The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-12
Thrilling Story Of j Early Days.
In Louisiana and Texas.
DUEL FOIL OWED BY MELEE
Only Two Left Fatal Field Alive and
\ Both Were BADLY Wounded Fight
70 Ire b cath At the Alamo IN WHICH
n Handful Held Army at Bay.
The times Dispatch Bureau,
No. 1417 g Street, n. w"

The Times Dispatch Bureau,
No. 1417 g Street, \. w"
washington, D. q. April II tn. +
M. eomerviile Bowie, OF this city, Is
Of the same family as was Colonel James
Bowie, OF Louisiana, the reputed inven-
tor Of the bowie knife It is highly inter-
esting to hear Mr.. Bowie talk Of his
celebrated ancestor. whose adventurous
career has furnished themes for story
tellers Tor three-quarters Of a century.
Mr.. Bowie insists, and has more or less
writer, and printed evidence to cstab-- !.
llsh the contention. that Colonel Bowie
was not by any means the daredevil,
bully and Desperate that mdny stories
mako him. on the contrary, he was q
man OF great gentleness Of character,
and while he performed many deeds EVIL
denclng nerve and wonderful resolu-
|, ton, It was largely owing to the fact
that the times and his environment re-
CURED the display OF such qualities. He
lived up to his duty as he saw It syi5
@ Colonel Bowie was the fourth son OF
Rein Bowie, Sri, and was born at FL
lott Springs, Tennessee, In 1705, and w lille
Sun q child accompanied his parents to
Louisiana. where they located. His father
left to him and his brother d large sugar
plantation, in which Colonel Bowie for
a time took considerable interest. but
politics also attracted him. He and his
brother were very wealthy men for that
time, and when he fell at the Alamo he
left behind him an estate valued at over
$500, 900. KS 81 III .4
3.rr.,~ ua~ "a noh 1nr
Independence Of Mexico attracted the at
tentlon Of young Bowie from the begin
ming. He went to that State and for two
or three years spent nearly all his time
there scheming to overthrow the power,
of Mexico. In Texas. and Louisiana as
WE'LL at that time. there were many des-
5perate adventures from all parts Of the
world. @ Every man n carried his pistol!
sor knife where 1t could be gotten for.
instant use, and he used either with
perhaps somewhat less provocationS than.
Is necessary In these settled days to drive
q man to draw deadly weapon. There.
were great many disputes over land
titles in those early days. and enmtles
thus begotten grew into feuds lasting for
years. 1t was to protect his brother
against the assaults OF personal enemies
begotten by some such quarrel as that
mentioned that Colonel Rezln P. Bowie
gave him his hunting knife. fashioned
from a flls by the plantation blacksmith.
Jesse q Cliffe Rein Bowie told his
brother when he gave him the knife
that "ln the hands OF strong man 1t was
more effective than q pistol. as q pistol
sometimes missed hlre. but a, krNfe
never 383 n s8
NINETEEN DEADLY ENCOUNTERS.
ii Colonel Bowie Is said to have used this
kni ia IN 3nfneteon deadly tor In
finally gave 1t to Forrest, the actor. "A
volume might be written containing true
stories OF the way in which Bowie used
his terrible way to help him In fierce en-
counters. Upon ono occasion he and
q neighboring Spanish planter had a fall
passed. and It was decided to fight it out
with knives. The left arms OF the two.
men were tied together The spaniard
drew back his weapon to strike. Bowie
simply thrust forward, throwing his
weight behind his arm. The awful
weapon went through the span!ard's body
and he sank llfeless to tho ground
Bowie coolly cut the cords that bound
the corpse to him. and walked away.
1.-THE 6anbari duel has been more dis
tcussed than any OF the encounters in
which Bowie took part. It was fought
on a sandbar or small island in the
mississippi River. opposite Natohez, Sep
Der OF years there had existed q feud
between two parties in the parish 3 Of
5Rapldes, on Red River. Finally, 1t was
arranged that a duel should be fought
+ on the sandbar between representatives
OF the two sides, Dr.. T. II. Maddox, OF
Maryland. and Samuel =. Wells. mere mere
went to tho duelling ground with hem
as witnesses, seconds and surgeons, Co.'s
8onel Bowie. q Mr.. McWharter, Dr. Gu
ney. General Quincy and General Nom
port Wells, partisans Of Samuel Wells,
with DR.. Maddox were at least three
{1rirElnians, Colonel Robert A. Grain. OF
Fauquier county. and Messrs. Alfred and
Edward Cary Blanchard, OF Norfolk. the
latter th1is'ather Of ex-senator n. @.
blanchard, Il OF !, Norfolk. Dr.. Denny.
thought to havo been a Vlrglnlan ana
Major Morris Wright. OF Baltimore were
also with Maddox. VIZ. &. 1. y. \, III, I,
The duel was with pistols AZ twenty
After two ineffective exchanges OF shots.
Wells and Maddox each declared they
were satisfied and shocks hands.
But Quincy, who was a Wells partisan,
stepped forward and said to Coionel
Grain. 'AThis lis a good time 70 settle our
3dif,culty." Everybody saw at once there
was about to be battle instead O 9
duel Bowie drew his pistol ana sprahs
to Cuney's side, Major Wright, almost
lt the SaIIl6 44lobethSb ~ ~
and sprang to GRANTS side. which brought
him face TO face with Bowie,
The pistols began to pop, colo ION
Grain is said to have fired the first shot.
quincy fell dead Grain also got ball
Into 1Bowies hip, Bowie drew the ter ,.
rible knife and rushed upon Grain, but
tho latter clubbing his empty pistol,
dealt Bowie terrific blow on the head:
which brought him to his knees. ~,
Maddox leaped on Bowie and held him
for a while. but tho latter hurled him
Of Just as Major Wright approached
and fired at Bowie. Bowie steadlsd him
self against q log and fired at Wr,ght,
the bali passing through the latter'a
body. Wright then drew al sword-cane.
and exolaiming, Damn YOU YOU you, have a.y
killed mel" rushed at Bowie Bowie was va,
On his feet by this time, AS Wright
came within arms length, Bowie seized
t. snfs n g WsEsty n Rear
IA the same instant ball from Ed
ward Blanchard's pistol penetrated
Bowie's body and he fell upon WFlghts
how io nr,,o