The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-30

denly ttSisted wrist fell on the table
they were seer 20 be four aces, q queen
and q knave.
There was a moment of deathiikc
silence. Then o roar like the breath
Of a prairie fire went up from the
crowd, which was composed chiefly of
planters and honest travellers.
Who the devil are you, anyway ~
cried the bam ed gambler when the
shouts subsidized.
James Bowie" was the answer.
The voice was like velvet. but IL cut
like steel into the hearts of the chief
gamblers confederates and deferred
them from any purpose or impulse
they might have had to interfere.
They, with the crowd, shrank back
from the table, smitten with sudden
terror by the name. Bowie softly
swept the bank notes int his large
SLOUGH hat and lightly clapped it on
his head.
You must fight me for this,n said
the ohief-gambler, courage
at the less of his booty.
Certainly" said Bowie. 81 said
L should kill you. In which way do
you prefer It; with knife or pistol ."
Not with your weapon replied the
man sayagely.
$50 b. it, then" returned Bowie.
will SEINE gentleman lend me a pistol
aud act as my second,
A dozen we're instantly offered and,
selecting. one carefully, Bowie said:
Let 1t be at once On this boat.
Make the arrangement / o suit your
selves. L will return in FIVE miputes."
Lightly as q panther he bounded up
the stairs, went to the young mans
cabin, knocked, handed the contents
OF his hat ~ the wife, telling her that
~two-thirds OF 1t belonged to her hus-
oand and the rest to himself, that he
would return in a few minutes.
The seconds had arranged that each
OF the dullists should stand on one of
the wheel-houses, which were about
SO feet apart, and that the signal
should be given lone. two, three, fire
stop" They were to shoot between
the words fire" and "stop" as often
as h words were uttered.
At the first call the professional
gambler fired bsfore tho word three
was entirely uttered, apparently with.
out taking aim. Then Bowie fired and
his opponent, with a shrek of agony,
turned a sOmersault backward and
lell into the river just as the great
round face of the sun, like q golden
cannon ball. shot up from behind the
neighboring bluff.
Bowie blew the smoke out of hit
pistol, shut down the pan and descend.
ed from the wheel-house as IL little
affairs of this kind were his usual ap.
petizer before breakfast. Then ii,
divided the money with the young
mans wife, and, in spite of their If.
~fectionate solicitations, for they re-
garded him rs their savior, chung
about him and wished to take hin
; nome with them, he got off the boat q,
| Rodney, telling the young man that he
must never touch o card again as long
| as he lived.
La the interest of history and in JUS
tlce TO this unusual man it Is well to ex,
plain away the Bowie myth, whict
(, probably originated from u duel which
J he fought with the knife that bear.
his name in the year 1927. This, too, oc
Cured near NatcheZ, on the opposite
' bank.
; Bowie came on the field with severa
friends, gentlemen of good standing
, and so did his opponent. He receivet
i've wounds, but killed his man with ;
long hunting dagger which had beer
made by u blacksmith u OF q worn.
out file. 1t had a double edge and ,
curved point, and was afterwar(
patented and manufactured in Phila
. delphia. But this duel, unfor u~nately
I closed in q deadly melee of the specta
tors, a. pitched battle in which six mel
were killed and fifteen wounded.
. As the story travelled it grew to b,
1 believed that Bowie himself had at
tackled a score of men single-handed
: with this terrible numerical result
and the name of Bowie in the Soutl
y and Southwest became a terror and
spell.
y The plain truth is that james Bowie
!. not only never provoked u quarrel il
' his life, but prevented "a great many
: He was a man of singular modest,
= and sweetness Of disposition. with
reverence for women, an extravagan
: fondness for children and q calm readi
u ness TO protect the weak in fine, will
; nothing at all of the desperate abou
him, except that, whenever it happen
Q ed to be needed. he had on hand, t,
!, quote the fino phrase of Prcsiden
= jackson, that desperate courag,
= which makes n a majority"
j. He was born at Elliott Springs
!, Tenn, in 1916, Of Scotch parents. and
' with his brother Rein, became
planter in Lafourche Bayou. where, il
1927, they introduced the first steam