The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-09
VETERAN OF THURSTOA COUNTY

Seattle-C. A. P. Bowie, who first
smelt powder at the battle of New
Orleans, under Gen. Jackson is spend
ing a vacation in Seattle. Through
nearly SO years of age-he was born
in Louisiana in 1805-the old war
SCARED veteran still enjoys good
health, and is still able to do a days
work Mr.. Bowie is related to the ia
nous Col. Bowie, inventor of the from
tiersman's weapon, the Bowie knife,
and has taken part in nearly all the
chief campaigns Of the eighteenth
century. He wears several medals,
the two Of which he is most proud be
ing a medal in honor of the battle Of
San Jacinto in 1886, and the silver
Maltese cross given by the British
government for yalOr during the Cri-
mean campaign in 1855. The Crimean
medal carries a pension with it Of
an English pound a week, which Mr..
Bowie is still drawing.
The veteran Of perhaps fiercer bat
ties than any living man has been
wounded several times, and had his
palate shot away in the battle of Get
tysburg, while fighting on the Confed-
crate side, but apart from an impe-
diment in speaking the old man suffers
no apparent discomfort from his eX-
periences and takes great pride in
the fact that he is still sound man.
He is a thirty second degree Mason.
Speaking of his career at the Seattle
hotel, Mr.. Bowie said:
haft ioh
present was that aOf New Orleans.
was only a boy at the time but
went with my father. who was one of
Old Hickory's soldiers. | afterwards
joined the British navy and was a
sailor aboard the Asia, Admiral Cod
rington's flagship, at the battle of
Navarno in 1927 | afterwards re-
turned to America and took part in
the Texan campaign in 1886 and
here he showed the medal of the battle
of San Jacinto bearing his name and
the inscription From Texas to Her
Heroes"
when the Crimean war broke out
| again took service with the British.
and was present at all the principal
battles of that campaign, including
Alma, SebastopOl and Balaclaya. For
my services during that campaign |
was awarded the silver Maltese cross
by the British government
Mr. Bowie showed the cross, which
bears his name both on medal and
clasp. with the simple inscription.
For ValOur." This decoration car
ries with it the pension from the
British government. and prior to the
institution of the Victoria cross was
the highest decoration for valOr in
the gift of the British crown. While
willing to give an outline of his ca
reer Mr. Bowie is reticent as to spe-
cific achievements and would not saw
what deed won him his cross. He
says that all details will be published
after his death from memoranda he
has prepared.
In response to further questions.
the veteran said:
Il was all through the civil war.
fighting for the south. The roof of
ny mouth was shot out at the bat
tie Of Gettysburg and is the only
wound that has caused me lasting in
Il am in my ninety-eighth year. but
still enjoy health and strength, and
am perfectly sound man. | have a
grandson in California, and also in
this state. | spend a good deal of my
time with them. and when | get tired
| go to work | have just been work
ing at a logging camp about ten miles
from SheiGOn. and get ny $3.50 per
day swapping.
Il have been a soldier of fortune
nearly all my life, and fought in South
America in the war OF the revolt of the
Spanish colonies under Gen. Simon
Bolivar. Gen. Bolivar was nv
mothers brother, which was one of
the reasons chat induced me to go
down there.
Mr.. Bowies activity and seeming
was generally remarked at
the the hotel. He seems as spry and
active on his feet as a man fifty wears
his Junior and his right hand can still
give a grip Of which no young man
need be ashamed. He is able to read
quite comfortably by the aid OF |
glasses and yesterday afternoon was
himself with a novel. He ey-
9 r. 80 rxs o :. -.
Res7sths = re KIND You Hare AW2yS R0grr- |