The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-12-24
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
Preacher In Texas.

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 iu
buckskln and armed with rifle. pistol
and knife-a rough. determined look
Ing crowd. with two notable excep.
tions one clean shaven. dark skinned.
with 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 ~ the convention
which had just been held at san Fe-
! llpe 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 Il memorable chorus
When other states reject us,
This is the one that always takes us.
ihhN iuN Hplllt ut-
rive the name Texas" Certain IL IL
that this great new land took In and
sheltered many fugitive "who left
his country for his country's good"
| That prince of pirates Latitte had sail
ed away from Galveston ten years be-
| fore. and his thousand freebooters
were scattered to the four winds. but
] prnNVds nf uJyauturars frntn oII not,s
of the world were pouring I'm. 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 II 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 u novel occasion.
The minister gave out a hymn, and II
was sung with spirit. Then came the
text, but not another word would the
crowd hear. They hooted and yelled,
shot of their pistols, crowed and bray
ell In derision. The tumult was deaf
ening. The quiet little preacher stood
his ground bravely. though In his heart
wishing he were well out OF 1t. With
difficulty his travelling companion forced
his way to the front. still carrying his
rifle and n huge knife In his belt. The
wild cheer that broke from the crowd
sounded In the ears of the preacher,
now thoroughly alarmed, like the
howls of pack OF wolves or the yells
of Indians hungry for scalps. But In
stead OF jumping upon him this strange
man, with restless eyes flashing ana
long black hair streaming over his
shoulders. jumped on bench and.
throwing his hat to the ground. shout
ed In stentorian voice: "Men. this
man has come TO preach to you! You
need preaching to, and I'll he blanked
IL he shant preach TO you! The next
man who disturbs him shall fight me,
My name Is Jim Bowiew
The effect was magical. With quiet,
respectful attention the rough audience
listened TO the sermon. Joined heartily
In the closing hymn. and not "A few
persons came up to shake hands with
the little man and apologize for the
rough reception they had given him. A
month later at the first camp meeting
ever held In Texas some OF them be-
came members OF the church. and IN
| 1888 the cornerstone OF the first Prot
estant house of worship In the republic
was laid in San Augustine.
! The man whose timely aid proved so
effective was Colonel James Bowie, and
the knife in his belt was the noted
"bowie knife" given TO him by his
brother, Rein l.. Bowie. II was made
OF large file, strong of admirable
temper and gave its name To family
OF terrible weapons not yet extinct.
Crockett met Bowie for the first time
IN the Alamo, and he writes I'm his
Journal: While we were converslng
Colonel Bowie had occasion to draw
his famous knife, and | wish may he
shot II the bare sight of II wasn't
enough TO give a man OF a squeamish
stomach the collie. He saw was al.
mlring II and said he, Colonel, you
might tickle a fellows ribs long time
with this before you'd make him
laugh"
Brave, generous, determined and on,
tcrprising. James Bowie sought adven.
ture for its hazards. and he was natu.
rally among the first to take up arms
for Texas independeuce Three more
desperate men We're never brought to-
gether than Travis. Crockett and Bowie
ms they took their last stand within
the walls OF the Alamo. Sick and help.
less In bed on that last terrible day.
Jim Bowie died fighting. As Mex.
fcan ran forward to Kill him he reused
himself by supreme effort. caught his
assailant by the hair plunged the fatal
knife into his heart and fell back dead.
When the story OF his death was told
TO his mother In Louisiana, she said.