The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-03
VOL. X-NO. 0.
THE BOWIE KNIFE.

The late celebrated Mr.. Clay was n MAJ
of great resolution and considerable daring
He once told the following anecdolc to
friend ofours. Travelling, An early manhood
in a public conveyance in South Eastern
State, he found himself in the company O
three other persons, consisting Of youn;
lady and gentleman, her husband, and Of al
individual muflled up in cloak, whose coun
tenance was concealed, end who appeared Il
be indulaing in tete.a.teto with Morphe
us. Suddenly big, brawny Kentuckian go
into the coach smoking cigar, and frownet
6crccly around, rs much rs TO say, I'm hal
horse, hall alligator; the yaller flower of tn,
forest, all birthstone but the head and ears
and that's aquafortis.' In fact, he looked u,
savage rs meataxc. and pulled forth hug,
volumes OF smoke, without reference TO Tia,
company within, especially of the lady, whC
manifested certain timid symptoms of annoy
ance.
Presently, after some whispering, the gen
tleman with her, in the politest accents, re-
qucstcd the stranger not to smoke, Us it an
noyed his companion. The fellow answered,
u reckon I've paid my place. I'll smoke as
much us Idarn please, and all creation shan
stop me no how With that he looked dan
gcrous and rolled his eyes round us 6srcly
as raltlesnake. II was evident he had nc
objection to quarrel, and that if II occurred
It was likely to lead to deadly struggle
The young man who had spoken to him
shrunk back and was silent. Clay felt his
galldntry aroused. He considered for mo-
ment whether he should Interfere but expc
rienced a natural reluctance to draw upon
himself the brutal violence of his gigantic
adversary. In the lawless country, he knew
his life might be sacrificed unavenged. lie
knew himself physically unequal to the con.
test, and he thought, aficr all, it was not his
business Quixotically to take up another
mans quarrel.
Feeling pity for the insulted and disgust
toward the insulrer, he determined to take
no notice when, very quietly indeed, the
cloakcd figure in the corner assumed an up
right position, and the mantle was suffered
to fall from it without effort or excitement.
The small but sinewy frame Of q man, plain
y dressed IN tigbtly-butoned frock.coat
with nothing remarkable about his appear.
ance, was seen, and pair OF bright gray
eyes sought tho fierce optics Of tiie Icrocious
Kcntuckian. Without word, this 'lay.Gg.
ure' passed his hand under his collar at the
back of his neck, and slowly and deliberate.
ly pulled forth long-exiremely lons-and
gittering knife from its sheath ia that sin.
gular place. Stranger he said, my name
is Col James Bowie, well known in Arkan.
sas and Louisiana, and if you don't put that
cigar out of the window in a quarter of a
minute, put this knife through your bow
els rs sure as DEATH
Clay said he never forgot in after life the
expression Of the Coloncl's eye at that mo-
mcnt. The predominant impression made
upon him was the certainty Of the threat be.
ing fulfilled, and apparently tho same convic-
ton impressed itself ere long upon the Of.
fender. During two or three seconds lis
eyes met that OF Bowie. He was the weak.
or, and he quailed. With curse, he tore
the cigar from between his teeth, and flung
it, scowling, but downcast, out Of the coach
window. Upon this, Colonel Bowie is delib
crately replaced his long knife in his eccen.
trio hiding place, aud, without saying word
TO any ono else. or even vouchsafng glance
to any one, refolded his cloak around him,
and did not utter another syllable to the end
ofthe journey. .--Ncr Quarterly Reriep for
January.