Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-07-14
James Bowie.

On one occasion Bowie whose reputa-
ton reached Memphis, arrived by boat
mt that city, or rather mt what was then
known as the Third Chickasaw Bluffs.
The bank from the boat landing TO the
top was about one hundred and fifty feet
high and large number of people were
Watching the arrival of the strangers
Looking down one of them recognized
Bowie as he stepped over the gang
plank and made the remark, '"Ihere
comes jim Bowie"
"What - shouted big flatboatman,
then known as the memphis Terror, y
as he looked down the bluff; ''what Jim
Bowie? That's the fellow I've been
looking for months. jim Bowie Why,
-- him, I'll whip him so quick he
won't know what hurt him. I'll whip
him if | never whip another man rs long
as l 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 ex-
pecting or in fact prepared for fight.
This fact did not escape the now
thoroughly interested spectators. Up
went the fiatboatman promptly, as Bowie
reached the top of the bluff. ''ls your
name jim Bowie ?" he asked.
p,,,.;, ,.o,,liaI fbot ~ was
"Then." shouted the fatboatman, as
he squared off, II thinkyou are a.
rascal and I'm going to whip you right
here and now.
Bowie was man of few words. He
stood and gazed at his adversary, who
was more emboldened than ever. 81
think you're Il -- coward, he yell
ed, land I'm going to knock your head
off, " and so saying the memphis Ter
ror" advanced To the conflict.
Bowie never fiinched. His keen eye
was fixed on the Terror, who at TINS
moment was face to face with him. But
as the man of Memphis drew dirk from
his breast, Bowie stepped back foot
and thrust out his umbrella as if to keep
his antagonist at bay.
''The memphis Terror, seizing 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 free IN the
right hand of Bowie his murderous
weapon, which to this moment had been
| concealed 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 his eye, was too
1I4VsOIA nc ACAAOA.
From the bouncing bully he became
transformed into craven coward IN
second. His face turned pale and his
knees trembled, while the dirk dropped
from his hands rs he gazed on Bowie's
weapon with staring eyes. ''Put it up, put
away that SCYTHE, for Gods sake, Bowie.
| was mistaken in my man"
Bowie advanced a step.
"Don't-don't kill mel" beseeched
the bully 'for Gods sake, man don't
go for me with that scythe and l swear
to YOU I'll never attack another man as
long as live"
Bowie looked at his now thoroughly
demoralized opponent for a moment, and
then turning on his heel with the ex'
preston, Coward" walked rapidly
away. Thenceforth the Memphis ''Ter
ror" was changed man, and until the
dav of his death he never lost the sobri
quet of ''Put-up-that scythe.
Bowie was very fond of music an(
dancing and on occasions where he coulC
enjoy both he invariably appeared i'll the
best of humor, and the reserve which
had begun to characterize him at thu
time appeared to thaw out. 1t was OF
one occasion at dance, when he was IL
such favorable conditions, that l had al
opportunity for free-and-easy chat witt
him about some of the encounters II
which he had been engaged. Referring
to the disparity i'll size between himsel
and some of the men whom he had me
in conflict, asked him how he regarded
his chances under such circumstances.
Suppose" said 1, referring to mai
of herculean build, who stood near, "sup
pose you were attacked by such a MAJ
as Hob johnson there. What then?"
"Oh," dryly responded Bowie, g
would cut him down to my size! y