The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-03-05

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my second and, | believe, my last deer,
which tied behind my saddle, reach
ing home with it about nightfall. Col.
Crockett surprised me by coming out
and assisted me taking it down from
the horse, inquiring in a general man
ner concerning the circumstances rel
ative to the shooting of the animal,
complimenting me highly by calling
me his young hunter and bantering
me to shooting match. l accepted
this proposition, since he offered to
shoot off hand and give me a rest.
As matter of course, my pride swelled
at once, until would not have changed
places with the president himself. We
tried our skill with the rifle every day
he remained with us,and my recollec-
ton is that We made a drawn match
of it, His rifle, | well remember 1t
was ornamented with silver plate
let into the stock, upon which was en-
graved David Crockett" and he
called it Bessie" At the time | saw
Col. Crockett, l judge him to have
been 40 years old. He was stout and
muscular, about six feet in height and
weighing one hundred aid eighty to
two hundred pounds. He was of
tlorid complexion with intelligent grey
eyes He bad small side whiskers, in
clining to sandy His countenance,
although firm and determined. wore
genial express on. Although his early
education had been neglected, he had
acquired such polish from his con-
tact with good society that few men
could eclipse him in conversation. He
was fond of talking, and had an ease
aud grace about him which, added to
his strong natural sense and fund of
anecdotes which he had gathered,
rendered him Irresistible. During his
stay at my fathers, it was a rare oc
currence for any of us to get to bed be-
foe - or o'clock. He told us great
many anecdotes, many of which were
commonplace and amounted TO moth
ing within themselves. but his inimit-
able way of telling them would con-
vulse one with laughter. | recolect
two or three: He said he never knew
why the people of his district elected
him to congress. as it was a matter he
knew precious little about at the time
and he had no idea what he would be
called on to do when he arrived at
Washington; but his friends assured
him he would soon find out. Upon
their saying so, he consented to run
and was elected.
On his journey to Washington City,
he concluded to go by Nashville and
fall in with some other congressman
for company's sake. In those days
the journey to Washington had to be
made on horseback. Crockett was
riding along one day. thinking of the
jolly times he had had in the swamps
of the Obion, hunting bear, etc,
when James X. Polk overlook him
and entered into conversation with
him. Among other things, that gen
tleman remarked:
Colonel Crockett. l think it proba
BILE that the present congress will
make radical change in the judici
ary."
Crockett said, in relating this:
Now. so help me God. | knew no
more about what radical change and
judiciary meant than my horse, but
looking straight into Mr.. Folks face
as though | understood all about it, |
replied: Il presume So" To which he
added laughingly: 1T was not long
before found an excuse for parting
company with Mr.. Polk"
Col. Crockett had not been long in
Washington before he found himself
famous. Biographies of his early life,
giving glowing accounts of his great
hunting exploits, were published and
circulated broadcast. Not less than
twenty horses were sold by different
dealers. at large prices, upon the as
surance that each was the identical
animal that Davy Crockett had ridden
to Washington.
Crockett had been elected to con-
gress as a Jackson Democrat, but
afterWard adhered to Hugh l.. White,
who, a little later, was the opponent of
Martin Van Buren,; and this raised a
GOODNESS between him and Gen. Jack
son, who was in favor of Van Buren,
for his successor. Crockett, however,
spoke in The highest terms of Gen
Jackson, though he had such SUI
preme contempt for Van Buren, that
he had determined that he would
never speak to that indivi ual But
Van Buren, was very anxious to be-
come personally acquainted with
Crockett, and importuned mutual
friend for an Introduction, which
Crockett always avoided. One night,
however, when Crockett was at a
Washington theatre, Van Buren, and
the friend came in and took a seat i'm
mediately behind him.
Now is favorable opportunity to
introduce me-" he heard Van Buren,
whisper to the friend, who immedi-
ately tapped Crockett on the Shout
der. saying as he did so: -,
Gel. Crockett, allow me to take the
liberty of introducing to you the vice
president of the United States
For Crockett to acknowledge the in
PRODUCTION now seemed inevitable to
both Van Buren, and his companion;
but the former was equal to the oc-
casion. Turning around sufficiently
to show the merry twinkle in his eyes,
he replied:
'"Really, my friend, anything in rea-
SOD, but, by Heaven | can not permit
any one to take such a liberty with
me-"
At the congressional election OF
Tennessee, in 1885, Col Crockett was
a candidate for reelection. A day OF
two before the election he addressed
his constituents, giving them full ac-
i =