The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-03-25

ed his antagonist. Afterwards he sent
friend to the wounded man, paid the
DOCTORS bill, purchased the slave at
double his value and gave him his free
dom. On another occasion he visited
" Under the Hill,'' at Natchez, more
famed for gambling and desperate
deeds than any similar place on the face
of the globe. Here he found a young
man by the name of baltimore, son
of DR.. William baltimore, who had
been Governor of Mississippi when it
was Territory. Young baltimore had
been sent by his father to the city of
Natchez to sell his cotton and draw from
the bank large sum of money. He
had been enticed "Under the Hill" and
lost the entire amount at faro, the game
being run by a gambler named Sturde-
want, noted desperate, who had earned
by his bloody deeds the sobriquet of
"BLooDY sTURDEvANr."
knew his father, who was an exemplary
Christian and man of high literary at
tainments, for whom he (Bowie) had
conceived strong liking. He looked
at the game and soon perceived that it
was not dealt "on the square," He
told young baltimore to stay with him,
remarking: &c You dont't know me, but
your father Does" and himself COM
menced betting against the game. He
soon exposed the trick of the gambler,
and sternly told him not to repeat it.
He bet heavily, and in few hours won
back all the money that had been tricked
from young baltimore. He gave the
young man the full amount he had lost,
and sent him home with his (Bowie's)
regards to his father, telling him to
never again play at faro. This circum-
stance led to a fight between Bowie and
Sturdevant. The latter, thinking to
"bluff - Bowie, proposed to fight with
knives, the left hand of each to be tied
together. Bowie promptly accepted,
and at the first stroke of his knife dis
abled the right arm of his antagonist.
but magnanimously forebore to take his
life. Another of the deadly and des-
perate ARRAYS in which James Bowie
was engaged gave origin to the +" Bowie
knife" which has obtained fearful
celebrity something its inventor never
designed or expected. The circum-
stances were these: There lived in
Louisiana
JUDGE CRANE,
of character as dauntless as that of
Bowie himself, who was, like the latter,
a. land Spectator. Their interests
clashed, and deadly feud existed be-
tween them. Each had a following of
about sixty friends, who were interested
n 70 l. .e
the lands. Between a member of the
Crane and one of the Bowie parties a
difficulty arose, which it was agreed
they should settle by fighting a duel on
the sand-bar Immediately opposite
Natchez. According to the terms of the
fight it was stipulated that neither Bowie
nor Judge Crane should be present on
the ground when the affair took place.
Friends from Natchez interviewed, and
brought about an amicable adjustment
between the parties. As customary on
such occasions, it was concluded to
cement the newly-formed friendship by
imbibing of brandy and champagne.
Accordingly, a few baskets of each, with
boxes of cigars, were sent for, and,
circling round a spring which flowed
near the bank underneath some willows.
the parties arranged themselves. There
flow of soul and the cup was INDUCED
in, when Judge Crane very unexpected
ly put in an appearance and joined in
the conviviality. Bowie, doubling that
Judge Crane would keep his agreement,
put spy upon his movements. While
the generous fluid operated upon the
thermometer of their criminal feeling.
and sent it up like the mercury nearly
to fever heat, and while all were gleeful
and happy, a rustling was heard among
the willow boughs which overhung the
path leading down the bank, and the
dreaded form of Jim Bowie burst upon
the astonished vision of the spectators.
His presence meant fight, and that to
the death. Like snowflake falling
upon heated furnace, the previous
good understanding was dissolved, and
the friends of each of these leaders re-
spectively
TOOK SIDES AND COMMENCED FIRING
Upon the appearance of Bowie, Judge
Crane rose and shot him through the
body. AS he fell, the Judge ran up and
attempted to stab him with sword
cane. Bowie skiIlfully parried the
thrusts, and, reaching up, caught the
cravat of Judge Crane, which he wore
tied tightly around his neck, as was the
fashion of the day. With this hold he
drew the Judge close down to him, and,
grasping the spear, succeeded in get
ting possession of it, and ran his antag-
onist through the heart. The Judge
died upon the fainting form of his in
veterate enemy. After all the weapons
were discharged hostilities ceased. Six
men were killed outright and fourteen
wounded. Bowie was confined to his
bed in the city Of Natchez for two
months on account of his wound.
During the time he whitfield from a
piece of white pine the model of a hunt
ing-knife, and sent it to two brothers,
skillful blacksmiths, by the name of
Blackman, telling them to spare no ex-
pense in its manufacture. This was the
origin OF the GO Bowie-knife. -
The writer was boy at the time of
the fight, and, together with crowd of