Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-03-25
BOWIE AND THE BULLY,

Inc late Henry Clay was q man of great re-
solution and considerable daring He once tolt
the following anecdote TO friend of ours
Travelling in public conveyance, in South
western State, he found himself in compan,
OF three other persons, consisting of youne
lady and gentleman, her husband, and a mar
mui'ed IN cloak, whose coubtenance was con.
ceaied, and who appeared to be indulgire in a
tete-a-tete with Morpheus. Suddenly big
brawny hentuckian got into the coach, smo.
king cigar, and frowned fiercely on all around
as much as to say, "I'm half horse, half allina.
tor, aud something of swapping turtle" In
fact he looked as savage as meat-axe, and
pufted forth huge volumes of smoke, wthou,
reference to the company within, especially the
lady, who manifested certaia timid symptoms
oS annoyance. Presently, after some whisper.
ing, the gentleman with her, in the politest ac
cent, he requested the stranger not to smoke,
as it annoyed his companion. The fellow an.
swered: 81 reckon I've paid for my place. III
smoke on as much as darn please, and all hell
| ant stop me, no howl
| shWith that he looked dangerous, and rolled
| his eyes round as tiercely as a ratt!esnake. It
was evident he had no objections to quarrel,
and 1hat if it occurred, it was likely to lead to
| deadly struggle. The young man who had
spoken to him, shrank back and was silent.
Clay felt his gallantry aroused. He consid-
cred for moment whether he should inter-
fere, but experienced a natural reluctance to
draw upon himself the brutal violence of his
gigantic adversary. In that lawless country,
he knew his life mi ght be sacrificed unayenged.
He knew himself physically unequal to the
contest, and he thought, after all, it was not his
business, Quixotcally, to take up another mans
quarrel. Feeling pity for the insulted, and dis.
trust towards the insulter, he determined to
take no further notice, when, very quietly, in
deed, the cloaked figure in the corner assumed
an upright position, and the mantle was suffer-
ed to fall from it without effort or excitement.
The small but snewy frame Of a man, plain
ly dressed in tightly buttoned frock coat, with
nothing remarkable about his appearance, was
seen, and pair Of bright gray eyes, sought the
fierce optics Of the ferocous keptuckian.-
With word this "lay figure" passed his hand
under his collar at the back Of his neck, and
slowly and deliberately pulled forth long
extremely long-and gIittering knife from its
sheath in that singular place
lie, well known in Arkansas and Louisiana, and
if you don't put that cigar out Of the window
in quarter Of minute, I'll put this knife
through your bowels as sure as death!''
Mr.. Clay said he never forgot in after life
the expression of Bowie's eyes at that mo-
ment. The predominant impression made up
on him was the certainty of the threat being
fulfilled, and apparently the same conviction
impressed itself ere long upon the offende<-
During two or three seconds his eyes met those
of Bowie. He was weaker and he quailed.-
With curse, he tore the cigar from between
his teeth, and flung it, scowlng but downcast
out Of the coach winkow. Upon this, Bowie
as deliberately replaced his long knife in its
eccentric hiding place, and, without saying a
word to any one else. or even vouchsafing
glance at any one, refoIded his cloak around
him, and did not utter another syllable to the
end Of the journey.