Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-03-04
CAPT. JACK CRAWFORD.
The Poet Scout Re-vfsits His Old Stamp
ing Ground, After nm Absence
of Sixte9u Years.

The Poet Scout Re-vints His Old Stamp
ing Ground, After nm Absence
Of Sixteen Years.
II was sixteen years ago last Novem
ber, that Capt Jack Crawford. q man
we'll known to the oldest pioneers, and
q character inseparably associated with
the earliest history of the Black Hills,
turned his back on Custer City and
Dakota Territory. Since that date he
has traversed the United States, east
and west, north and south, but never
again until last Saturday did he look
upon Custer, his old home, and the
scene Of some OF his most daring sx-
ploits. Only few of those who knew
the captain in the early DAYS are citi-
zsns Of this place, at the present time,
but those few knew him weI and his
visit was anticipated Si. genuine
pleasure.
Capt. Crawford is veteran of the
civil war, and member of the Grand
Army Of the Republic, and Gen. Steele
Post, of this city. prepared an old
fashioned camp fire for the entertain
ment of their distinguished guest and
comrade. The post room above the
postoffice was profusely bedecked with
"Old Glory" in honor Of the occasion.
and it presented very attractive ap-
pearance, when the old soldiers, their
relatives and friends, to the number OF
about one hundred, assembled there
between eight and nine o'clock Satur-
day evening. capt. Jack" was intro
duced by S. X. Shankland, his former
intimate friend, and the first named
gentleman briefly but eloquently ex-
pressed the pleasure which it gave him
to be in Custer once more, and to meet
30 many of the citizens of our beautiful
town. The Captains audience would
not content themselves with the few
remarks he had made, and upon being
called to the floor again, he recited
impromptu, poem which was altogeth,r
appropriate to the occasion. 1t was a
wonderful evidence of the genius of the
poet scout and took his beavers by
storm. Supper was announced imme-
diately after this, and for half an hour
or more the attention Of everyone was
devoted to the splendid repast which
had been prepared and served by the
ladies. 1t was an elegant spread, feast
Of choicest edibles. and on every hand
there was substantial evidence that il
was very much enjoyed.
Supper over the following toasts were
proposed by Commander Carr: "The
Grand Army of the Republic" ''Our
Country and Flag" The Woman's Re-
lief Corps" and "sons Of Veterans"
They were responded to it order as
follows; Capt. ]. w. Craw6rd, f. II.
Hitchcock Capt. Crawfor3, in the
course Of his response, recited another
of his poems. entitled. The Old veter-
an" The sentiment was beautiful and
pathetic in the extreme. Recited with
all the skill Of an accomplished eiocu-
zionist, it brought the tears to many
eyes. "Tenting Tonight" by the Glee
club, Messrs. Wood, Bailey, Willis and |
Frink, concluded the program. Then
for an hour Captain Jack entertained in
his own inimitable way, with song and
story. He carried his listeners back to
he days when Custer was a mining
amp on the frontier, the only settle.
nent of importance in the Black Hills.
They heard with bated breath, tales of
Indian ambush and awful massacre,
,nly to be convulsed with laughter a
moment later by fash of wit. or the
'elation of some humorous incident. 1t
vas nearly midnight when the company
broke up, and the camp fire" was
allowed to 60 out.
Monday evening, at court house hall,
Iapt. Crawford gave one of his public
Prior to the opening
the doors, over hundred reserved
eats had been sold, and the room was
veil filled when the captain was intro
luced. The gentleman is popularity
'nown as the champion single handed
'ntertainer," and he certainly goes at it
n an original and interesting way.
songs, anecdotes, "reminiscences, stories
II frontier life and recitations of his
'wn poems made up the program
Every part of it was listened to with
interest and heartily applanded. The
aptain's version of Marching through
ieu,gia." Pony Bills Sermon" and
Rattlin' Joe's Prayer" were especially
aking He held the floor for three
'ours, and it is safe to say that all pres
mt got their moneys worth. The total
Imount realized from the sale of tickets
vas s57 80, and half the NET .rroceeds
sere generously donated TO The Gen.
steele Post. Capt. Crawford bade good
'ye to his friends Tuesday morning and
departed for Dsadwood. on the b. & ".
'asseneer train. Wednesday night he
ave an entertainment there. and the
'.erey vaised 80. de.cseA ~ .A-;es nm
he q. A. r. cemetery. and the grave of
Wild Bill" with whom he was associ-
ted and intimately acquainted In the
lays of '76. He win visit Custer again
'ext June. and II is quite probable that
% viii build summer residences near
ulster lake, spot which charmed him,
. 1t has hundreds Of others. Our peo
lie will be very glad to meet him again.
nd more than pleased il he should con-
lude to do a. hs thought il possible he
this place his homo, . part
{ the time at least. As . character,
apt. Jack Crawford Is ~ unique q be
J original and antithstic. II Nay bs
said that the country has
'ever produced his counterpaFt. Un-
aa far ~ schools or colleges
re concerned, spending the greater part
( bis life on the frontier, where nature,
'owsver kind, 10 rough and crude, he
- the soul Of . poet, and gan Of az
'ression that 10 unsurpassed Ia any
chool Of literature. His surroondinsS. |
70 matter what they are. seeo % In
pirs him. and the sentiment, whether