The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-03-19
THE FAMOUS BOWIE BROTHERS.
a Fight In Which Six Men were Kilt
ed and Fifteen Wounded.

| San Francisco Chronicle.
The Bowie brothers were natives of
the State of Maryland, of respecta-
BILE family, into which Reverdy John
son, the great constitutional lawyer,
married. They emigrated to Mississ-
ippi In the year 1924 and engaged In
the speculation of the rich cotton and
sugar lands of those two States. The
staple of cotton at that period bearing
almost fabulous price gave great inn
petus to land monopoly, and the Bowie
brothers found themselves confronted
with another land-speculating compa-
ny, of which Judge Crane was the
recognized head, both parties having
a following of about seventy-five or
one hundred men each, all men of
wealth and social position and all "on
| the fight.n The Bowie brothers We're
nien Of good physical stature, sinewy
| and of good, determined cast of
countenance. Resin was the most
considerable of the two, but James was
brave to desperation. 1t was frequent
ly remarked of him that he was a
| "stranger to the emotion of fear. "
They were both sportsmen, that is,
they bet against the popular game of
| the day, faro, and played "brag," the
| twin brother TO poker. Judge Crane
was chivalry persOnified. He had
emigrated from South Carolina to
| Louisiana. He was tall and strong,
and wholly fearless, or seemingly So.
Now, as TO the fight ON the sandbar
opposite the city of Natchez. A chal-
lenge TO fight a duel had passed be-
tween DE- Maddox, of the Crane party,
and Samuel Wells, Of the Bowie
party. According to the terms of the
| fight neither Judge Crane nor James
Bowie were 10 be present, because
deadly feud existed between tlsem.
Bowie doubted that Judge Crane
would prove faithful to the agreement,
and sent courier To spy his actions.
| The parties to the duel met, but
friends from the city of Natchez went
over, and through their influence re-
stored amicable relations. TO ce-
ment these relations, the party
sent over the river to Nat-cheZ
for champagne, brandy and Hav-
ana cigars. Circled around gushing
spring which flowed from the west
bank of the river, all hostile feeling
was swallowed up by the generous
liquid, and everything was tinted
with the rainbow hue of friendship,
when Judge Crane put i'm OH appear
ance. He, too joined in the con-
viviality, pleased that no blood was to
be shed. But there was another
appearance to be made before another
hour passed. While thus pleasantly
occupied a rustling was heard in the
willow boughs that overhung the
steep bank that led down to the
spring, and, turning their faces, the
manly form of James Bowie, couch
ant, met their eyes. His appearance
meant fight, and at it they went.
Judge Crane was the first man who
arose irom his seat, and with pistol
shot Bowie, the bali passing entirely
through the body, but failing to cut
any cord which bound him TO life.
Bowie fell and Judge Crane, withdraw
ing his swordcane, ran up and endeav-
ored to stab him. Bowie skillfully
paired the thrust Of the spear, and,
collecting his energies, reached pand
with his left hand caught Judge Crane
by the cravat, which according to the |
fashion of the day, was, tied securely |
around the neck. He drew him down
close to his body, with his right hand
secured the spear and ran it through |
his heart, Judge Crane dying upon the
body of his PROSTATE foe, who, mean-
time tainted from the loss of blood.
As soon as Judge Crane discharged
his pistol the friendly feeling which
existed was dissolved quick
as snowflake falling on heated fur
mace, and the friends of the two par
ties separated and commenced firing
upon each order. Six were killed and
fifteen wounded. The writer hereof
takes pleasure in stating that his
father was the first man who said
" Men, let us rush in between them
and stop the fighting"
James Bowie lay for months in his
bed in the city of Natchez before he
from his wound. He was
4 man af much mechanical ingenuity
and while thus confined, whitfield from
/ piece of pine the model Of a hunting
knife, which he sent TO two brothers,
named Blackman, and told them TO
,pare no expence in making dupi-
ate of il in steel. This was the origin
If the dreaded bowie-knife. 1t was
made from large sawmill file aud its ,
emper afterwards improved upon by q
IN Arkansas blacksmith. Since James
Bowie became somewhat prominent
n his efforts to advance the spread of
epublican institutions II Is proper to
peak of what he did. He seemed to ,
lave natural disposition to protect
he weak from the strong. At one !
ime he was riding through the parish |.
4 Concordia, La, and saw a man LASH
ng his slave with his whip; he told
he man to desist, but he was met with
urses. He dismounted from his horse
the whip from the master and
aid 1t over his shoulders. This led to
shooting match, In which the slave
wner was ..badly wounded. Bowie
fter submitting himself to the law,
aid the DOCTORS bill, purchased the
lave at double his value and gave him
is freedom.
This singular and fearless man de- q
oted his life to the achievement Of
exam independence. He was modest
nd never sought place or position, :
With Travis and Crockett, he fell I'M ,
the Alamo. At the time OF /,
ne assault on the fort he was stricken
18th fever. He had loaded weapons
rought to him In his little room In the
,rt. and as he lay upon his bed he dis /
harged them at every Mexican who
the marrow door. This Is the
sstimony Of Mrs Dickinson. and
llored man, who were the only
uman beings who escaped. Over the
lte of these three men patriOtism will