New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
STORIES ABOUT GYM" BOWIE.
HOW HE ONCE PROTECTED A PREACHER


From The Huntsville (Tex) Prison Bulletin.
| One fine summer morning; in 1S33-the year
| that Santa Anna seized the Presidency Of the
new Republic of Mexco-a small party Of horse
men crossed the Sabine River about sixty miles
from its mouth, and entered Texas territory.
Most OK them were clad in buckskin and armed
with rife, pistol and knifc-a rough. determined
looking crowd. with two notable EXCEPTIONS
one clean-shaven. dark-skinned with q bright,
restless eye that scanned the woods constantly,
as II in search of an enemy: the other a small.
mild-rnanncred man. whose general appearance
betokened the preacher. These two were rid'Ay
in front talking earnestly Of the convention
which had just been held at san Felipe de
Austin. and Of the possibility that Texas might
ore day become an independent state. Sud
denly some one in the party behind them
started a song with a memorable chorus:
when the other States reject u.s.
This is the one that always takes u.s.
From that iingling rhyme some derive the
name Texas" Certain 1t is that this great.
new land took in and sheltered many fugitive
who left his country for his countrys good"
That prince OF pirates LATTE had sailed away
from Galveston ten years before and his thou
sand freebooters we're scattered to the four
winds. but crowds of adventures from all parts
OF the world were pouring in. with many Of the
better class. to swell the tide Of Texas mm-
grafton.
The little band logged on. and finally reached
! the municipality of San Augustine. then IL mere
collection of rude log huts, with two
adobe structures built by Spanish missionaries
Here the preacher posted a rCticc that the Rev.
Henry Stephenson. Of the Methodist denomna-
ton. would hold n meeting in the evening. At
the hour named the house was crowded to
overlooking with rough desperate men. all
armed and ready for any fun or fray that might
arise on such novel occasion. The minister
gave out hymn AMI IT was sung with spirit:
Then came the text. but not another word
would the crowd hear. They hooted and yelled.
sho. off their pistols. crowed and brayed in de-
| rsion. The tumult was deafCning. The little.
quiet preacher stood his ground braycy. though
l m vi eh ha Nt4Ta VOL tf
With difficulty his travelling companion forced
his way to the front still carrying his rife. and
a huge knife in his belt. Tn wild cheer that
broke from the crowd sounded in the ears OF
the prcachcr-nOw thoroughly llIrned-like the
hOWs Of a pack Of wolves or the yells Of Indians
hungry for scalDs. But instead Of Jumping
upon him this strange man. with restless eye
flashing and long black hair streaming over
his shoulders jumped on n bench and, throwing
his hat to the ground. shouted in Il stcntorian
voice: Men this man has come 10 preach To
you, You need preaching to- and I'll be - II
he shant preach to YOU. The next man who
dislurbs him shall fight me- My name is jim
Bowie"
The effect was magical With quiet. respect
full attention the rough audience listened to the
sermon, Joined heartily in the closing hymn'
and not a few Of them came up 10 shake hands
with the little man and apologize for the rough
reception they had given him. \ month later.
at the first camp-mccting ever held in Texas,
some Of them became members OF the church'
and I'm 1S:,S the cornerstone Of the first Protes-
tani house Of worship in the Republic was lald
i'm San Augustine.
The man whose timely aid proved 50 effective
| was Colonel James Bowie. and the knife in ms
belt was the no;cd bowie knit-. given To nm
bv his brother. Rein +. Bowie. 1t was made
of a large ne. strong. Of admirable temper ana
gavc its name 10 a family OF terrible weapons
not vet extinct. Crockett met Bowie for me
first time i'm the Alamo. and he writes IN MS
journal. while We were c. nNerslng Culonr'
| Bov.ie had occasion to draw his famous knIIe
and wish may be shot II the bare slSht oi IL
wasn't enough 90 give man Of s1ueanish
stomach the cole. He saw | was adnirInE H.
and said he. Colonel. you might tickle REL,
lows ribs a long time with this before YOU
make him laugh .,.i
Brave generous determined ana cnterprisIlB'
lanes Bowie sought adventure for IFS haZarIS'
ard H., was naturally among the hrst To 'ihe
IN arms for Tcxis Independence. Three more
deernratn men were never brought toSether
than Travis Crockett ard Bowie. as they TOOK
their last stand within he walls OF the Alamo.
sick and helpless i'm bed on that last t'rripie
doy "Jim" Bowie diet fighting. AS'a McXlcan
ran forward to kill him be reused himself ny !
supren,o effort caught his assailant by inc halr;
pItlngcd the fatal knife into his heart ana iei
back dead. -, a. ,,;.
When the story Of his death was tod TO MS
old mother in Louisiana she said: am SURE
/ lin never died with a wound IN ms pICh,
/ and with a quiet smile turned again 10 her