion in his mex rec. but in spite Of
al honorable means and tie dshonor-
able method Of gerrymanderng he was
triumphantly reelected in 1881.
The dime novelist and catch penny
writers have so exaggerated the doings
and sayings oi Colonel Crockett that
great numbers Of people have come to
regard him more u, a mythical than a
real character But their statements
have been entirely misleading. and II is
only necessary 10 read his public utter.
ances in order e. G convinced that ho
was a man Of marked ability.
During Colonel Crockctt's term in tho
House bill as brought forward APP
propriating several thousand dollars for
the benefit of n widow Of a certain
naval officer There seemed to lie n
unanimou, opinion in favor Of the meas
ure, and the speaker was about to ut
the question WHEN Crockett arose.
Every one expected t. hear one Of his
characteristic speeches in support Of tho
bill. He commenced.
"Sfr s. caker--I have as much respect
for the memory OF the deceased. and as
much sympat y ( the sufferings Of tho
living. as any mln in This House, but NO
must not rermi. ourrespec. for the dead,
nor cur sympathy for part Of the liv-
ing. 20 lead Us to an act Of injustice TO
the balance OF tie living Dir. Sp akor.
the decea ed lived long after the close
of the war; he vas in Office TO the day
Of his death. and ] have never heard
that this Government as in arrears to
him. This Government can owe no
debts but for services rendered, and at a
stipulated price II Il is = debt, how
much is H.? II it is debt, we owe
more than wo can ever h0pc b. pay for.
We owe the IS idoW Of very soldier ho
fought in the war OF 1912 recscly tho
same amount There Is q wonlin in my
neighbo hood. tho widow OF rs gallant a
soldier as ever shouldcred muskeL Iio
fell in battle. She IS ~ good in every
respect as this lady, and just as poor.
She Is earning her daily bread by her
daily labor. aud il were to introduce
bill to appropriate s. 900 or $4,000 for
her benefit / should he laughed at. and
my bill would not gel five votes in this
House There are thousands Of widows
in this country just such as the ono
have spoken Of bat we never hear OF
these large debts that we owe them.
"We can hot, without the grossest cor
ruption, appropriate this money as the
payment Of a debt We have not tho
semblance Of authority 10 appropriate ii
as a clarity DIR. Speaker, have said
that we haze the right to give as much
money of our own as we please. am
the poorest man on this floor. / can
not vote on this bill, but will give ono
weeks pay 10 the obj and IL every
member I'll do the same it will amount
to more ihan the bill asks.
Tie bill was lost Y large majority.
After Flushing his third term in Con-
gress Crockett sought new life aud
career in Texas. then in revolt against
Mexico, and it was at the sublime de-
fense of the Alamo that he met his
death.
The story Of that dreadful siege is too
familiar to need any repetition. Not 4
defender lived 10 tell the tale Of that
terrible battle.
Neither ancient nor modern history
affords grander exhibition than was
shown on that crimson day. when tho
blood Of the Spartan band became tho
seed from which sprung Texan indo-
ronfloncs