The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-04
CAMPFIRE AND THE TRAIL.
Subject Of Captain Jack Crawford's Lee.
ture at the X. X. Y. NJ. c. A.

ture ut the X. X. Y. NJ. C. A.
scout and the heroic soldier, whose life
age, and who did not visit Scranton
before in more than a dozen years. al
though the events of his brave and
rugged life in that interim have been
duly chronicled and merited attention
has been given to them in the press,
was heard in his famous lecture, 1.-The
Campfire and the Trail" at the rooms
of the Railroad Young Mems Chris
tian association last evening.
His audience taxed the seating ca
paclty of the hall, received his brilliant
and versatile lecture with manifest APP
plause, and felt sorry when he had fin
ished. He was introduced by F. D..
Glover. who paid him deserved COM
pliment. Before the lecture the back
ground of the platform was draped
with a full-sized American flag.
Captain Jack appeared in the cos
tune of frontierman of the plains.
His buckskin breeches encased a pair
Of stout, hardy and muscular legs; he
wore a blue jacket and huckskin
coat of more than ordinary length. The
long flowing locks of black hair which
reach in n mass to his shoulders give
him quaint appearance His mus
tache and imperial are turning gray.
He preferred, he said, to address his
salutation to his hearers as Boys and
girls" for he does not think he Is grow
ing old and feels as youthful yet in
spirit as when he was boy.
born in the North OF ireland.
He recounted stories of his life and
told that he was born in the north OF
Ireland of Scotch parents: his father
came to this country when the war
broke out and Joined the union forces.
Jack came across the ocean with his
mother when he was mere hoy and
they located at Schuylkill, in this state,
where he picked slate in the breaker,
and was one day drawn through a coal
chute. At the age of 16 he enlisted
in the army and was twice wounded.
He spoke of his travels through this
country and England. A sample of the
obtuse wit of the Englishman was IL
lustrated to him one day while he
was in Britain. He saw a sign post
that had on 1t an inscription pointing
out the way. and there was footnote
"If you can't read, inquire of the
blacksmith at the corner" Captain
Crawford. when he read IT laughed long
and heartily. and while he was enjoy
ing his mirth, native of the soil
CHANGED along and inquired what the
mirth was about.
The captain told him to read the
sign and note the ludicrous direction
made for the benefit of the illiterate.
The man did. and, after pondering five
minutes. began to smile slowly: ther
he broke out with a giggle. "Why II
Is rawther funny daWnchaknOW. the
blacksmith I,iight not be at home"
Impressed with Our Progress.
He was greatly impressed with the
progress Of Scranton since he was here
before: he compared 1t to Chicago. He
recited two poems of his own in way
that captivated His voice Is deeD and
well rounded. gifted with musical fleX-
ibility, and he possesses marked eloru-
tionary power. His displayed splendid
versatility In giving monolOgue inita-
tions of the Italian organ grinder. the
irrepressible 1rishman, the unfortunate
suffering man, and SO forth. His
lecture had temperance morals running
throsgh It, One of his stories, told In
an inimitable way, was about a knock
kneed man. Each knee stood In so far
from the perpendicular line that one
seemed to say to the other LET me
pass you this time. and I will let you
go by the next"
The closing chapter of his lecture was
Pony Bill's Cowboy sermon. Captain
Crawford never took drink of liquor
and he wove charming and touching
stories about incidents in his life where
temptations were strongly forced in his
way.