Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-06-23
From the Philadeithia Times.
James Bowie.

On one occasion Bowie, whose repu-
tation had reached Memphis, arrived
b. boat at that city, or rather at what
%ss then known as the THIRD Chicka-
saw Blues. The bank from the boat
landing to the top was about one hun
dred and fifty feet high, and large
number Of people were watching The
arrival Of the strangers. Looking down
one of them recognized Bowie as ne
stepped over the gang-plank, and made
the remark, There comes jim Bowie.
"Whati' shouted big hatboatman,
then known as the memphis Terror, "
as he looked down the bluff; what
Jim Bowie That's the fellow We been
looking for four months. Jim Bowie
Whv him, I'll whip him SO
quick he won't know what hurt him.
IN whip him if never whip another
man as long as live Stand by, boys,
and see the fun .
Bowie came slowly up the bank. In
his hand he carried an old umbrella.
He had no pistols, and was evidently
not expecting or, in fact, prepared tor a
fight. This fact did not escape the now
thoroughly interested spectators. UP
went the fatboatmanpromptly as Bowie
reached the top Of the bluff
'Ts your name Jim Bowie" he ask
ed.
Bowie replied that it was.
"Then," shouted the flatboatman, as
he sopared off. II think you a ID
rascal, and Pm going TO whip you right
here and now"
Bowie was man Of few words. He
stood and gazed at his adversary, who
was more embroidered than ever. 81
think yon're a DID coward" ne
yelled, nand I'm going TO knock your
head off !" and 80 saying the ''Memphis
Terror advanced TO the conflict.
Bowie never hinched. His keen
eve was fixed on the terror" who at
thus moment was face to face with him.
But as the man of Memphis drew dirk
from his breast, Bowie stepped back a
foot and thrust ont his umbrella, as II to
keep his antagonist at boy.
The Memphis Terror" selzing the
umbrella with one hand, made pass at
the inventor Of the famous knife with
the other. In so doing he pulled the
umbrella to himself, leaving in the right
hand of Bowie his murderous weapon,
which to this moment had been conceal
ed in the folds Of the impromptu sheath
The sight of Bowie standing there,
with the knife IN his hand and the CLEAN
of vengeance IN hiseye, was too much Tor
"The Terror"
From the bouncing bully he became
transformed into a craven coward IN
second. His face turned pale and his
knees trembled, while the dirk dropped
from his hand as he gazed on Bowie $
weapon with staring eyes. Put itupi
put away that 'scythe, for Gods sake
Bowie. | was mistaken in my man"
Bowie advanced a step.
"Don't-don't kin me o. beseeched
the bully; olor Gods sake, man, don't
20 for me with that scythe and III swear
10 YOU I'll never attack another man as
long as live"
Bowie looked al his now thoroughly
demoralzed opponent for a moment,
and then turning on his heel with the
expression, Coward" walked rapidly
away. Thenceforth the Memphis
Terror" was a changed man, and until
the day of his death he never Loot the
sobriquet of "Put-up-that-scythe"
Bowie was very fond OF music and
dancing, and on occasions where he
could enjoy both he invariably appeared
in the best OF humor and the reserve
which had begun to characterize him at
this time appeared 10 thaw out II was
on one occasion at dance, when he was
in such favorable condition, that ! had
an opportunity for free-anG-easy chat
with him about some Of the encounters
in which be had been engaged Refer
ring to the disparity in size between
himself and some Of the men whom he
had met in conflict, asked him how he
had regarded his chances under such CIR
cumstances ~
Suppose, said ! referring to man
Of herculean build who stood near,
"suppose you were attacked by such a
man as Hob Johnson there. What
then :"
ooh" drily responded Bowie, Il
would cut him down 10 my size !"
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