Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-02-08

Anecdotes Of tho inventor Of
the Bowie Knife, Told By.
One Who Knew Him.

Anecdo teo Of the inventor Of
the Bowie knife, Told By.
One Who Knew Him.
On one occasion Bowie, Whose
reputation had reached Memphis,
By boat u that city, Or rather q
Whist was then known y the Third
Chickasaw Bluffs. The hank from
the boat landing 70 the top, was
about one hundred and fry feet
high, and large number Of people
were waiting the arrival Of the stran-
gers. Looking down one Of them
recognised Bowie as he stepped over
the gang-plank, and made tho re-
mark, "There comes Jim Bowie"
"Whatt shouted q big flatboat-
man, then known as the Memphis
Terror" a. he looked down the bluff;
what Jim Bowel Why
him, III whip him 30 quick he
wont know what hurt him. I'll
whip him if I never whip another
man ~ long AZ ! livel Stand by,
boys, and see the fun!"
Bowie came slowly up the bank.
In his hand he carried an old um-
brella. He had no pistols and was
evidently not expecting or in fact
not prepared for : fight. This fact
did not escspe the now thoroughly
interested spectators. Up went the
fiatboatman promptly, as Bowie
reached the top of the bluff. us
your name Jim Bowler" he asked.
Bowie replied that it was.
"Thcn," shouted the flatboatman,
as he squared of, II think you .
damned rascal and I'm goin TO whip
you right here and now"
Bowie WA = man of few words.
He stood and gazed At his adversary
who was more emboldened than
ever. II think you are damned
coward" he yelled, land I am going
to knock your head off," and SO say
ing the memphis Terror advanced
to the conflict.
Bowie never f1inched. His keen
eye was fixed on the Terror" who
at this moment was face to face
with him. But rs the man of Mem
phis drew q dirk from his breast,
Bowie stepped back u foot and
thrust out his umbrella as if to keep
his antagonist at bay.
The memphis Terror" seizine
the umbrella with one hand, made
. pass at the inventor Of the famous
knife with the other. In 30 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 stand.
ing there, with the knife in his
hand and the CLEAN of vengeance in
in his eye, was to much for the
Terror
From the bouncing bully he be-
came transformed into craven COW.
ard in second. His face turned
pale and mis- knees trembled, while
the dirk dropped from his hand as
he gaxed on Bowie's weapon with
staring eyes. put it up; put ava,
that scythe, for Gods sake, Bowie.
was mistaken in my man."
Bowie advanced step.
| Dont-dont kill mel" beseechee
the bully; "for Gods sake, man
don't 60 for me with that scythe
and ! swear to you I'll never ATTACK
another man as long as live"
Bowie looked at his now thorough
ly demoralized opponent for a mo
ment, and then turning on his hee
with the expression, Coward" walk
ed rapidly away. Thenceforth thu
memphis Terrier" was . changet
man, and until the day Of his dealt
he never lost the sobriquet Of ''Put
up-that-scythe."
] Bowie was very fond of music ant
dan cling, and on occasions where h
could enjoy both he invariably ap
peared in the best of humor, ant
the reserve which had begun t
characterize him at this time aI
peared to thaw out. 1t was on on
occasion at a, dance, when he was i
such favorable conditions, that
had an opportunity for = free-and
easy chat with him about some {
} the encounters in which he ha
been engaged. Referring TO the dil
parity in size between himself an
! some ofthe men whom he had mn
in conflict ] asked HIM how he Z,
garded his chances under such eli
cumstances.
Suppose" said I, referring to
man Of herculean build, who stoo
near, suppose pou were attacke
by such a man as Hob Johnso
, over there. What them"
"Oh," dryly responded Bowie, 8