Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-06-08

NNNl, l''l Aih'l W ll|fN NNVllNtUl, anu
we may say over christendom.
James and Rcscn were the two that
gave notoricly to the family, and
/ the only two Of the males we ever
saw. No two men ever lived that
were less understood than these
/ gentlemen, or ol whom more false
opinion was formed, They lived in
times when physical and moral
courage was necessary to the sue.
cess OF every cno. 1t is true they
had not II liberal education, but
were naturally of strong minds and
hcrcuIean forms. They had travel
ed over the CRATER portion of the
Southern States, Tc&as, Mexico and
the West India Islands, had acquir-
cd much information, and spoke,
read and wrote the French language
us well as their own.
The first and only time / ever
saw James row,e-commonly
known MS Jim Bowic-was at Vida
lia, lie was walking from the
clerks office, where ye had been on
business, and more perfect speci-
men OF 4 human being the eye could
not rest upon-combining strength
and elegance, and perfect in all the
proportions of a man-with head O.
rect, shoulders thrown back, he
walked the earth rs ifhc were mon
/ arch Of it, and spurncd the dust
under his feet. He was about six
feet two inches in height, dark hair
and eyes, and his complexion bron-
zcd by exposure and travel when
in conversation, Of easy and pleas
ant address. Nidalia was familiar
to James Bowie, for after the fight
on the sand bar of Natchez, somo
time before 1880, he was brought
here covered with wounds, and re-
mained several weeks, until his
health was restored. The history
oftlis terrible fight we got from M
witness, ono of the surgeons
who attended on The occasion,
/. a ieud had existed between par
ties in Alexandria for long time,
and it was determined to settle tho
matter by a fight. The principals,
with their friends, came to Natchcz,
and OF the party was James Bowie
and Col. Wright. At the time ap:
| pointed, they met on the sand bar
two or three miles above Natchcz.
The fight between the principals
came Off; they exchanged shots
without any danger to either, when
an honorable settlement was made.
But here tho difficulty did not
terminate with the friends, of the
principals. Tho remark was mado
by one Of them, ''IIcre is Il good
, time and place to settle the quarrel" 4"
when pistols were drawn and u
promiscuous fight took place. 1t
was free fight" every man for
himself. Ten or a dozen were on
the ground-somc spectators-and
all were armed with pistols, knives
and swordcancs the revolver then
was not known. James Bowie was
looked upon as the most dangerous,
and was the target he received a
pistol ball in his thigh. fred bv
gentleman of Natchcz, and fell.
At this staro of the fivht, Colonel
! WRIGHT rushed upon Bowie when
he was down, and run him through
the chest with his sword. Bowie
had himself armed with a knife
made OF an old file about TWENTY
inches long with buckhorn han
dlc and when Wrrht thrust him
throuoh he oronnied him Inv the
collar and stril,ing him in the chest
ohout thc collor homo downward
made u wound n foot lone in the
chest and abdomen WRIGHT fallino
nnon his adversary n litsIcss man
Hrrc ended tbis terrible affair Col,
Wrirht wns brourbt TO the side of,
tho pircr and Inriod in tho old
orovevord above town Bowi, was
RronrLt Lcro and seventeen nistol
and Swor6 wounds drcsscd Ue
,,,s ibo onIv ono wounded and
- w I,;roI
roi'ilot l"0 oiy O". - N'
from tillS lSht, ana the kuile user,
the celebrated highly polished and
deadly weapon, known as the Bowlo
knife, took its name. 1t is SAID MI.
Bowie would never allow any ono
TO make the slightest allusion TO-
this shocking tragedy. James Bowie
was largely concerned IN the land
spcculatlons under the pan Ish
grants, but he died poor.
When Mexico, under the leader
ship OF Santa Anna, INVADED Iexas
lanes Bowie volunteered his SER
vicos in her defense. and fell at the
Alamo bv the side of David Crock
et. of Tennessee, and Christopher
Parker. of Mississippi. a brother
in-law of Gen. Sparrow. The i'm.