The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-09-13
A Famous Indian Fight.
BY john WILLIAMSON PALMER, NJ D.


AbAtgib WuV piAAtu LntlI way uthAo !
a 100 trails between the Rio Grande
and the Colorado 10 years ago were
Rein and James Bowie-to whom,
Jointly, belongs the questionable hon
or OF the invention Of the bowie
knife. These energetic and intrepid |
lads were the sons of Rein Bowie,
who had migrated from Maryland to |
Georgia, where the boys were born
in Burke county There were three |
other brothers-David, John, and |
Stephen. In 1902 the family removed |
70 Catahoula parish, Louisiana. On |
the 18th OF September, 1927, James |
Bowie was engaged on bar Of the
Mississippi in one Of the bloodiest !
ARRAYS recorded IN the fighting an
mails OF the southwest, In which two
men were killed and Bowie wounded.
Soon after this affair James with his
brother Rein, made his way into
Texas, where a career as dramatic as
It was Enthusiastically American
awaited them-at first among the hos
tile tribes, and later in desultory en-
counters with predatory bands Of Mex
leans.
In 1881, on the I'd Of November,
James and Rein Bowie with seven
comrades and two boys as servants
set out from San Antonio In search OF
the old Silver-mines of the San Saba
mission. They made their way with
out notable adventure until the morn
ing Of the 10Th, when they were over
hauled by friendly Comanches, who
warned them that they were followed
by war party of 124 Twowokanas
and Wacos, as well as by 40 Caddos,
making In all 164 well-armed braves,
who had sworn to take the scalps OF
the white men then and there. The
Comanche chief invited the Texans
to join his party, and offered to make
a stand with them, although he had
but 16 men, badly armed and short
of ammunition. But knowing that the
"hostiles lay between" and being
bent on reaching the old fort on the
Saba before night, the Texans de-
clined the generous offer and pushed
boldly on. But they soon came upon
rocky roads, their horses feet were
worn, and they were compelled to
encamp for the night in small grove
of live-oaks of the girth of man S
body. To the north of these, and near
by. was a thicket of young trees about
10 feet high; and on the west, Az
Yards away, ran a stream OF water.
On every side was open prairie, inter
spersed with rocks and broken land,
and here and there clump OF trees.
Here, having prepared for defense
by cutting a road inside the thlcket
and clearing out the prickly pears,
they hobbled their horses and posted
sentries. That night they were not
molested; in the morning, as they
were preparing to start for the fort
they discovered Indians on their trial
with footman so yards in advance OF
the party with his face to the ground
tracking. All hands ehw tn arms;
those who were already in the saddle
dismounted, and the saddle and PACK
horses were tethered to the trees. The
hostiles gave the war-whoop, halted
and began stripping for action. Some
mounted bucks reconnoitered the
ground, and among these were a few
Caddos, known "by the cut of theil
hair" who until that day had beer
counted among the friendly tribes.
In consideration of the dispropor
ton Of numbers-164 to lit wa
agreed that Rein Bowie should g
out to parley with them, to avoid, l
possible, a fight so unequal and s.
desperate. He took David Buchanan
with him. walked to within 40 yard
of the enemys line, and invited then
to send out their chief to talk W.T.
him. He addressed them in their oW
tongue, but they replied with "Ho'
do! How dol" followed by doze
shots. one of which broke Buchanan
leg. Bowie responded, with the COZ
tents of a double bareled gun ana
nistol took Buchanan on his baci
and started for the camp. The Indian
onened fire again Buchanan was n
twice, but not mortally, and Bowie
hunting-shirt was pierced by sever
shots Seeing that they failed
bring him down, eight of the lndlaI
on foot pursued him with tomahaWk
and were close upon him when n
own own party charged them WI
rides AMI killed four. putting Il
others to fight. I'VE then return'
To our position" wrote Rein BOW
"and all was still for five minutes
Then from a hill red with lndiar