Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-13
A DESPERATE: FIGHTER
Courage and Daring CT Colonel
lanes Bowie.
HIS DEATH IN THE ALAMO.
Dramatic End Of This Brave. Generous
and Determined Spirit Tho Way
the Fearless Fighter Once Protected
a Preacher In Texas.

the Fearless Fighter Once Protected
a Preacher In Texas.
One iine summer morning In 1888
The year that Santa Anna seized the
presidency of the new republic OF Mex
ico-a small party of torscmen crossed
the Sabine river about sixty miles
from It's mouth and entered Texas ter
rliory. Most of them were clad In
buckslsin and armed with rifle. pistol
and knite-a rough. determined look
Ing crowd. With two notable cxcep.
tons. one clean sbaven. dark skinned,
with bright. restless eye that scan
ned the woods constantly, as Il IN
search OF All enculy. and the other n
small. mild mhincrcd man, whose gen.
eral appearance betokcncd the preach.
er. These two were riding In front,
talking earnestly OF the convention
which had just been held ut San Fc.
iipe dc Austin and of the possibility
TINT Texas might one day become an
independent state. Suddenly some one
In the party behind them started a
song with memorable chorus
When other states reject us,
This is the one that always takes US.
From that jingiing rhyme some de.
rive the name Texas" Certain it is
ihat this great new land took In and
sheltered many IL fugitive who left
his country Tor his country's good"
That prince Of pirates LATTE had sail.
ed away from Galveston ten years be-
fore. and his thousand rrecbootcrs
were scattered 10 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
ddc of Texas Immigration.
The little band logged on and flually
Reached the municipality OF San Angus
tine. then II mere collection of rude log
huts, with one o. two adobe structures
built by Spanish missionaries. Here
the preacher posted Il notice that the
Rev. Henry Stephenson of the Aictho-
dist denomination would hold a meet
ing in the evening. At the hour named
the house was crowded to overlowing
with rough. desperate men, all armed
and ready for any fun or fray that
might arise on such novel occasion
The minister gave out hymn, and 1t
was sung with spirit. Then came the
text. but not another word would the
crowd hear. They hootcd and yelled,
shot of their pistols, crowcd and bray
ed in dcrislon. The tumult was deaf
enng. The quiet little preacher stood
his ground bra vely, though In his heart
wishing he were we'll out of It With
difficulty his travelling companion forced
his way to the front. still carrying his
rifle and II huge knife in his belt. The
Wild cheer that broke from the crowd
sounded In the cars OF the preacher.
now thoroughly alarmed, 'aikc 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 and
long black liuir streaming over his
shoulders, jumped on bench and,
throwing his hat to the ground, shout.
cd In Il stcntotiun voice: Men, this
man has come To preach to you! You
need prenching to, and IN he BANKED
If he shaI't preach to you! The next
man who dlstrrljs him shall fight me!
aIy name Is lin. Bowler
The effect WAS magical. With quiet,
Respectfully attention the rough audience
listened 20 the sermon, joined heartily
in the closing htinn, and not few
persons came 'np III shake hunds with
the little mar and apologize for the
rough receptions they, had given him.
month later ut the first camp meeting
ever held in Texas some of them be-
came. momhers OF the church, and In
1898 the cornerstone Of the first Prot
estant honse of worship In the republic
was laid IN Sah Augustine.
The man whose timely aid proved so
effective Ges Colonel James Bowie. and
the knife ID his bolt was the noted
bowie knife. given 10 HIN by. his
brother, Rein +. Bowie. 1t was made
of q large Die, s,roaS,, OF admirable
temper and case lis name to family
of terrible weapons uot yet extinct.
Crockett met Eowier for the first time
In the Alamo, and ,ihe writes in hia
Journal: "While we, were conversing
Colonel Bowl" bad occasion to draw
his famous llnife.:aii1h wish may be
shot II the bare sight of It wasn't
enough TO glvc,n mSniof squeamish
stomach the cole lie saw was nd.
miring 1t ihd SAID lie, Colonel, you
might tickle a.feilbw's ribs long time
With this bqtpic ScTa make him
laugh" r..ss. ...ifs
Brave, generous, detesmlned and Gu.
terprisinc James fowfe sought adyen-
ture for lis h:tzards, anil he was natn.
rally among the first 20 take up arms
FOR Texas Independence. Three more
desperate men were never brought to-
gether than Travis. Crockett and Bowlc
rs they took their last stand within
the walls OF lhe Alamo. Sick and help,
less In bed on thilt Last te,rihlc day.