The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-20
BOWIE AND HIS KNIFE.
Interesting "Reminiscences Of He,
of the Alamo.


day Herald contributes the following,
which will doubtless be read with interest:
l am glad to see that the attempt made
IN Texas to raise funds for the erection of
suitable monument to Coils. David Crockett
and Bowie and the other brave men who
were treacherously killed in the defense of
the Alamo, March 6, 1886, has been success
full. A drawer deed than that defense does
not live in the annals of American history
Or Crockett much has been written and
but little of James Bowie, who was one the
most wonderful men of his day. The best
account of him have ever heard was re-
lated by Gov. James Madison Wells of
louisiana returning board fame. He knew
Bowie intimately In his younger DAYS and
was present with his brother, Col. JEFF
Wells of Rapides parish, Louisiana at one of
the most terrible fights in Bowie's life, which
took place on Natchez Island, almost oDpo-
site Natchez, Miss, in 1927. Gov Wells
account of the origin of the world-famed
knife called after Bowie is most inter-
esting,
''In 1926 James Bowie was large owner
OF claims to Spanish grants of land,n said
GOV. Wells, land as many Of them were
then occupied by planters who had to be
elected before he could get possession, Bowie
was constantly in danger of his life. He
was small man, not weighing more than
$50 pounds, 5 feet and ~ inches in hight,
but of wonderful physical strength, and as
1.-the and quick as a panther. At the time
he was living with his brother, Stephen, in
Louisiana on plantation situated on the
dividing line between the parishes of La
fourche and Assumption. Near them there
was blacksmith and worker in iron and
steel of great skill. He was of Spanish or
Portuguese blood and had been, according
to local rumor one of the Latitte's crew Of
pirates. The pistols of that day were not
as accurate or sure of fire as they are now.
They were hintlocks, as percussion CAPS
were not in general use until about 1885,
Bowie had great faith in a knife. He de-
clared that 1T was the surest and most faith
full of all weapons in the hands of a man
who could rely on his nerves, but that he
had never seen a weapon of that sort which
came up to his ideas of the most effective
pattern. One day he and his brother
stephen were riding down the road and one
of the horses cast shoe. They stopped at
the blacksmiths mentioned to have it re-
placed. While waiting Bowie saw some
hne workmanship on a sword, or rather
Spanish machete, and the thought occurred
to him to have knife made for defense
and otfense according to his notion by this
blacksmith. There was bundle of shingles
near at hand and taking one, Bowie whit
tied out of the soft thin pine rough model
in shape of what he wanted. Tue black
smith had long. worn out file, which was
used in the heaviest iron work, and out of
this he made the knife which James Bowie
used in % bloody encounters and finally
died grasping it in his hand at the Alamo
II will describe it to you, for have fire.
quentiy seen and handled itn continued
Gov. Wells. sit was Tx inches in the
blade, 2inches in width until within inches
| of the point when it widened a half inch
and then curving backward little ran off
suddenly to point. In weight it was Just
three pounds. The handle was made of the
lower part of the horn of an elk sawed in
two halves and neatly riveted onto the
shank of the blade, the handle and blade
being % inches in length, with handsome
cross-piece where the two joined. The
knife was ground down and then put on an
oil stone until it was so sharp that it would
| shave the hair off ones hand, SO admirable
was its temper. The sheath was made of
two pieces of thin pine wood neatly covered
with alligator skin. 1t could be used for
both cut and thrust, and it never failed
when Jim Bowie got fair blow"
This is an accurate description of the
bowie knife, and as it has never been in print.
desire to preserve an interesting incident
made us produce it here.
There were three Bowie brothers-James,
ing men," as dangerous individuals were
denominated in those times, but were not
| DULLES. They never commenced difficulty,
and in the ordinary intercourse with their
neighbors were quiet and courteous, but al
ways ready to defend the weaker side. An
old Methodist minister, who died years ago.
one of the pioneers of christianity in the
early days of the southwest, also told me a
story Illustrating this characteristic
Miss, in 1892 said the venerable preacher,
when lot of roughs. flatboatmen and
others, disturbed the congregation to such
a degree that | thought there would be se-
rious trouble. so just before the evening
service was to begin, called together sew
eral gentlemen to know what should be
done if the trouble was renewed. Among
those present was small man,
whom | had not met before, and about
whom there was nothing remarkable except
his low, soft voice and peculiar ringed
gray eyes. i don't think there will be any
more trouble, parson,' he said: L will STAY
tonight aud see you through / thanked
him, and in the hustle forgot to ask NV
friends who he was. The congregation was
just beginning the first hymn when q burly
ruffian, half drunk, came staggering down
the aisle of the church and, hating in front
OF the pulpit, gave an Indian war-whoop.
In second the gentleman with the unus-
ual eyes had him by the collar with one
hand and an enormous knife raised above
his head in the other. sit down, you
drunken devil, or by-I will cut your throat
from ear to earl
"'Why, who are you? said the other. in
shaky tones.
"'My names is James Bowie was the
answer and if l hear another whlmper
out OF you or any member of your gang I
VIII waste no words, but come back to YOU.
Now go;' and the man went without a word
and Bowie then Joined in the singing of the
hymn with an air that was edifying in the
extreme. There was no more trouble that
night nor ever after. The roughs had
enough"
Rein Bowie died in Arkansas about 1916
and his brother in Louisiana outliyed him
only few months Thus ended one of the
most wonderful families in their time.
BEN BUFFERS PORTRAIT is to be hung in the
rotunda Of the state capitol of New Hampshire