The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-09-07

.rll.I.r' oApT, LAG. cRAwroRp DEAD.
Killed While Engaged in Gold Mining in
Washington.

u
| Crawford, the Poet Scout, as the result of an
accident.
The despatch states that news has reached H
Seattle of the accidental death at the Blewitt II
gold mines, near Bewitt, Kittitas county, of
Capt. Jack Crawford, who claimed to be
the original poet scout. The accident took
/ place in what are commonly termed the
| Hydraulic claims, located a short distance
below Negro creek. Death came instantly
and was probably caused by conclusion Of the /
brain. Crawford had been piping against
the bank and stepped upon a small elevation
/ to see what effect the water was having upon
the bank. rock fell from the bank, strik-
/ ing him on the breast. He was thrown back
ward and fell down hill eight or ten feet,
striking on the back Of his head among some
rocks He died instantly.
In the death Of Capt jack Crawford the
country loses one of its most remarkable
characters His career was Kaleidoscope
and at times sensational to a high degree.
| His was a true experience of the ups and
downs of life and many lessons may be taken
\ from it, One day he would sail on the crest
of wave of prosperity, be welcomed and
dined in some of the most influential circles
Of the country, and the next day desperation
would stare him in the face But a few
years ago he was guest in the royal circles
Of England. Now news is received that he
met he met his death while working in
mine to earn a livelihood.
Captain Jack" Crawford was born in the
vicinity Of Mnersville in lS47 When very
young he entered coal breaker rs II slate
picker When 10 years Of age he went to the
war enlisting in the same company with bis
father, Benjamin, in the 4sth Pennsylvania
Volunteers. About year later while under
General Grant in the Wilderness he was
badly wounded. His discharge from the
service followed and he returned to his native
place. Up to the time he entered the war
Crawford had secured no education,
but while on the field he obtained a
scant knowledge of reading and writing
p and upon his return home improved until he
obtained a common school education. This
he improved as he grew older and almost the
first goal his mind drifted to was poetry.
Although by no means a scholar he became
the author of great number of very
creditable poems and at least two volumes Of
them are in circulation They deal chiefly
> with themes connected with the civil war and
border life.
Soon after returning from The WAY i'and re- r
covering from his wounds Crawford went to
Girardville and became clerk in a general
store there. His ambition and energy was
such that about a year later he became Post
master Of Gimrdville, but through mis-
fortune, which in no way reflected upon his
honesty, he lost this position after serving
i. little over year. Crawford engaged in
the green truck and fruit business from 1870
to 1872 in the same town and then came to
Shenandoah and, in partnership with another
unan, bought out and conducted Il billiard
room in building that occupied the site of
the present Egan building, at the corner of
Centre and Market streets. In this business
Crawford continued with considerable success
for about another year. Then the Black
Hills fever broke out. Crawford became
restless. His love for adventure was strong
and he was one of the first to strike out for
the gold hills. He hurriedly disposed of his
interest in .he billiard room and went West,
b leaving hi family here but they joined him
soon after.
Craw ords ambition, daring and strong
personality led him to the front rank and he
soon attracted the attention Of General
t Gus sr, who made him scout to assist in the
warfare against the Sioux Indians 1t was
here that the most eventful phases of the
70 SChuylkill county slate picker's life de-
velOped, He was on a scouts mission
some distance from the scene Of the
memorable battle in which General Custer
and his entire force was massacred, but he
was one of the first to arrive upon the scene
and after a ride of $50 miles with a relay of
horses out-distanced a number Of other
couriers to the nearest telegraph station and
sent the first report of the massacre to the
New York Herald. For this service Crawford
received $3.50 from the newspaper.
This service won for him a promotion
to the captaincy, or chief of scouts, and he
held the position until the government dis
banded the scout service some years after
He was then assigned to Fort Craig
New Mexico. as sutler and during
residence there OF several years he engaged
in speculating and gold mining, but without
success. Crawford then reached out for fame
and fortune on the theatrical stage and also
on the lecture platform. At the same time
he issued his books of poems and for
a while he was quite successful. He went to
England, where his fame as scout and
frontier poet had preceded him and his draw
ing room recitals became the rage. Returning
to America Crawford wrote frontier play
/. entitled, "On the Trail" 1t had poetic
merit, but was not n success A performance
was given in this town with no better en-
couagement and Crawford and his large
company stranded here. J. J. Faney ad-
vanced money to get the company back to
New York This was but a return for an act
. of kindness Mr. Franey received from him.
At the time Of the great conAagraton in this
town in November, 1888, Franey became
pressed for money. Among his old accounts
was one of SO due from Crawford. Fnney
J forwarded the bill to the west and Crawford
responded with a remittance of $40 and the
following poem:
HI When old and gray,
I'LL If on my way
w Through life ! chance to meet you,
Wen talk Of joys,
When were boys,
III And, Jim, old Jack will greet you.
II Wit warmth will twist your honest fist,
u Nor blush IL he caress you;
For love is strong,
In humble song
II The love says heaven bless you.
II The closing years Of poor Jack Cmw-
S ford s life were tempestuOus. Adversities
I, met him in rapid succession and he was
II finally obliged to abandon theatrical life. He