The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-10-10

"If another preacher got up in the
pulpit and started preaching it all de-
pended upon Bills views on the subject
as to whether be would submit to it or
not. On one occasion a brother minister
tried it, aud his and Bill's views differed
widely on the subject.
"'Here. Brother Blank, remarked
Bill, that doctrine isn't worth psrrases.
Sit down and let me show you how to
preach
"In pursuance Of his own ideas on the
subject, Bill then assembled the pulpit
and fred volley after volley of orthodox
gospel at the heads of his sstonished
hearers.
"There was no foolishness ABOUT Bill
Bowman. He was a good mana God.
fearing man in his rough way-but it,
was worse than folly to undertake to
cross him when he became satisfied that
he was right,
Con the occasion i'll question there was
q tough citizen iu the audience who had
conceived a violent dislike for Brother
Bowman.
"He was a holy terror in Grayson
County, in those pioneer days when
men ruled By might more tbsn by right.
"Ws will call him Brown, for short,
and whenever Brown got on the war. path
all these who did not feel disposed to
have their heads punched or bodies bruis.
ed gave him a wide berth.
"On a Sunday he went to one of the
churches included in Bill Bowmans
circuit with the ayowed intention Of
going for the preacher. He had deter.
mined toseltle with the preacher at once
and for all, and he boasted of his deter.
mination among his cronies.
"Brother Bowman heard of it and
when he ascended the pulpit steps he
had look about him that was omi.
nous.
"He read the Scriptures, lined the
hymns, offered the prayers and went
through with the usual routine.
nThen he took his text, and it was one
that was peculiarly appropriate for the
occasion and the subject in; hand.
"When be began preaching, there was
no mistaking the drift Of his discourse.
He went for the bullies and rufhars
without gloves, and among the number
he particularized Bully Brown, who aat
scowling:ina corner. Of course Brown
was enraged. he waited until the ser.
mon was about concluded, when he arose
and used some very pointed language
toward the preacher, and then strobe
out.
The sermon was concluded with q
jterrible denunciation of the bully and
his conduct, and then the preacher
concluded the service in the usual
way.
"On the following day Bill Bowman
received q challenge to meet Bully Brown
in open combat to settle the matter and
remove the, stains from the bu:ly's
wounded honor,
Brother Bowman was not backward
-
in the least particular. and, having the
choice ofweapons, he selected them at
once. - a,. e
Through his second he notified Bully
Brown that he would meet him at a
specified time and place, and that half
bushel of Irish potatoes, selected the size
ofa mans fist, should be the weapons.
These were to be picked up one at a
time, and the duelists were to throw
them at each other, at q distance of
fifteen PAGES, until the potatoes were
exhausted or the duelists were satisfied.
This selection infuriated Brown. He
considered thatit was heaping ineult on
iudiguity, and he fairly raved over it.
"But he was compelled to accept, as
Brother Bowman was firm in his ,osi.
ton,
"Of course such a unique affair attract.
ed q great crowd, and on the day ap.
pointed there vas an immense gath:
ering at the place appointed for the
fight.
Bowman Was an expert hand at
throwing, and when Che principals took
their places and the word was given,
Brown threw at Bowman with all his
| might and missed.
Bowman had reserved his FIRE, and as
Brown stopped to>pick up another potato,
Bowman let drive and the missile went
strait to the mark. 1t raised a knot on
Brown as large as the potato.
"Then the fight became hotter. Brown
was wild with anger, and his potatoes
we're thrown at random. Bowman was
cool aud self.fossessed, and he made
every shot TELL.
"For Eve or ten minutes the battle
ragged, but about the time the sixth pota.
to raised its lump on Browns body the
latter cried enough.
!'He was badly beaten. He was bruis.
ed and bunged up to such an extent that
he had to be carried to his bed and a
physician was summoned to attend to his
wounds.
"When he got up he was the worst
cowed man in Grayson County, and
after That he was never known to offer
challenge again"
"That suggests good idea," remarked
q gentleman who had listened to the
story. ''Now, suppose our Georgia
duelists would try that sort of q battle.
i