The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-15

New Orleans Times-Democrat.)
Davy Crockett, one of the most
picturesque characters in the early
political history of this republic. vas
called the "Munchausen of the west
for the reason that he was somewhat
famous for his eccentricities. but with
a rar fund of humor. much common
sense and addicted not infrequently to
the telling of improbable stories.
Baron Karl Munchausen was a
German soldier in the Russian service
against the Turks. a collection of
stories ascribed to him. written by r.
f. Raspe, was published in England
in 1855 as Baron M~unchausen's Mar
rative of His Marvellous Travels and
Campaigns in Russia" since which
time his name is p~roNerbially associ-
ated with absurdly exaggerated stor-
les of adventures. For this same
habit of Crockett's he has received
his famous nickname.
Crockett was the uneducated son of
an Irish immigrant. who. after fight
ing in the Revolution. had settled in
the Tennessee forests and there OPP
ened a ~backwoods tavern not far from
Knoxville. During his early years
"Davy" worked AS tearnster, hatter's
apprentice, trapper n huntsman.
When he was Is he went home. found
his father deep in debt and toiled for
another year or two to wipe out every
dollar of the Indebtedness. Then he
went to school for a few months, but
had barely learned some Of his let
tiers when the call of the wild"
ventures.
BY 1912 he had acquired fame as
one Of the most daring huntsmen and
Indian fighters in the southwest. So
when he arose to address his fellow
pioneers he was listened to with eager
attention. In a few rough. forceful
sentences this backwoodsman. who
could scarcely write his own name.
set clearly before his audience their
duty to their country. His speech,
more than any other mans eloquence,
is said to have carried the victory.
He concluded with his immortal adj
vice to the wavering element OF the
frontiersmen: BE sure you're right.
then go ahead" The simple maxim
spread like wildfre through the
southwest. 1t was the sort of talk
rough men could understand: an
axiom to live up to. 1t was on the
lips Of hundreds who fastened to en-
list in the War of 1872.
Davy C%rockett's whole life was in a
sense wildly romantic, and vet there
was a fine conservative balance in his
makeup which won for him the con-
fidence of all men. He was probably
as great a hunter as Daniel Boone,
but he had a broader vision than the
latter and was more ambitious.
Two years after the war he lived in
quiet contentment on his frontier
farm. Then he began to mix in poll
tics. first by being appointed magis-
trate and then squire. In the latter
position, as he was obliged to write
out his warrants. he ook to the study
of writing. for he could just barely
write his name at this time. In a
short time he was able not only to
write these warrants. but also to keep
his own record books. This led later
to his announcing himself as a candi-
date for the legislature.
When he plunged into the cam
paign his methods were so unique
that he easily defeated his opponent.
He had barbecues and shooting par
ties and dancing parties. and his witty
speeches at these events became the
talk Of the state. He would travel on
horseback with a big twist" of to-
bacco in a pouch or one side Of him
and a big flask Of whiskey in a pouch
on the other side. If he met a man
on the road he offered him a drink.
As all the backwoodsmen chewed to-
bacco the man usually had to throw
the chew before he took the
drink. After the drink Crockett Of
fered the man a chew from his