The National tribune., 1900-07-26
A Line from Capt. Jack Crawford.

The following letter from Capt. Jack
Crawford. the scout, has been forwarded
to us by Comrade Jas. Bennett, Of Madi-
son, Wis, and while there are some por-
tions of it that are of private nature we
take the liberty Of publishing it in full:
DAWSON, Y: T.. May 30, 1900, Midnight.
Capt JAMES BENNETT, Madison, Wis:
My Dear Comrade:
The fast revolving wheels of time
Have scored another year;
Memorial Day has passed away,
And many a silent tear
Fell on the mound above her dust
From these tired eyes of mine.
With fathers love | knelt above
That angel girl of thine,
Alone / entered the city of the dead at
3 o'clock this afternoon, with an armful
Of wild flowers, and alone l knclt beside
her grave, and my heart was full, while
the foOdgates of my soul were opened
wide, and | wept as l did when a child.
l felt so lonely. l felt as you must have
felt, for /, too, had a sweet May hower-a
budding little rose, whose grave was be-
ing decorated perhaps at the moment
when | was strewing wild flowers above
the remains OF your precious soldier girl.
No effort had been made to commemorate
the day here, and at 2 o'clock p. m.
posted this notice on my door:
This is Memorial Day. l have gone to
strew flowers on the graves Of my com
rades. Key at well j. w. c."
Then locked up my place Of business,
as l had no one to attend to it, and
climbed the hill to the cemetery where
Mae sleeps. found number of COM
rades' graves by the flags with which we
had marked them last Memorial Day, but
fearful that some comrade might be neg
lected l put flowers on every grave. At
the Catholic cemetery little eght-year-
old boy followed me, and as 1 went from
grave to grave examining the headboards
the little fellow noticed that my eyes were
watery, and he asked, "Is your partner
dead, sir?" mo" said I, "but [ am a
soldier. This is Memorial Day, and 1 am
looking for my dead comrades graves,
that ! may put flowers on them" "Let me
a soldier. too" And so the little man
helped me to pick the flowers, and between
us we decorated forty-five graves in that
cemetery. From there went to the Pho
neer burying ground, where two comrades
-Beadreau and Denker-are buried, and
after placing flowers on all the graves of
the Old IIoneers returned to my temporary
home ranch at 4 p. m., and after pick
up meal OF hardtack, tea and jelly, con-
Guided to write you few lines and, al
though it is half after midnight, l can
easily write by the sunlight, although the
sun mas peen out or sight since $3.50.
met DIR. Mosher on my way home, and
She was sorry she had not thought of it.
or had / called she would have accompa,
MED me. God bless her. She is a won
derful and good woman, and am sure
our Great Commander above must have
directed me to her on that (4O below jan
uary night, when | carried the little mid
get over half mile in the dog sleigh, and
placed in the only charge where she could
have survived: Well, must close. Jesse
is at 4O-nile, believe. hope to see YOU
all some time next winter. / am coming
| out to fill some platform engagements, and
l hope to visit your city and see that lit
tell her that her godfather thinks now
erful sight Of her. Remember me to your
good wife and all friends and comrades.
and with sincere regards believe me. dear
comrade, yours in clouds or sunshine.
CAPT. JACK CRAWFORp.