The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-12-20
A DESPERATE FIGHTER
Courage and Daring of Colonel
James Bowie.
HIS DEATH IN THE ALAMO.
Dramatic End of This Brave, Generous
and Determined Spirit - The Way
the Fearless Fighter Once Protected
q Preacher In Texas.


the Fearless Fighter Once Protected
Preacher In Texas.
One fine summer morning in 1888
the year that Santa Anna seized the
presidency of the new republic of Mex
ico-a small party of horsemen crossed
the Sabine river about sixty miles
from Its mouth and entered Texas ter
ritory. Most of them were clad in
buckskin and armed with rifle, pistol
and knife-a rough, determined look
ing crowd, with two notable excep-
tons, one clean shaver, dark skinned,
with a bright, restless eye that scan
ned the woods constantly, as if in
search of an enemy, and the other
small, mild hammered man, whose gen
eral appearance betokened the preach
er. These two were riding in front,
talking earnestly of the convention
which had just been held at San Fee
lipe de Austin and of the possibility
that Texas might one day become an
Independent state Suddenly some one
in the party behind them started a
song with a memorable chorus
When other states reject us,
This is the one that always takes us.
From that jingling rhyme some de-
rive the name Texas" Certain it is
sheltered many fugitive "who left
his country for his country's good"
That prince Of pirates LATTE had sail
ed away from Galveston ten years be-
fore, and his thousand freebooters
were scattered to the four winds, but
crowds of Adventures from all parts
of the world were pouring in, with
many Of the better class, to swell the
tide of Texas immigration
The little band logged on and finally
reached the municipality Of San Angus
tine, then a mere collection of rude log
huts, with one or two adobe structures
built by Spanish missionaries. Here
the preacher posted a notice that the
Rev. Henry Stephenson of the -Metho-
dist denomination would hold meet
ing in the evening. At the hour named
the house was crowded to overlooking
with rough, desperate men, all armed
and ready for any fun or fray that |
might arise on such a novel occasion. |
The minister gave out hymn, and it |
was sung with spirit. Then came the |
text, but not another word would the |
crowd hear. They hooted and yelled,
shot off their pistols crowed and bray
ed in derision. The tumult was deaf |
ening. The quiet little preacher stood |
MS ground bravely, though in his heart |
wishing he were well out of it. With |
his travelling companion forced |
MS way to the front, still carrying his
life and huge knife in his belt. The
wild cheer that broke from the crowd |
sounded in the ears of the preacher,
low thoroughly alarmed, like the
lowls of a pack of wolves or the yells
If Indians hungry for scalps. But in
stead of jumping upon him this strange
nan, with restless eyes flashing and
ong black hair streaming over his
shoulders, jumped on a bench and,
throwing his hat to the ground, shout
ID in a Stentorian voice: Men, this
nan has come to preach to you! You
iced preaching to, and I'll be BANKED
f he shant preach to you! The next
nan who disturbs him shall fight me!
Ny name is Jim Bowler
The effect was magical. With quiet,
attention the rough audience
lstened to the sermon, Joined heartily
n the closing hymn, and not a few
ersons came up to shake hands with
he little man and apologize for the
ough reception they had given him. A
month later at the first camp meeting
yer held in Texas some Of them be-
anne members of the church, and in {
S3S the cornerstone Of the first Prot
slant house of worship in the republic
vas laid in San Augustine.
The man whose timely aid proved so
Elective was Colonel James Bowie, and c
be knife in his belt was the noted /
bowie knife" given to him by his '
rother, Rein P. Bowie. 1t was made :
f large file, strong, of admirable
emper and gave its name to a family \
{ terrible weapons not yet extinct. |
rocket met Bowie for the first time :
l the Alamo, and he writes in his t
)urnal: while we were conversing d
olonel Bowie had occasion to draw t
is famous knife, and wish may be !
not if the bare sight of it wasn't fl
nough to give man of a squeamish )
.omach the collie. He saw l was ad- n
e