Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-04
JAMES BOWIE.
Anecdotes of the Inventor Of the
Bowie Knife Told by One
Who Knew Him.

On one occasion Bowie. whose reputation
mad reached Memphis. arrived by boat at that
CITY, or rather at what was then known as the
boat landing to the top was about one hundred
and fifty feet high, and large number of pee
PIE were watching the arrival OF the strangers
as he stepped over the. gang-plank and made
the remark, There comes Jim Bowie"
.WhatH' shouted big flatpoatman, then
down the blum; ''What jim Bowie? That's
Jim Bowie! Why, - him, ri whip
him SO quick he won't know what hurt him.
IN whip him II never whip another an as
long as l live! Stand by, boys. and see the
Bowie came slowly up the bank In his hand
and was evidently not expecting or in fact pre-
pared for fight. This fact did not escape the
now thoroughly interested spectators. Up went
inc the ap "a fne P ep s as o Bowie reached
Bowie?" he asked.
Bowie replied that 1t was.
"Ihen," shouted the flatb0atman, as he
squared OH. II think you damned rascal,
auu IN going to whip you right here ana
Bowie was man Of few words. nestood and
gaZed at his adversary. who was more en0old'
eled than ever. II think you're damned
coward" he yelled, "and I'm going to knock
Terror ADVANCED to the conflict.
Bowie never f1inched. bis keen eye was
fixed On tie Terror" who at this moment was
face to face with him. But as the man of Men,
phis drew dirk from his breast. Bowie stepped
back foot and thrust out his umbrella as II to
keep his antagonist at bay.
The memphis Terror" Selling the umbrella
the famous knife with the other. In SO doing
he pulled the umbrella to himself, leaving free
in the right hand OF Bowie his murderous Wea-
pom, which to this moment had been concealed
IN no n ~ fVno I'm oh
sight Of Bowie standing there, with the knife
in his hand and the CLEAN Of vengeance in his
eye, was too much for 1.-The Terror"
From the bouncing bully he became trans
formed into craven coward in second. His
face turned pale and his knees trembled while
the dirk dropped from his hands AS he gazed on
Bowie ,+ weapon wit With staring eyes Put it
Bowie. Twas mistaken in my man"
Bowie advanced step.
"Don't-don't kill mel" beseeched the bully;
scythe, and l swear to you I'll never attack
another man as long as live"
Bowie looked at his now thoroughly dem0ral-
lied opponent for moment, and then turning
on his heel with the expression, Coward"
walked rapidly away. Thenceforth the Mem
phis Terror" was changed mar, and until the
Put up that-scyLhe."
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 to thaw out. It was
on one occasion at q Dance when he was In
such favorable conditions, that had an oppor-
tunity for free-and easy chat with him about
some Of the encounters In which he had been
engaged. Referring to the disparity in size
between himself ana some of the men whom ne
had met, asked him how he regarded his
chances under such circumstances.
suppose" said l, referring to man OF her
culean build, who stood near, suppose you
were attacked py such man as Hob johnson
there. What then?''
"Oh." dryly responded Bowie, II would cut
him down to my size"