Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-06-21
JAMES BOWIE.
An AnecdOte Of the Inventor Of the
Bowie Knife Told by one Who
Knew Him.

Bowie Knife Told by one Who
Knew Him.
On one occasion Bowie, whose reputa-
ton had reached Memphis, arrived by
boat at the city, or rather at what was
then known az the Third Chickasaw
Bluffs The bank from the boat landing
to the top was about one hundred sfld
fifty feet high, and a large number a
people were watching the arrival Of The
strangers. Looking down one Of them
recognized Bowie as he stepped over the
gangplank and made the remark. "There
comes Jim Bowie"
'What," shouted a big Aat-boatmaa.
then known as the Memphis Terror
as he looked down the bluff; "what, JIM
Bowie' That's the fellow have been
looking Tor for months. Jim Bowie.
Why him, I'll whip him 80
quick he won't know what hurt him.
I'll whip him if ! never whip another
man as long as / live! Stand by, boys,
and see the fun"
/ Bowie came slowly up the bank La
his hand he carried an old umbrella.
He had no pistols, and was evidently
not expecting or in fact prepared for .
fight. This fact did not escape the now
thoroughly interested spectators. Up
went the fat-boatman promptly IS
Bowie reached the top Of the bluff. is
your name Jim Bowiei" he asked.
Bowie replied that it was.
"Then," shouted the flat-boatIaan.
as he squared off, II think you did
rascal and Pm going to whip you right
here and now"
"Bowie was man of few words. lie
stood and gazed at his adversary, VITO
was more emboldened than ever. II
think you're id coward" he yelled,
"and I'm going 20 knock Your head Off,"
and SO saying the Memphis Terror adj
vauced to the conflict.
Bowie never hlnched, his keen eye
was fixed on the "Terror," who at tais
moment was face to face with him. But
as the man Of Memphis drew dirk from
, his breast, Bowie stepped back feet
and thrust out his umbrella as if to keep
his antagonist at bay.
, The memphis Terror" selling TIE
umbrella with one hand, made pass al
, the inventor OF the famous knife With
the other. In so doing he pulled the
umbrella to himself, leaving free in TIE
. right hand of Bowie his murderous
r weapon, which to this moment had beel.
concealed in the folds Of the improutu
. sheath. The sight of Bowie standing
: there, with tho knife in his hand aEd
tho CLEAN of vengeance in his eye, WIGS
too much for the "Terror."
). From the bouncing bully he beca2ie-
4 transformed into craven coward IL a
second. His face turned pale and t;s
y knees trembled, while the dirk dropped
:. from his hands rs he gazed OH Bowie's
weapon with startling yes. "Pnt il
up; put away that seythe, for. Gods
sake, Bowie. | was mistaken in ny
Y man."
0 Bowie advanced a step.
! "Don't-don't kill me-" beseeched tite
9 bully; "for Gods sake man, don't 60 fer
g me with that scythe and swear to yo,i
;. I'll never attack another man as long as
live"
|. "Bowie looked at his now thoroughly
demoralized opponent for q moment,
and then turning on his heel with The
g expression, Coward walked rapiGly
: away. Thenceforth the Memphis Ter
ror" was changed man, and until BE
:. day Of his death he never lost the soRri.
IL quet Of "Put-up-that-scythe."
is Bowie was very fond of music ;sLe
II uauclug anu vi ocCtSlono "h'i" iiD |Sf,A'
enjoy both he invariably appeared ID tht
best OF humor, and the reserve whicl
had begun to characterize him az tLlt
,r time appeared to thaw out. 1t vas O
q one occasion al a dance, when he WAS Il
such favorable conditions, that ! had al
:. opportunity for free-and-easy cllat
" with him about some of the encounter. Il
WINCH he had been engaged. ReferTas!
le to he disparity in size between hinsei
and some of the men whom he had ne
i9 in conflict, asked him how he regsrdet
7e his chances under such circumstances.
Suppose" said /, referring 90 q ma:
8. of herculean build, who stood neal
:. Suppose you were attacked by suei !:
% man as Hob johnson there. Whattheaf
a. "Oh,' dryly responded Bowie, :