Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-07-20

Among the most conspicuous ana
notable OF the rangers ana hliah-
fighters who "bla1C / their way alohs
a 100 trails between the Rio Grande
ana the Colorado 10 years ago were
Rein and James Bowie--to whom,
jointly belongs the questionable non
or Of tho invention Of the bowie
knife These energetic and intrepii
lads We're the sons OF RtZih BOWIE
VINO had migrated from Maryland 10
Georgia, where the boys were bora
in Burke county There were three
other brothers-Dayii, John, ana
Stephen. In 1902 the family removed
to Catahoula parish, Louisiana. On
the 18th OF September, 1877, James
Eowie was engaged on par OF the
Mississippi in one Of the Dlooiiest
ARRAYS recorded in the fighting AN
nails Of the southwest, IN when Two
men were killed and Bowie wounded
Soon after this affair James win MS
brother Rein, made his way INTO
Texas, where a career as dramatlc as
It was enthusiastically American
awaited them--at first among the hos
tile tribes and later in lesultory en-
counters with predatory bands OF Mex
leans.
In 1881, on the I'd Of November,
James ana Rein Bowie with seven
comrades and two boys as servants
get out from San Antonio in search or
,,rt hn a
mission. They made their way with
out notable adventure until the morn
ing of the 18th. when they were over
hauled by friendly Comanches. who
warned them that they were followed
by war party of l24 TwowokanSs
and WaCos. as we'll as by 40 Caddos,
making in all lG4 well armed braves.
who had sworn to take the scalpS or
the white men then AMI there. The
Comanche chief invited the Texans
to join his party, and offered to make
a stand with them, although he had
but 10 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 AMI pushed
boldly on. But they soon came upon
rocky roads, their horses fact were
worn, and they were compelled to
encamp for the night in a small grove
CT liyeCaks Of the girth of mans
body. To the north of these. and near
by, was thicket of young trees about
10 feet high; and on the west 40
yards away, ran stream or water,
On every side was open prairie, inter
spersel with rocks and broken land,
and here and there a clump OF trees.
Here. having prepared for defense
by cutting road inside the thicket
and clearing ont the prickly pears
they hobblel their horses and posted
sentri,s. 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 80 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 We're a few
Caddos. known by the cut of their
hair" who until that day had been
counted among the friendly tribes.
In consideration of the dispropor-
ton of numbers-l64 to lit was
agreed that Rein Bowie should go
out to parley with them, to avoid, if
possible, a fight SO unequal and so
desperate. He took David Buchanan
with him, walked to within 40 yards
of the enemy's line, and invited them
to send out their chief to talk with
him. He addressed them in their own
tongue, but they replied with How |
do. How do" followed by a dozen
shots, one of which broke Buchanan's |
leg. Bowie responded with the con-
tents Of double barreled gun and a
pistol. took Buchanan on his back,
and started for the camp. The Indians
opened fire again. Buchanan was hit |
twice, but not mortally. ana Bowie's |
hunting-shiIt was pierced by several
shots. Seeing that they failed to
bring him down. eight of the Indians
on foot pursued him with tOmahawks, |
and were close upon him when his |
own own party charged them with |
rifles ami killed four. putting the
others to flight. I'VE then returned |
to our position" wrote Rein Bowie. |
land all was still for five minutes"
Then from a hill rel with Indians |
and so near that the voice of mount
ed chief urging his men to the charge
could be heard plainly, came yells
and vicious volley. who Is load
ei?" cried James Bowie. Il am"
said Cephas Hamm. Then shoot that
chief" And Hamm, firing, broke the
Indians leg and killed his pony.
The chief vent hopping round the
horse, his body covered with his
shield; four OF the Texans who had
reloaded fired and the man fell. Six
Or eigh. OF his tribe advanced to bear
away the body, and several of these
were killed by the Texans. The
whole body Of Indians then retreated
behind the hill with the exception
of few who doigei from tree to
tree, out Of gunshot.
Presently, however, they covered
the hill again, bringing up their bow.
men. for the first time in the fight
There was rapid shooting on both
sides another chief advanced on
horseback. and James Bowie brought
him down.
Meanwhile a score of Caddos who
had succeeded in getting under the
bank of the creek in the rear of the
Texan party opened fire at 40 yards.
and shot Matthew Doyle through the
breast. Thomas McCaslin ran for.
ward to avenge him. and was shot
through the body. The firing became
general from all quarters The Tpy. |