The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-29

of his battles, the one fought on
Natchez Island ian island in the Missis-
sippi river almost opposite the city of
Matched, he cut two mems heads almost
of, giving each only single sweeping
blow
In this fight there were seven men en-
gagged. Among them was James Madison
Wells, who few years ago was so we'll
known throughout the country as the
president of the Louisiana returning
board of 1S76-77. Bowie himself was very
dangerously wounded, but managed TO
recover, thanks to marvellous constitu-
tiOn and careful nursing. While down on
the ground, with an antagonist on top of
him who weighed thirty pounds more
than Bowie did, the indomitable fighter
managed to get his left arm around his
enemy's neck. Then, with a sudden right
hand cut, he severed the other mans
jugular with an awful slash, and was al
most smothered by the terrible outgust of
blood that poured from the wound.
Bowie only weighed 140 pounds when
at his prime. He was quiet. soft-voiced
man, who never drank nor dissipated in
any way. He possessed enormous phys
ical strengthen his size, and was as quick
and 1.-the as a wildcat aud as game. He
was terror to all the "hard cases"
from Louisville to New Orleans.
In 1885," said Gen. B. G. aumphries,
talking of Bowie at Mississippi, "the
Methodists about Church Hill, Miss,
were holding their annual meeting. They
had been a good deaf disturbed by the
crews of rough flatboatmen, large num-
Der of whose boats were lying in the river
below the town. One morning after ser
vice was ended a number of gen tIemen
held meeting TO decide upon some meas
ures to abate this trouble. Among them
the parson, who was new conner, noticed
a small man, whose only popularity was
a pair of Steely, blue-ringed eyes-eyes
like cat. i will attend the services to-
night, gentlemen said he, in a low, gentle
voice, and will help you to settle any
difficulty that may occur This seemed
very satisfactory to those present, but
the clergymen forgot TO ask who he was.
"The evening service had begun. Just
as the preacher was about giving out the
second hymn a big kentucky fiatboatman
staggered up in front of the pulpit and
gave Choctaw war whOop. In a second
the little man had him by the collar with
his left hand, and in his right had a knife,
with its point against the boatmans
brawny throat. If you say another word
or make the slightest noise, by God I'll
drive this knife through your neck from
ear to ear The big man trembled like a
leaf and silently took seat, while the
other, putting his knife out of sight,
joined with great fervor in the singing of
the hymn. There was never a quieter
meeting held than that was thereafter.
Who was the gentleman who so speedily
settled the difficulty to-nightY asked the
minister when the service was ended.
Don't you know2 his friend replied.
That was James Bowie"
Next to the Bowie knife, the most cele-
brated of southern small deadly weapons
in the old times was the Deringer pistol,
usually called ''Jhe Deringer" From
1910 TO 1865 part Of every southern gen
tleman's personal equipment was a pair
of Deringers. Hardly ever more than
four inches to the barrel, and carrying
about sixty bullets to the pound, by rea-
son of popularity in the manner of Dor
ing, and the arrangement of the powder
chamber, no small pistol Of the time ever
drove bullet ut short distance with
the terrible power and deadly effect of
the Deringer They were intended for
close quarters, and at ten or fifteen feet
or PAGES their bullets would smash an
arm or leg mao splinters. Because of this
smashing quality they were called 'bone
breakers, and they well deserve the
name.
About 1880 there lived in Philadelphia
a gunsmith named Deringer He was
noted for the exquisite fineness of his
work on firearms and its general excel
lence, particularly in pistols. The flint
lock was then used, and 10 insure its not
missing fire the lock work especially had
to be done with great deal of care.
The locks for doubble barrel gun Of
the finest kind in those days cost $50
alone "Old" Joe Mantou says In little
book on gunnery printed in 1872. that he
habitually paid el0 for all his gun locks
In 1888 the contract was let for the pis-
tolls with which 10 arm the First Rcgi-
mont OF Dragons, Just created Dy
act Of congress, Two thousand holster
pistols, carrying thirty bullets 70 the
pound, - were wanted
Deringcr got the contract The officers
OF the regiment also wanted pistols. but
Of finer quality than those Of tho rank