The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-16

reduced by the grindstone until II was
about the thickness and weight he desfr-
ed Then he took 1t to Spaniard in New
Orleans known as Pedro, the skilled
cutler" man who had learned his art In
Toledo, where the finest sword blades in
all Spain were forged He tenn
pered and finished the knife. fitted
1t with a cross-piece and haft.
When 1t was done James Bowie had
a weapon "fit to Tight for a mans life
with" as he said to Gov. Wells. II was
beautifully balanced, and the artist had
hollowground it like razor with a
double edge for three or four inches from
the point.
The Original Bowie Knife.
The knife was fitted with a wooden
scabbard, covered with leather and was
sharp enough to shave the hair off the
back of ones hand. This was the original
Bowie knife. though 1t was somewhat
modified subsequently in shape. Bowie
while a student In New Orleans had
studied other things besides the humani-
ties, as the dead languages Of Greece
and Rome were then called. BY accident
he found in his fencing master a man
who could not only use the sword but
was master In the use of the cuchillo,
the Spanish fighting knife a weapon not
unlike the Bowie. Our young student en-
tered enthusiastically into thetraining and
science of Old Spain in that nations once
national weapon. And so he was much
better equipped for the deadly fight that
was so near at hand.
Natchez Island, where the fight was to
be, was midway between the louisiana
and Mississippi shores of the great Faith
er of Waters. Therefore II was a favor
lite meeting place for gentlemen who had
to adjust affairs that might have a fatal
ending, as the authorities of neither state
could interfere. II stayed all night with
James Bowie" said a friend of his, who
died over twenty years ago, in his nine
tieth year. ION the night before the
fight was to take place, I never saw a
man sleep more soundly than he did nor
eat a better breakfast the next morn
ing"
1t was understood that each Of the prin-
cipals should have but one friend, and
certainly not more than two, on the
ground. But Mr. Wright had Ave or six
present The fight began with the pistols.
One of Bowies missed fire. while both OF
Wrights bullets took effect upon his an
tagonist.
Thinking he had Bowie at his mercy.
Norris Wright sprang upon him. In
moment Bowie had drawn his deadly
knife, and though two or three of
Wrieht's friends were shooting at him
and hitting him, too, Bowie made one
awful slash at Wright's neck. The keen
steel hit into the very neck bone. The
blood shot out over Bowie, and Norris
Wright was dead before he touched the
ground.
Seriously wounded himself, Il was for
some time a very doubtful question
whether or not he would ever get well.
But youth, temperate life and an excel
lent constitution finally brought him
around. and in year from that time he
killed Gen. Grain with the same knife
he had used in his first encounter. ''rhe
knife doesn't miss fire." he said to an in
innate friend, Mr.. Bynum, OF the parish
of Rapides; "the pistol does" This, OF
course, was long before the perfection
OF the percussion cap or the invention Of
the Colts revolver. the FIRST revolver
ever made.
James Bowie was engaged in the pur-
chase and contest of claims for great
tracts Of land that had been grants made
by the French crown. When Louisiana
was coded to the United States and final
ly became a state there was good deal
OF trouble on this account over some
of the titles to land along the Red river
and its tributaries. A man often had
TO fight for his plantation, as frequently
he would not give 1t up to somebody with
an old French or Spanish grant. II was
in these contests that James Bowie did
tho most OF his killing. He had sixteen
lives on his hands from the use of that
one bloody knife. After much considera-
ton he had made a knife that has been
the model and pattern for oil the real
bowie knives that have ever had the
sanction OF their originator.
Death I'm the Alamo.
In 1895 Bowie sold his Louisiana prop
erty and went 10 Texas. The Lone Star
state was in the throes Of a bloody revo-
luton. The gallant resistance OF the Tex
ans so exasperated Gen. 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 and offered his services to the
young republic he was at once made a
colonel Of rinemen In the army OF Texas.
In January, 1896. Col Bowie was or
dered 10 San Antonio de Bazaar to assist
in holding that place against Santa An
mas coming forces. The siege ran along
until March. when San Antonio, trusting
In the pledged word Of honor OF Santa
Anna, with a starved-out garrison, sur
rendered. A general massacre took place.
Travis, Crockett and Bowie were muir