Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-09-11

notable of the rangers and In1ian-
fighters who "blazel their way" along
100 trails between the Rio Grande
and the Colorado 10 years ago were
Rein and James Bowie-to whom,
| jointly, belongs the questionable hon
on of the invention of the bowie
knife. These energetic and intrepid
lads were the sons Of Rczin 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
to Catahoula parish. Louisiana. ON
the 18th of September, 1927, James
Bowie was engaged on bar OF the
Mississippi in one of the bloodiest
affrays recorded in the fighting an
nails 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 career as dramatic as
1t 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 18th, when they were over
hauled by friendly Comanches, who
warned them that they were followed
by a 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
o 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 liye-oaks of the girth Of a mans
body. To the north of these, and near
by, was thicket Of young trees about
10 feet high; and on the west, 4O
yards away, ran stream OF water.
On every side was open prairie. inter-
spersei with rocks and broken land,
and here and there clump of trees.
s Here, having prepared for defense
rafu setearIngs out Z q rEa pricSiy-poafs,
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 a footman so yards in advance OF
the party with his face to the ground,
tracking. All hands efw to 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 reconnoitcred the
ground, and among these were 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-
tion of numbers-164 to lit was
agreed that Rein Bowie should go
out to parley with them, to avoid, II
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 OWE
tongue, but they replied with How
do! How do" followed by dozen
shots, one of which broke Buchanan's
leg. Bowie responded with the con-
tents of a double-barreled gun and
pistol, took Buchanan on his back,
and started for the camp. The Indians
opened fire again. Buchanan was hit
twice, but not mortally, and Bowie's
hunting-shirt 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 and killed four. putting the
others to flight. eve then returned
to our position" wrote Rein Bowie,
"and all was still for five minutes" ;"
Then from a hill red 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 q vicious volley. "Who is load
ei?" cried James Bowie. II am"
said Cephas Hamm. "Then shoot that
chief" And Hamm, firing, broke the
Indians leg and killed his pony.
The chief went hopping round the
horse, his body covered with his
shield; four of the Texans who had
reloaded fired and the man fell. Six
or eight 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 dcdged 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 Iarty opened fire at 40 yards,
ond shot Matthew Dov1a thrOuPh the