The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-22

OHM THAT RECALLS ADVENTURES
or PIONEER DAYS.


liant Colonel Bowie.
Lowell Of Utopia, Uvaldc county,
IA Texas ranger, and in a converse
,v,,h number OF gentlemen at Calves
.be other day he gave an account Of
ssit 20 the old fort erected by the cele-
s.,,ed james Bowie.
"a short time ago." remarked Captain
Iii while crossing the divide between
-. Main and Dry FRO, about 80 miles
- -. III Utopia, noticed on the side OF n
80 circular pile Of rocks. embling an
af,,.iGcatlon. Being interested in such
- turned aside 20 investigate. On
80, NJ the place discovered that the
- Rad been placed there by the hand 81
- 81 sr early day. The fort, which / will
- call this rude structure. was built on
~ south side Of q hill, making a complete
go except gap at the lower end, which
81 been left open rs place Of entrance.
me Of The stones were very large and
nd have required the united efforts OK
,fo-en men 10 put them in place The
800 OF the rock wall when first built
md have covered man TO the neck, and
sAnlacc would have made an admirable
-, 10 stand OF band of Indians, which
,.rs no doubt IL had been built for The
- thing was TO look around and see If |
,,,d discover anything by which could
io.srmlne what caused the presence Of the
,en Who built the fort, although l had
,,sssed they were gold hunters.
II noticed the entrance 70 the fortiflca-
son was on the lower side toward the foot
Ttho bin and opposite small cedar brake,
,.ifmen would come from that point In
reoof danger As soon as ] entered tho
,3ar brake the problem was solved Mt once.
.aw an immense pile OF earth banked up,
,,d near IL a shaft. 1t was at the base of q
Nm not q hundred yards from the fort,
,csy the head Of ravine. II was an old
,,ine either Of gold, silver or lead, and had
ooen worked many years ago The entrance
~ the mine WAS down flight of 10 or II
,ens cut in the SOIL which time and the
,rfion Of the water pouring into 1t during
seavv rains had not eifaced. At the bot
ION, Of the steps the excavations extended
vest under the hill upon which the fort was
bsilt. did not penetrate it far, as had
No light. On the mound of soil near the
tbaft grew cedar trees as large as "A mans
BODY. Indicating q period prior to the ad-
rent Of the Texas pioneers into these noun
yins. when the country was full of hostile
Indians. The fort on the side of the hill
commanded all approaches to the mine.
eInsurmising in regard 70 the people who
armerly worked this mine at first conclud-
a that they were Spaniards or Mexicans,
kgtfnally connected the place with the cele-
brated Texan, Colonel James Bowie. / rec
,lected hearing my father relate a circum-
rauce which he heard from Colonel Bowie
b Gonzales before the Texan revolution.
Colonel Bowie said that on one occasion,
gAile prospecting for gold or silver in the
Mountains west OF San Antonio, he had
Innk shaft in search of silver. He had
lorce Of 30 men with him, and anticipating
Inattack by the Indians fortified the camp
bypihng up large rocks. Their position
summarized every approach to their camp
nd shaft, and also to spring OF water
pmething over 100 yards distant.
While engaged working this mine they
we're suddenly attacked one morning by
arpe body of Comanche Indians. Bowie
nd his men at once took refuge in the
ratification, and the battle commenced
rah, great fury. The Indians, however,
rs,e soon driven TO cover in the ravines
~ behind the rocks by the deadly fire of
E0gie's men, The fight lasted all day, each
,ary firing as opportunity offered. Dur
az the day, however, Bowie's men drank
anal their water and began TO suffer in
snsely with thirst. The Indians, however,
BON their position in the rocks and guiiies,
commanded the spring, and it was almost
sortain death for any one to venture. II the
ten all sailed from the fort they were
likely to be overwhelmed by the superior
.-ce of the savages, but something had 70
b. done.
"Now Bowie owned strong young ne
no named jim, who was one of the party.
"'Jim,' says Bowie, turning to the negro,
won't you take the gourds and bring US
ome water from the spring.
"'No, sar, mRrse: Jim couldn't think OF
mch thing. Them Injuns is a-layin dar
d DAT brush and rocks, and dey could get
lp and kin dis Niger befo' you could say
scat" twice. and befo' could half ill dem
gourds No, sab; can't 60
Bowie looked at the negro with his
teen. piercing eye, and said;
Jim, which are you most afraid of-me
nthe Iudiansi'
"'Well, now replied Jim, IL you 'sist on
ne gwine Of course I'll go; il de boys Is
bound to have some water befo' they can
Whip the Injuns and you 'sist or me
igwine. why den III volunteer my sarv-
ces Hunt up dem gourds. I'm Off
Bowie now told Jim he need not fear, ms
hey could protect him with their rifles
tom the fort while he was getting the wa
er Ii appears that the Indians were not
expecting any one TO attempt TO come from
he fort for water and evidently did not see
Tie neRro-in fact, they had TO keep well
I'D themselves, as every exposure OF their
,ersons would bring n whizzing rifle ball
rom the hill. The negro advanced to the
,nring, filed the gourds and was starting
oack before the Indians discovered him.
They now, however, set up terrible yell
ag and commenced firing az him, which
uso drew the fire Of the fort, as several OF
DE Indians had shown themselves. The
aegro now commenced running as best he
,ould with several gourds dangling about
s.ln with a number of Indians in close pur-
uit. notwithstanding the fact that several
atheir number had fallen before the dead
y aim of Bowies rifles. One burly savage
cropped his empty gun, and drawing his
lomahawk ran close 10 the negro, intend
IgtO strike him down with that.
"A rifle cracked from the lower end OF
he Enclosure. and the Indian fell back
ward
Jim soon arrived. putting and blowing,
bringing the water gourds with him. "-St
louis Globe Democrat.