Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-03-25
Selected Mistellaup.
The Famous Bowie Brothers.
FIGHT IN WHICH SIX MEN WERE KILLED
AND FIFTEEN WOUNDED.

The Bowie brothers were natives of
the State of Maryland, of respectable
family, into which Reverdy johnson,
the great constitutional lawyer, married.
They emigrated to Mississippi in the
year 1924 and engaged in the specula-
ton Of the rich cotton and sugar lands of
those two States. The staple of cotton
at that period bearing almost fabulous
price gave great impetus to land mo-
nopoly, and the Bowie brothers found
themselves confronted with another land
specializing company, of which Judge
Crane was the recognized head, both par
ties having following of about seventy
five or one hundred men each, all men
of wealth and social position aud all con
the fight" The Bowie brothers were
men of good physical stature, sinewy
and of good, determined cast of coun-
tenancc. Resin was the most consider
ate of the two, but james was brave to
desperation. L. was frequently remark
ed of him that he was "a stranger to the
emotion of fear" They wero both sports
men, that is. they bet against the popu-
lar game of the day, faro, and played
"brag," the twin brother to poker
? Crane was chivalry personifed.
hmigrated from South Carolina to
llama He was tall and strong, and
y fearless, or seemingly so
W., as to the fight on the sandbar
lite the city of Natcbez. A chal-
to fight duel had passed between
Maddox, of the Crane party, and
el Wells, Of the Bowie party. Ac-
~ to the terms of the eight neither
Crane nor James Bowie we're to
,sent, because deadly feud ex-
between them. Bowie doubted that
Crane would prove faithful to the
ment, and sent courier to spy bis
rs. The parties to the duel met,
friends from the city Of Natchez
over and through their influence
ed amicable relations To cement
relations the party sent across the
to Natehez for champagne, brandy
IA cigars Oircled around gush-
bring which flowed from the west
Of the river, all hostile feeling was
owed up by the generous liquid, and
thing was tinged with the rainbow
Of friendship, when Judge Crane
an appearance He, too, joined
conviviality, pleased that no blood
be shed But there was another
rance to be made before another
passed. While thus pleasantly oc-
| Il rustling was heard In the will
Dughs that overhung the steep bank
ID down TO the spring, and, turn
,eir faces, the manly form Of James
p, coucbant, met their eyes. His
rance meant fight, and at it they
Judge Crane was the first man
arose from his seat, aud with his
shot Bowie, the ball passing en-
COY through the body, but falling 10
cut any cord which bound him TO life.
Bowie fell and Judge Crane, with the
spear in bis sword-cane, ran up aud on
deavored 10 stab him. Bowie skillfully
parted the thrust Of the spear, and col
Letting his energies, reached up aud
with his left hand caught Judge Crane
by the crayat, which according 10 the
fashion Of the day, was tied securely
around the neck. lie drew him down
close 10 his body, with his right hand
secured the spear and ran il through his
heart, Judge Creme dying upon the body
Of bis PROSTATE foe. who. meantime.
tainted from the loss Of blood. As soon
as Judge Crane discharged his pistol
the friendly feeling which previously ex-
listed was dissolved quick as a snowflake
falling on heated furnace. and the
friends Of the two parties separated aud
commenced firing upon each other. Six
we're killed and fifteen wounded. The
writer hereof takes pleasure 10 stating
that bis father was the first man who
said "MeD, let US rush in between
them and stop tho 6gbting"