The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-04-04

tne heroic inquire OF hlt carson, whose
battle-scarred body now rests in the
shadow of the great mountains in
Taos county, New Mexico His deeds
in the romantic borderland have be-
come fascinating portion Of Amer
lean history, and as long as the men,
cries of heroes are worshiped and true
heroism held in exaltation bs1Halcceed-
ing generations, SO long will his name
and memory be honored by Americas
loyal sons.
One among the youngest of these
border path-fnders, but one whose rec
ord embraces deeds of unquestioned
heroism, is Capt Jack Crawford, ia
miliarly known as 1.-The Poet Scout"
First but an humble packer, then a
scout, then the chief of scouts with
several armies and finally skilled
and trusted special agent of the
department of justice entrusted
with the work of bringing to
justice the desperate men engaged
in Illicit liquor traffic among the
Indians on the reservations of the far
west, his life, almost from the day of
his discharge as a boy soldier at the
close of the civil war, has been spent
in the discharge of perilous duties in
the service of the government. When,
shortly after the surrender Of Lee, he
laid down the tools of war and re-
turned to his Pennsylvania home bear
ing upon his youthful body the scars
of wounds received in defense of the
flag which he yet regards with feel
ing akin to alteration, he thought to
settle down and live the life Of quiet
citizen. But the eXcitements of war
had aroused in his soul love for adj
venture, and he hungered for more
stirring life than was offered him at
his boyhood homS. Upon the splendid
war record which laid behind him he ex-
perienced no difficulty IN securing most
excellent testimonials froa the gov
ernor of his state and from several
prominent figures ia the military arm
of the government, AID turning his
face westward he soo1 brought up at a
military post on the far western Dor
ders of civilization. HIS credentials at
once gained for him the confidence and
esteem of the officers there stationed,
and every opportunity was afforded
him to familiarize himself with the
country and with the duties of scout.
In an almost incredibly short space of
time after his arrival in the west he
was sent upon an important and
dangerous mission through q scope of
country infested with hostile Indians,
and so skillfully and successfully did he
perform his work that congratulations
were showered upon him by officers.
soldiers and old experienced scouts,
and brilliant future in that perilous
calling was freely predicted for him.
This was the stepping stone to his
subsequent distinguished career. He
was Immediately assigned to duty as
regularly employed scout, and soon,
j over the heads of older men in point of
service, was appointed chief of scouts
for the army with which he was con-
nected. In many of the subsequent
Indian wars he bore leading and dis
tinguished part, and when lie dotted
the buckskin to enter the service Of
the department of justice he bore with
him the most emphatic concentrations
from the several commanders under
whom he had served.
During his long service = on the
frontier Capt. Crawford became thor
oughly familiar with every phase Of
border garrison life. both social and in
the line of service, and has just COM
pleted a serial story which bears the
title: Private Brown; A Romance of a
Frontier Military Post" While he has
written many short stories of western
lie for publication in various public
prints, this is ,..s irst effort in the