Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-08
B0WIEANDHIs KNIFE.
HE CALLED 1T THE WEAPON THAT
NEVER MISSED FIRE.

NEVER MISSED FIRE.
It Was Made of an old steel File and
Was sharpened to Razor Edge.
With 1t He Killed Sixteen Men-The
Duel With Norris Wright.
James Bowie, famous by reason Of the
world renowned knife called by his name
was horn in Burke county. Ca, in 1890
In 1902 his father emigrated to Louisi-
ana. That country was then still under
French domination. There had been
large tracts Of land granted by the
French crown in the territory named for
Louis NV. and one Of these in the par
ish Of Catahoula. was acquired by the
elder Bowie. He was man of sub
stance. owning nearly 100 slaves. He
soon had his estate opened out and was
growing superb crops Of cotton and corn.
His son james he sent first to famous
private school at Natchez Miss. and aft
erward to the Jesuit college. then locat-
ed in New Orleans
James Bowie in 1897 was challenged to
duel with Norris Wright. The pocket
pistols OF that day were uncertain. 1t
was long before the percussion cup had
been brought into common use. and the
fiintlock nrm was the only firearm known.
1t was liable to miss fire just when it
ought not to. Bowie determined to rely
upon knife he had caused to be made
for just such contingency. He had
I taken a IA inch file. such as was then
used TO sharpen crosscut saws and the
upright saws used for turning out planks
from logs. He had the file marks care
fully ground off the file and the smooth
piece OF steel ski!lfully reduced by the
grindstone until it was about the thick
ness and weight he desired. Then he
/ took 1t to Sraaiard in New Orleans
known us Pedro. the skilled cutler,'
man who had learned his art In Toledo.
where the finest sword blades in all Spain
were forged. lie tempered and finished
the knife. fitted 1t with crosspiece and
haft. When 1t was done. James Bowie
had weapon fit to fight for mans life
with. as he said to Governor Wells. 1t
was beautifully balanced. and the artist
had hollow ground 1t like razor. with
double edge for three or four inches
from the point.
The knife was fitted with wooden
soabbard covered with leather and was
I sharp enough to shave the hair off the
back OF ones hand. This was the orig
inal bowie knife. though it was some
what modified subsequently, in shape.
Nntchez island. where the fight was to
be. was midway between the Louisiana
and Mississippi shores OF the great Fa-
Their of Waters. Therefore 1t was a fa-
vorite meeting place for gentlemen who
had TO adjust affairs that might have a
fatal ending. rs the authorities Of neither
state could interfere.
1t was understood that each of the
principals should have but one friend.
and certainly not more than two, on the
ground. But Mr.. Wright had FIVE or six
present. The fight began with pistols
One of Bowie's missed fire. while both OF
Wright's took effect upon his antagonist.
Thinking he had Bowie at his mercy.
Norris Wright sprang upon him. In a
moment Bowie had drawn his deadly
knife, and. though two or three of
Wright's friends were shooting at him,
and hitting him, too. Bowie made one
awful slash Mt Wright's neck The keen
steel hit into the very neckbone. The
blood shot out over Bowie. and Norris
Wright was dead before he touched the
ground.
Seriously wounded himself. it was for
some time a very doubtful question
whether or not he would ever get Well
But youth. a temperate life and an e1-
celent constitution finally brought him
aronna. and in year from that time he
killed. General Grain witb the same knife
he had used III his first encounter. 'sThe
knife doesn't miss fire. he said to an in
innate friend. Mr.. Bynum of the parish
of Rapidcs. The pistol does"
James Bowie was engaged In the pur-
chase and contest of claims Tor great
!. tracts of land that had been grants made
by the ISreneh crown. When Louisiana
was ceded TO the United States and final
ly became a state. there was good deal
Of trouble on this account over some of
Ike titles to land along the Red river and
its tributaries. a man often had to fight
for his plantation. .s frequently he would
not give it up 10 somebody with an old
French or Spanish grant. Ii was in
these contests that James Bowie did the
most of his killing. he had is lives on
his hands from the nse OF that one
knife After much consideration he had
made knife TINT has been the model
and pattern for all the real bowie knives
that ever had the sanction of their orig
iaator.
In 1855 Colonel Bowie sold his Lon.
{ lSlaUa property ana Went TO leS2S. he
Lone Star State was in the throes OF a
bloody revolution The gallant resistance
Of the Texans so eyasperafed General
Santa Anna. who was chief in command
of the Mexican forces, that he swore he
would take no more prisoners When
Bowie arrived in Texas. he was al once
made colonel of ritiemen in the army Of
Texas.
In January, 1896. Colonel Bowie was
ordered TO San Antonio de Be1ar to as
sist in holding that place against Santa
Annals coming forces. The siege ran
along until March, when San Anonio
trusting in the pledged word of honor Of
Santa Anna. with starved out garrison.
surrendered. A general massacre took
place. Travis, Crockett and Bowie were
murdered in cold blood. stain on Cen
eral Santa Annals memory that time can
( never blot out. Colonel Bowie was bat
4 ly wounded three times and was in a
room OF the main work of the place called
the Alamo. He opposed tho surrender as
long as was possible.
/ He was lying on his bed when he heard
the triumphant Mexicans coming in. Ii
was the first hint he had had of the sur
render. He knew his life was ended He
could. however, move about lirtle The
instant the Me1icans came into the room
they began shooting at him he srasped
his knife and leaped among them like m
enraGed tiger. And when the firing end
ed six of his enemies had crossed the