Louisiana capitolian., 1880-04-03
rose and shot him through the body.
= l,, fall <hr, 1rv, ,,.. = a., ,..s1 -

tempted to stab him Will, sword
cane. Bowie skilfully pairied the
thursts, and, reaching up, caught the
cravat of Judge Crane, which he wore
tied around his neck, as was tllefash-
ion Of the day. With this hold he
drew the Judge down to him, and
grasping the spear, succeeded in get
ting possession Of it, aud ran his an
tagonist through the heart. The Judge
died upon the Minting form Of hls in
veterate enemy. After all the weapons
were discharged, hostilities ceased.
Six men were killed outright
and fourteen were wounded. Bowie
was confped to his bed in the
city of Natcllez for two months on nc
count Of wound. During the time,
he whitfield from a piece Of white pine
the model ola hunting knife, and sent
it to two brothers, skillful black
smiths, by the name Of Black, telling
them to spare no expense in its man.
ufacture. This was the origin Of the
''Bowie-knife."
The writer was a boy at the time Of
the fight, and, together with a crowd
Of citizens, stood on the bluff in the
city of Natchez, which overlooks the
river, and witnessed the flash of the
pistols. HeaVers that the facts here set
fort are true in every particular.
Many yevrs ago the writer had a
conversation with u Methodist preach
er in the town Of Clinton, La, who
told him that he was one Of the
preachers sent by the Methodist Con-
ference to preach to the people Of
Texas. He said he went aloneO on horse
back, by way Of Red River; that the
first day after crossing the Mississippi
he was oyertaken by horseman,
armed with rife, pistol, and hunting
knife. He was clad in y suitOf dress.
ed buckskin, and was also going to
Texas. He found him to be an agree
able, intelligent travelling companion,
well acquainted with the geography
Of the country through which they
passed. Neither asked the other his
business, and they journeyed together
several days until they reached a new
town III Texas, filed with rough char
actcrs and desperate men, most Of
whom lad fled from Justice in other
States. Here he thought he would
preach his first sermon. Notice was
posted to this effect, and at night the
log Court House was filed with an
audience Of men solely.
The preacher said he gave out a
hymn and the audience all joined in
singing it, and sung it well. But
when he took his text and attempted
to preach, one hooted like all owl, an
other brayed like a jack, a third bark
cd like a dog, and he was compelled
to stop. He did not like to be thus
thwarted in his purpose, and he again
attempted to preach, but was pre-
vented by the same disturbances. At
this juncturc the preachers travelling
companion, whom he did not know
was in the house, rose in the center of
the audience and said: "Men, this
man has come here to preach to you
you need preaching to, and III be e-
if he slan't preach to you! The next
one that distnrbs him shall fight me
my names Jim Bowie" After this
announcement, the preacher remarked,
he never had II more respectful audi
ence, such was the influence this man
exercised over the minds OF these dcs-
perate characters. This was the
preachers narrative, and so charac-
telistic was it of Bowie that there
could bc no doubt of it's entire truth
fulness.
James Bowie devoted his life to the
achievement Of Texas independence
was made a Colonel in her service,
and with Travis and Crockett, heroes
all, yielded up his life in the ill-fated'
Alamo, Mrs. Dickersou Snd q negro
man, the sole survivors Of the massa-
ere, said that at the time of the attack
on the fort, Bowie was confined to his
bed by fever. He ordered Il number
Of loaded rifles to be brought to his
side, and had the door SO balricaded
that but one Mexican could pass
through at time. Here he lay and
fired upon them until hc shot nine.
His body was riddled with bullets,
and as if they feared him even after
death, they repeatedly thrust their
bayonets into him.
Thus lived and died this remarka-
hlc man. Travis, the chief in com
mand, and his subordinates, Bowie
and Crockett, were heroes in the true
sense Of the word. Patriotism will
NOUN their fate, and memory bedew
their graves with her tears as long as
generous blood courses through the
veins Of American freeman.