Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-03-17
American Travel.

practical utility
American Travel.
The late celebrated Mr.. Clay was man of great
resolution and considerable daring He once told the
following anecdote to friend of ours:
Travelling in early manhood, in public convey
ance in southeastern State, he found himself IN the
company of three other persons, consisting of young
lady and gentleman her husband and of an individual
muffed up in cloak, whose countenance was con-
cea,ed and who appeared to be lnduIgng IN tete-
a-tete with Morpheus.
Suddenly big, brawny Kentuckian got into the
coach, smoking cigar, and frowned fercely around,
as much as to- say "Im half horse, half aliga tor;
the yallow flower of the Forest all birthstone but the
head and ears and that's aquafortis" In fact he look
ed as savage as meat.axe, and pulled forth huge
volumes of smoke, without reference to the company
Within especially of the lady, who manifested certain
tmid symptoms of annoyance. Presently, after some
whispering, the gentleman with her, in the poitest
accents, requested the stranger not to smoke, as an
moved his companion. The fellow answered: {" !
reckon I've paid my place. I'll smoke much [
darn please; and all hell shant stop me no how
With that he looked dangerous, and rolled his eyes
round as fercely as rattlesnake. it was evident,
he had no objection to quarrel and that, II II occur
red it likely to lead to a deadly struggle. The
young man who had spoken to him shrunk back and
was silent.
Clay felt his gallantry aroused. He considered for
moment whether he should interfere, but experen-
ced natural reluctance to draw upon himself the
brutal violence of his gigantic adversary. In that
lawless country he knew his life might be sacrificed
unavenged. He knew himself physically unequal to
the contest and he thought after all, it not his
business quxohcally to take up another mans quar-
rel Feeling pity for the nsulted and disgust toward
U the nsuter he determined to take notice: when
very quietly indeed, the cloaked figure in the corner
! assumed upright position, and the mantle was sui
i fered to fall from it without effort excitem
The small but snewy form of man, plainly dressed
in tightly buttoned frockcoat with nothing remark
): able about his appearance, seen, and pair Of
bright gray eyes sought the fierce optics of the Zero
cou> Kentuckian. Without word this ''lay figure
passed his hand beneath his collar the back of his
J. neck and slowly and deliberately pulled forth long
! extremely long, and giering knife from its sheath
in that singular place. Stranger,' he said, " my
I sas and Louisiana and if you don't put that ciga
: out of the window IL quarter of a minute, I'll pu
J. this knife through your bowels as DEATH
Clay said he forgot in after life the expression
: of the colonels eye at that moment The pedomin
l. ant impression made upon him the certainty 0
u threat being fulfilled and apparently the same con
IT victon impressed itself long upon the offende
% during the two three seconds bis eyes met that
g Bowie. He was the weaker, and he quailed Wit
ii a curse he the cigar from between his teeth AM
flung it, scowlng but downcast, Out of the coach win
i, dow
ID Upon this Colonel James Bowie as deliberately re
placed his long knife in its eccentric hiding place
IS and, without saying word to any one, vouch
A. safng glance any one refolded his cloak aroun
A. him. and did not utter another syllable to the end
,n the journey.-Ner Quarterly Review for January
" THE Ericsson CALoR1c SHIP.-Capt Ericsson
~ hot air ship left New York Friday a prvat
~ trial trip. The intention that she should II
30 main three four days. but her cylinders prov
&hoo