The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-06
James Bowie, the Duelist.

gers. Immediately after getting good head
way" to adopt a favoritc back-woods phrase
one person attracted universal attention by
the annoying cagcrncss with which he en-
deavored to make up party at cards. In
deed. his oft-rcpeated and pcrsevering efforts
to that nd,soon became insulting. and yet his
appearance was such as to deter the bravest
on board from administeringthe chastisement
so richly deserved He was huge mass of
mighty bone and muscles with swarthy fca-
lures, bearing the impress of many scar
piercing dark eyes, that seemed to possess the
power of blasting the beho!der gleam-
ing eyes, such as haunt the memory painfully
a rank luxuriancc of coal black hair, immense
whiskers and moustachc. This savage look
ing figure was habitcd in the costlicst cloth
ing and adorned with profusion of jcwelrv,
while the outlines of several murderous
weapons were plainly distinguishable beneath
his gaudy vest and supertine coat. Nor did
he need these to render him an object of ter
ror. y connoiscur in the science of bcliger-
cnt gymnastics, would have confidentially pro-
nounccd him match for any five men OH the
deck without any aid from lead or cold steel.
At length after many failures, he prevailed
on wealthy young merchant of Natchez to
join him in a game of poker. They sat down
at small table near the bar, and were soon
absorbed in that most pcrilous Of excitement,
of which the two aluring ingredients are the
vanity and pride of Individual skill. and the
uncertainty of general hazard At first the
stakes were small. and the run of the cards
seemed wholly in favor of the merchant. but
presently they bet more freely, and gold ca
grs and hundred dollar notes were showcred
down on the board with cxtravasant artlor
and the current of fortune changed-cbbcd
away from the Young merchant. and flowed to
the professional gambler in stream like the
oceans tide. AS usually happens in such ca
>c>. his want of success only piqued and mad
dcncd the loser. and he sought to retrieve
himself by vcnturinS such desperate ventures
as could but deepen and confirm his ruin. And
thus they continued during that long sum-
ncr night. The intensity of their excitement
became equivalent TO insanity. Every nerve
Was >truns-cvcrv energy of the brain was
taxed to the utmo>t-thcir teeth were set as
those OF antagonists in the tug or mortal
>,ritc-thc sweat rolled from their brow> Ike
:.'rcat drops Of rain. The passengers formed
q circle around the players. and looked on
with liza. Interest which extraordinary con-
cc,tr.;inn If intellect and passion never fails
to inspire even liz lo>NuS that >huddcr n
the excess. Merchant and gambler attracted
all eyes. and kept many awake AM gazing
I'll morning And in the cabin was one pc
>cnting countcnancc SO rtcou> that it might
have melted hearts of marble to tears. \ pale
and cxqui>tcly beautiful face pccpcd inces-
sanity from the half-opcncd door of the ladies'
cabin, weeping all the while as if oppressed
by some dreadful sensation of immediate sor-
row. 1t was the merchant lovely wife weep
ing her farewell to departing hope.
There was one spectator. also. whose ap-
pcarancc and actions excited almost as much
curiosity as the PLAYERS did themselves He
was a tall. spare man of about thirty. with
handsome features. golden hair. keen blue
eyes of prctcrnatural brightness. and his firm.
thin lips wore perpetual Smilc-a mystcri-
Gus smile Of the strangcst and the most in
scru,ablc meaning. With the exception of
his red calico shirt. his person was dressed
wholly in buckskin. ornamcntcd with long
flowing tasscS, and with figures wrought out
of varicgatcd beads. after the fashion of some
western Indians he stood close beside the
card table. and held in his left hand sheet
of paper. in his right large pencil, with which
ever and anon he dashed off few words. as
if engaged in tracing the progress of the
game.
Still the merchant and gambler pcrsevcrcd
III their physical and mental toll The dial
of the stars with its thousand fingers of gold.
en fire, pointed to the world shadow of mid
night; but still they didnotpausc. ltstill was
shuttle and cut and pass, ante up, and call
YOU, and rake down the pile Towards morn.
ing tremendous storm arose. The red
lightning flashed awfully the hail poured
down like cataract-thc great river roared
till it rlvalcd the loud thunder of heaven
and the very pilot at the wheel was alarmed
But the mad players heard it not What wa.
the tumult of the raging elements to then
whose destiny hung on the turning of card
and the smiling blue-eyed stranger in buck
skin was still by them, with his pencil and pa
per calmly noticing the development of the
game.
Finally the storm passed, and as the beau
tiful day-beam came out like thing of glo
ry III the great east, the infatuated mer
chant, distrusted with heavy losses, dared
the climax of folly. He stalked five thou
sand dollars, comprising his last cent of mon
ey in the world on two pair of kings"
The whiskered gambler "called" him
they showed hands the black leg had " two
pair of aces" the merchant dropped on thu
floor as if he had been shot through the brain
and the beautiful young wife flew to his side
and fell shriekinS upon his bosom. The,