Telegram-herald., 1889-11-12
A BATTLE WITH INDIANS.
How the Famous Bowie Brothers Whipped
Hundred SRyaGes.

Hundred sayages.
Col. John s. Moore, of New Orleans,
grand nephew of the celebrated Jim
Bowie. the inventor Of the knife which
bears his name, and one Of the Alamo
heroes, contributes the following 10 the
archives OF the Alamo Monument asso-
citation:
"In 1881 small party of adventurous
spirits, eleven in number, consisting of
Rein p. and James Bowie, their two
servant boys, Messrs. Buchanan, Maca-
line, Stern. Cephas Hamm and three
other persons, left San Antonio TO visit
the old San Saba silver mines. On the
morning of the third day OF their journey
they were visited by an Indian, who
claimed to be a messenger from Chief
Isaonia, and whose medal he exhibited
as his credentials, bearing them a warn
ing from Isaonia that about 100 unfriend-
ly savages were on their trail. Rem
Bowie, who spoke many Indian dialects,
conferred with the messenger in his
tongue, after which he advised his party
to select favorable spot and intrench
themselves. A position was chosen near
a hill, where the ground was covered
with few trees and some thick under
brush, amidst which a spring gushed
from the earth. Working all night, the
travellers finally completed breastwork
of sods around the thicket. They placed
the servants. horses and pack mules in a
covered situation at the spring. and
rested awhile TO await events. About Q
in the morning, when the sun lit up the
hill in front of them, il revealed its sum
NIT covered with Indians. who hoisted a
white flag After a consultation Rez
Bowie and Buchanan passed outside the
trench works 10 parley with them. As
they approached the hill the savages
waved their flag and called out: How
dye do? How dye dor and fired on them
at the same time. Several bullets passed
through Bowie's hunting blouse, leaving
him unscratched. Poor Buchanan was
not so fortunate, for bullet struck his
leg, breaking it. As Buchanan fell,
| Bowie caught him by the arm, and lift
| ing him by the shoulder, started 10 carry
| him back to shelter. Eight Indians armed
with tomahawks pursued Bowie, who,
thus heavily burdened, could i'll have de
| Tended himself, but his party fred from
! their intrenchments on the advancing
foes, killing four of them, and the re
manning four ran back 10 their shelter.
Firing now began in earnest between
the opposing forces. and fortunately the
Indians could not discover what number
! Of men were concealed in the bushes
back Of the little forti1cations The
small force, reduced 10y two-for in ad-
| dition 10 Buchanan being wounded. Mas
| caline was killed-fought unceasingly
| the entire day. Those engaged in the
fight said that the contrast in the manner
| Of the two B0wies was most striking
James passed from one point 10 another
| giving orders, looking. and firing. A.
the same time Rein maintained an IN
broken silence. raised his gun with cool
ness and deliberation, bringing down
redskin az each shot During the night
the Indians passed the time mourning
their dead. and with the coming Of daS
vanished as quietly as they had appeared
The whites now made preparations foi
returning to San Antonio. Poor hascs
| line was buried and rocks piled over hiI
grave to secure It from depredations o
wolves. The great trouble was what +,
do with Buchanan. Rein Bowie. evei
prolific in expedieuts, made a strong de-
coction of oak bark by boiling the bari
| in water This be fhickeDed with oorr
meal. and, spreading it on a cloth snt
sprinkling IL with gunpowder. he forme,
a poultice which he wrapped abrIt Bu
chanans leg. Around this he tightly
sewed q covering Of buckskin, and. pack
ing the patient on his horse OF th
| party started. After several davs trsve
/ Bowie examined Buchanaus ier. and
finding is in a fair way q recovery, re
| newed the same dressing. and under thi
rough and singular treatment the hml
recovered entirely Tins party 81 met
never made anosher attempt e reacl
the San Saba mines. San Antonio Cr
ST. Louis Glo5e- Democrat