The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-01-06
Clay and 3OMie.


Henry Clay used to tell a story of his
own experience. Upon a certain occa-
sion, in his early manhood, Mr.. Clay
was travelling in public stage coach in
Tennessee. His fellow passengers We're
a young lady and her husband the lat
ter gidently an invahd-and a man in
the front corner, SO muff1ed up in fur
lined cloak that his features were con-
cealed. He appeared to be erather under
than over the medium size, and was evil
IDENTIFY enjoying q refreshing slumber.
By-and-bye big, brown-faced, brawny
Kentuckian got into the coach, smoking
a rank, coarse grained cigar. He gazed
around fiercely, as though he would i'm
press upon the minds of his new COM
panions that he could chew up and swal-
low any one who dared to interfere with
him. In short, he was "half horse and
half alligator, with a goodly sprinkling
of panther and grizzly bear thrown Ill. 3"
He puffed forth huge volumes of smoke
without the least concern for the COM
fort of his companions.
Presently the lady, who seemed to be
growing sick, whispered to her husband,
and the husband, in tia politest manner
possible, asked the stranger if he would
not throw away his cigar, as the smoke
greatly discommoded his wife. With
an impudent, staggering stare the fellow
replied, interlarding his speech with
several oaths:
"I reckon I've paid my place. I'll
smoke as much as 1 please. I'd like to
see somebody stop me ~
He looked very dangerous as he
glared around, and it was very evident
that he was used to- quarrel and strife,
and, furthermore, a struggle with him
might have been deadly one. The
young man who had spoken to him
shrank back. and was silent. The lady
lowered the sash by her side for breath
of fresh air.
Mr.. Clay felt every gallant instinct of
his soul aroused. He considered for a
moment whether ne should interfere,
and found himself. reluctant to draw
upon his own head the brutal violence
of the gigantic ruffian In that then
lawless countryside kniw that his life
might be sacrificed rEevenged. He
knew himself to be physically unequal
to the contest, and he thought, after all,
it was not his business to risk his life i'll
so Quixotic manner.
Clay was settling back. with pity for
the insulted and disgust for the insulter,
when, suddenly, but very quietly, the
cloaked figure in the corner assumed an
upright position, suffering the furred
mantle to fall back without particle of
excitement, thereby revealing the small,
but well l-knit, muscular frame of man
plainly dressed in a closely 'buttoned
frock coat, with face rather pale, and a
pair of bright gray eyes that cleaned
like polished steel-and those strange
eyes quickly attracted the attention of
the ferocious Kentuckian.
With terrible calmuess this quiet
man passed his hand under his collar at
the back Of his neck, and deliberately
drew forth a long, glittering and ugly
looking knife from its sheath III that SIN
gular place.
"Stranger," he said, "my name is
Colonel James Bowie, we'll known in
Texas and Arkansaw. Ii you do not
put that cigar out of the window in less
than fifteen seconds, I'll put this
knife through your heart, as sure as
death !"
Clay said that he could never forget
the expression of the colonels eyes at
that moment. They told, as unmistaka-
bly, as signs can tell, that the threat
would certainly be fulfilled; and this
conviction evidently impressed itself
upon the mind of the offender. During
very few seconds his eyes met those of
Bowie. With all his brute strength he
was the weaker man, and he quailed.
With a muttered curse he threw the
cigar away, upon which Col. Bowie
coolly returned his knife to its sheath,
and without another look or word re-
folded his cloak about him and lay back
as before. At the next stopping place
the Kentuckian got out and took a seat
with the driver