The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-05
The BOwie.Knife-Its Invention and
First Use,

were DIR. Maddox, Major Wright and
the Blanchards on the one part, the
Curreys, the Wellses and Bowies on
the other. A challenge had been
passed between DIR. Maddox and Samuel
Wells; a meeting was arranged to take
place near Natchez, Miss, in Septem-
ber,- 1927. Hither the parties repaired
with their friends. 1t was agreed that
no persons should be present but the
combatants, their seconds and surgeons.
The place of meeting was a large sand
bar, Immediately below the upper bluff,
near Natchez. The sand-bar at low
water is of considerable width, bordered
above and below with forest growth :;
on the opposite side of this bar were
stationed the friends of each party; one
of these parties was something nearer
the combatants than the other. Colonel
Crane was the second of Maddox Be-
tween him and James Bowie and Gen.
eral Currey there had long existed a
deadly feud, and some months before
this affair General Currey shot Colonel
Crane with a shotgun, on Bayou Rapides,
disabling one of his arms. H.l
The parties to the duel approached
the spot selected for the combat from
different directions. The preliminaries
were soon arranged. The combatants
took positions and exchanged two shots
without effect, and the difficulty was
amicably adjusted.
Bowie was just in the edge of the
woods with Generals Wells and Currey,
armed with pistols, Bowie carrying a
huge knife. As the dueling party started
to leave, Bowie and party started
to meet them. The friends of Maddox
and Crane on the opposite side of the
sand-bar seeing this and being furthest
from the party started in run to meet
them as soon as they should reach the
retiring combatants. General Currey
was the first on the ground, closely fol-
lowed by Bowie. Currey Immediately
advanced upon Colonel Crane and re-
marked, "Colonel Crane, this is a good
time to settle our difficulty" and COM
menced drawing his pistol. Bowie did
the same. Crane was armed with a
brace of dueling pistols, and, standing,
awaited the attack of Currey. At this
moment Currey was seized by his broth
er and begged to desist. Bowie and
Crane fired at each other, it was said
without effect. There were those who
said Bowie was wounded. This latter
statement l think most probable. for
Bowie stopped, felt of his hip, and then
drawing his knife limped toward Crane,
who was watching General Currey. Re-
leased from the hold of his brother, Cur
rey was advancing. At this moment
Crane leaped across small ravine cut
through the sand by the rain water flow
ing from the activities above, and rest
ing his pistol upon his crippled arm,
fired at Currey, wounding him fatally.
He fell.
Crane was now disarmed and Bowie
advanced cautiously upon him. Club
bing his pistol he struck Bowie over the
head, as he avoided his knife adroitly,
and felled him to the ground. Crane
retreated a step, as his friend Major
Wright approached. Bowie, in the
meantime, had risen, and was sustain
ing himself by holding on to a snag
sticking firmly in the sand. Major
Wright advanced upon him, and with a
long, slender spear, drawn from walk
ing-cane which he carried, attacked
Bowie, who made pass to parry the
spear with his knife, in which he failed.
The spear was of cold iron, and striking
the breast-bone bent and went round
upon the rib. Bowie at this moment
seized Wright and fell, pulling Wright
down with and on top of him and hold
ing him strongly to his person. Wright
was slender and by no means strong
man, and was powerless in the hands of
Bowie, who cody said to him: "Now,
Major, YOU die!" and plunging the knife
into his heart killed him instantly.
This knife was made by Resin P.
Bowie, out of blacksmith's rasp, or
large file, and was the original of the
famous Bowie-knife. When James
Bowie received it from his brother he
was told by him that it was {. strong and
of admirable temper. II is more trust
worthy in the hands of a strong man than
pistol, for it will not snap. Crane and
Wright are both your enemies; they are
from Maryland, the birthplace of our
ancestors, and are as brave as you
are, but not so cool. They are both in
ferior in strength to yourself and there
fore not your equal in close fight.
They are both dangerous, but Wright
the most so. Keep this knife always
with with you. 1t will be your friend
in last resource and may save your
life." After this conflict Resin P. Bowie
carried this knife to Philadelphia, where
it was fashioned by cutler into a
model made by him, and l presume the
knife is yet in the possession of some
member of the family.
There was no reconciliation between
Crane and Bowie after the conflict,
though Crane aided personally in carry
ing Bowie from the ground, and Bowie
thanked him and said: "Colonel Crane,
do not think under the circumstances
you ought to have shot me-" Almost
Immediately upon the attack of Currey
upon Crane the fight between their
friends became general; there were
several wounded, but Wright and Cur.
rey were the only persons killed. All
the men engaged in this terrible affair
were men of wealth and high social
position, and the two parties included
almost every man of fortune in the ex-
tensive and wealthy parish of Rapides
All are gone save Maddox aud Wells,
both very old and still residing in the
same parish. - Philadelphia Times
AN OLD resident of New Orleans
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