The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-08
BRAVE IN THE FACE OF sAvAGEs,
COURTLY IN WOMAN's
PRESENCE.
JACK CRAWFORD, POET, HERO,
DELEGATES A POEM TO THE WO-
MEN OF DAYTON'S
BLUFF.
CAMP FIRE UNDER THE ARCH,
Is Ablaze With the Spirit That Ami
mated the Encampment of the
Week Just Closed.


mated every citizen of ST. Paul last
week burst forth again last evening
when the women of Dayton's Bluff
held an open air campfire under the
beautiful arch erected by them at the
corner Of Sixth street and Bates ave-
nue., in honor of the Grand Army en-
campment. Fully 1900 people crowded
about the platform to listen to the
speakers of the occasion who were Mrs
Burke, Corporal Tanner of New York;
Capt. Jack Crawford, the Poet Scout"
and Maj. Wilkinson, Third regiment
United States army, of Fort Smelling.
Albert Scheffer was chairman of the
evening and introduced the speakers
in well chosen words
The number contributed to the pro-
gramme by Mrs. Burke, was the rect
tation Of a poem entitled, "The First
Minnesota at Gettysburg" which re-
counted the part taken in that mem
orable battle by Minnesota's volun-
teers
Following an expression of his pleas
ure at being a participant in the pat
r1ot1c exercises of the evening, Corporal
Tanner delivered a stirring address
upon the significance Of the Grand
Army. It's members, he said, had
flown to the defense Of their country in
its hour Of direst need and by their
noble sacrifices of life and home, had
abolished slavery, made all men equal
and preserved the Union. In con-
clusion Corporal Tanner admonished
the youth of the present day to emu
late the virtues of the old soldier and
to be loyal in their duty to their coun-
try.
Maj. Wilkinson spoke briefly Of the
pleasure he had had as a member Of
the regular army in assisting in en-
tending the hospitality Of ST. Paul to
the veterans, after which Capt. Craw-
ford was introduced.
Capt Crawford expressed the most
hearty thanks on behalf Of himself and
his comrades for the splendid welcome
given them by the citizens of st. Paul
during the encampment, and said as
the beautiful arch under which he
stood and the campfire were both
woman's work. he was deeply i'm
pressed with the grandeur of woman's
character. He owed all he was, he
said, to woman, and that his mother.
He then detailed some Of the history of
his early life during which he said that
he had not been raised under the most
favorable circumstances and that he
had reached young manhood without
being able to either read or write. In
battle Of the civil war he was wound
ed and was taken to hospital. There,
under the instruction of the women
nurses, he learned to read and to write
Another debt, he said, which he owed
to woman.
Capt Crawford also told how he had.
When but a boy promised his mother
on her death bed that he would never
drink drop Of liquor as long as he
lived and how he had gone through
both the war and the rough exper-
fences of frontier life with his promise
sacredly kept to the present day.
'The Veteran and His Boy q poem
Of the captains own composition for
the encampment, as recited by him.
was deeply pathetic, and at its con-
clusion was greeted by a storm Of ap-
plause.
Capt Crawford also recited the fol-
lowing poem which he composed and
dedicated:
To Mrs. Wetter and her loyal coworkers on
Here's a tribute of love and token
From comrades OF mine, one and all;
Our best. purest thoughts are unspoken,
Dear good, loyal girls of st. Paul.
We feel in our souls the emotion
No word from our lips convey.
Our eyes are all sprinkled with spray,
woman so true so devoted
You are built of magnificent stuff
On one side the elegant Newport
And the same loyal souls on the Bluff
Mrs: Wetter and Scheffer and Davies,
Miss Hartman and others you know,
Aname with such loyal devotion
Good angels at work here below
Sweet womanhood, keep the fires burning
That light up our souls on lifes trail:
An omen of good times returning.
We know that the right will prevail.
AND with such loyal women behind us
And that dear living flag on before
The ranks of the Union will find us
Enrolled with our comrades once more.
God bless you and all who stood near Won
To welcome our heroes in blue,
FOR them salute you and cheer YOU
And pledge our allegiance anew;
But words are so tame to address you
They sound almost harsh in our ears
Let us say au revoir and God bless youi
Mid silence and sunshine and tears
Fraternally yours. j. W. Crawford
Capt Jack.)
The programme was concluded by a
violin solo by Frank Seibert.
Among those occupying the platform
with the speakers were Mr.. and Mrs.
Albert Scheffer, Col and Mrs. r. M.
Newport, Mrs. Charles Corning, Mrs.
Charles Bronson, Capt. and Mrs A. B.
Johnson, Miss M. Hartman, Mrs. Daniel
Davies, Mrs. Emma Blankenberg. Mrs
Julia Wetter, Mrs. Naumann, Miss
Naumann, Miss Scheffer and Mrs.
Krembs. ,s-ss ss