The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-09-12
From the New York Sunday Times.
James vie.

] 7
pose, he called on Thomas Carlyle The English
solitaire Piled the American with innamerable qHes-
tons relating to our customs and habits Of social
stence this side Of the great water, but manifest
ed the keenest curiosity concerning the people OF the
backwoods Parker drew, for the other amusement, |
vivid sketch of the achievements Of Bowie, the
famous arcb-duelist Of Texas. Carlyle listened with
sparkling ewes 10 the close Of the narratives and then
burst forth into exclamations Of involuntary entfu-
sasrn -
sBy Hercules the man was greater than Caesar
or Cromwell-nay, nearly equal to Odin or Thor.
The Texans ought to build him an alter"
The burning sympaihizer with the heroic in all its
phases, rubbed his hands together, chuekled in an
ecstacy of savage glee, and made Parker repeat his
story Of bloody anecdotes Finally he pat the ques-
ton
s'Bat by what miracle could it happen that the |
brave fellow escaped the capital penalty Of the law
after such countless yielations'' -
To this inieuogatory, Parker, as he himself con |
fessed, could return satisfactory answer; and as
ten thousand readers have perhaps pondered the
same problem without concelvlng rational solution.
it may be uninteresting to explain it briefly
pecialy as clear calculation can be detailed in
few words.
Let it be remembered, then, that although the
great system Of common law, " that perfection Of
human reason fos the Anglo-Saxon race, prevails
throughout all the States of the West, wholly as to
and measure of punishment annexed TO each; never
theless in its PRACTICAL application TO gwen cases.
is controlled by the power Of far mightier aw-tbe
omnlpotent law Of public opinion; because in most
Western courts uries absolute judges Of both the
law and the fact; and their interpretations evince
direct antagonism with the dicta of my Lord Coke,
1 and the classic comments Of Blackstone.
On the subject Of homicide in particular, public
opinion has passed the bounds Of all books of luris-
prudence, and settled immutable statute this
| extraordinary axiom -
sIt is justifable to kill in fair combat, everybody
and anybody who ought to be killed.
In Bowie's numerous rencontres, he always kept
within the prescribed rule Of lattudinarian law and
hence he always acquitted by frontier ures and
frequently with addenda to their verdicts, highly
complimentary to his character as chyalrous gem
teman. In truth, most of his desperate engagements
grew out of his innate and invincibe disposition to
espouse the cause fthe weak against the mighty
One Illustration, by incident, will present this pecu-
liarity in the strongest light, and may, besides, re-
veal thorough knowledge Of the heart and soul of
the man.
On the evening Of the fourth Of June, 1885, the
steamboat "Rob Boy started from St Louis to New
Orleans, with full crowd Of passengers Immedi-
aely after tgetting under good headway' Ito adopt
favorite lakewood phrase,) one person attracted
universal attention by the annoying eagerness with
which he endeavored 10 make up a party at cards
Indeeds his o-repeated and perse-eri~s efforts TO
that end, soon became insulting and uncomfortable !:
and yet Is appearance was such deter the bra
vest on board from administering that chastisement
which he SO richly deserved. He was huge mass
of mighty bone and muscle, with swarthy features
bearing the impress Of many scar; piercing black
eyes, that seemed to possess the power Of blasting
the behoder--cold, cleaning eyes, such as haunt
If the memory painull rank luxurance Of coal black
a hair; immense whiskers and moustache. The saw
age looking figure habiled in the cosiest cloth
= ing, and adorned witha proluslon of ewelry, while
the outlines seyera murderous wea pons were plain
I ly distinguished beneath his gaudy vest and super
tne coat Nor did he need these to render him an
object OF terror. connoisseur in the science of bel
gerent gymnastics, would have confidently pl onoun-
ced him match for any FIVE men on the deck with.
out any aid from lead or cold steel
At lenght, after many failures he prevailed upon
wealthy young merchant of Natchez to Join hin, in
game OFF okar. They sat down beside small
q table near the bar, and absorbed in thai
most perous OF excitements, Of which the two al
turing ingredients the vanity and pride ofndiyidu-
q al skill, and the uncertainty Of general hazard Al
nrst the stakes were small and theirun ofcards SEEM
d ed wholly IN favor of the merchant but presently
: they bet more freely, and gold eagles and hundred
dollar notes were showered down with extravaganza
ardor: and then the currant of fortune chanaed-eb
= pea away from the young merchant and flowed 10
tle professional gambler in stream like the oceans
tide As usually happens in such cases, his want Of
success only pqued and maddened the loser and he
sought TO recover himself by venturing such desner
ate ventures could but deepen and confirm his
rum. And thus they continued during whole sum-
!, mer night.
+ The intensity Of their excitement became eouva-
It lent to insanity. Every nerve was strung. every
energy Of the brain was tasked to the uImost-teetb
We're set hard as those Of antagonists in the tug Of
mortal strie-the sweat rolled from their brows like
great drops Of rain. "'O
!, The passengers formed circle around the NAV
ers, and looked on with that interest which such az
raornary concentrations intellect and passion never
n fails to inspire, in the bosoms that shudder ot
It's success The merchant and the gambler attract
ed all eyes, and kept many awake and gazing I'M
r morning Among the latter was one presenting n
! countenance so piteous that it might have mel
ted hearts of marble to tears. pale and exousite
~ beautiful face peepcd necessarily from the half
opened door at the ladies' cabin, weeping all the
Tune as u impressed by some dreadful sensation If
irremedlable sorrow. II was the merchants lovely
, wlie, weeping her farewell to departing hope
! There was one spectator, also, whose appearance
ana action excited almost much curiosity as ,be
players did themselves. He was a tall snare man
Of about thirty, with handsome features, golden bair
Keen blue eyes Of preternatural brightness and h;s