The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-06-07

died over twenty years ago, in his
ninetieth year. "On the night before
the fight was to take place, l never
saw a man sleep more soundly than he
did nor eat a better breakfast the next
morning."
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 the
pistols. One of Bowie's missed fire,
while both of Wright's bullets took
effect upon his antagonist.
Thinking he had Bowie at his mercy,
Norris Wright sprang upon him. In
a moment Bowie had drawn his dead
ly knife. and though two or three of
Wright'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 hit
the ground.
Seriously wounded himself, it was
for some time very doubtful question
whether or not he would ever get we'll.
But youth, temperate life, and an
excellent 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 en-
counter. "The knife doesn't miss fire" ,"
he said to an intimate friend, Mr.. By
mum, 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 re-
volver, the first revolver that ever was
made
SIXTEEN LIVES WITH ONE KNIFE.
James Bowie was engaged in the
purchase and contest of claims Tor
great tracts of land that had been
grants made by the French Crown.
When Louisiana was ceded to the
United States and finally became a
State there was a good deal of trouble
on this account over some of the titles
to lard along the Red River and its
tributaries. A man often had to fight
for his plantation, as frequently he
would not give it up to somebody with
an old French or Spanish grant. 1t
was in these contests that James Bowie
did the most Of his killing. He had
sixteen lives on his hands from the use
of that one bloody knife. After much
consideration he had made knife that
has been the model and pattern for all
the real bowie knives that have ever
had the sanction Of their originator.
In 1885 Bowie sold his Louisiana
property and went to Texas. The
Lone Star State was in the throes of a
bloody revolution. The gallant resis
tance of the Texans so exasperated
Gen. Santa. Anna, who was chief in
command of the Mexican forces, that
he swore he would take no more prison.
ers. When Bowie arrived in Texas
and offered his services to the young
republic, he was at once made a colo.
mel of rihemen in the army Ct Texas.
DEATH IN THE ALAMO.
In January, 1886, Col. Bowie was
ordered to San Antonio de Bexar to
assist In holding that place against
Santa Annals coming forces. The
siege ran along until March, when San
Antonio, 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 Gen. Santa Anna s
memory that time can never blot out.
Col. Bowie was badly wounded three
times, and was in room of the main
work of the place called the Alamo.
He opposed the surrender as long as
was possible.
He was lying on his bed when he
heard the triumphant Mexicans coming
in. 1t was the first hint he had had OF
the surrender. He knew his life was
ended. He could, however, move
about little. The instant the Mexi-
cans came into the room they began
shooting at him. He grasped his knife
and leaped among them like an en-.
ragged tiger. And when the firing
ended six Of his enemies had crossed
the Styx with James Bowie, and gone
with him to the SHADES ". II. RoLurts