The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-01-21
4 DESPERATE FIGHTER
Courage and Daring Of Colonel
lanes 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.
One fine summer morning IN 1893
the year that Santa Anna seized the
presidency Of the new republic Of Mex.
ico-a small party Of horsemcn crossed
the Sabine river about sixty miles
from its mouth and entered Texas ter
ritory. Most Of thea were clad in
buckskin and armed with rifle, pistol
and knife-a rough, determined look.
ing crowd. with two notable excep.
tions, one clean shaver. dark skinned.
with bright, restless eye that scan
ned the woods constantly, as If Ia
search of an enemy, and the other a
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 az San Te-
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 memorable Chorus
When other states reject us
This Is the one that always takes us.
From that jingllng rhyme some de.
rive the name Texas" Certain It is
that this great new land took In and
sheltered many a fugitive "who left
his country for his country's good
That prince of pirates Laiitte had sail
ed away from Galveston ten years be-
fore, and his thousand freebooters
were scattered to the four winds, but
crowds Of adventurers 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
butts, 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 a meet
ing in the evening. At the hour named
tue house was crowded to oyerdowing
with rough, desperate men, ali armed
and ready for any fun or fray that
might arise on such a novel OCCASION
The minister gave out hymn, aud It
was sung with spirit Then came the
text, but not another word would the
crowd hear. They hooted ana yelled
shot of their pistols, crowed and bray
ed IA derision. The tumGit was deaf
ening. The quiet little preacher stood
his ground bravely, though in his heart
wishing he We're well out Of it. With
difficulty his travelling companion forced
his way to the front, still carrying his
rifle and a huge knife in his belt. The
wild cheer tnat broke from the crowd
sounded in the ears OF the preacher,
now thoroughly alarmed like the
howls Of a 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 hair Streaming over his
shoulders, jumped on a bench and,
throwing his hat to the grouud. shout
ed IN a stentorian voice: "Alen, this
man has come to preach TO you! You
need preaching to, and III be BANKED
IL he shan't preach TO youl The next
man who disturbs hlm shall fight mel
My name is Jim Bowie'
The effect was magical. With quiet
respectful attention the rough audience
listened TO The sermon, joined heartily
IN the closing hymn. and not Il few
persons came Up to shake hands with
the little man and apologize for the
rough reception they had given him. A
month later al the iirst camp wcetlng
ever held IN Texas some OF them be-
came members OF the church. aud IN
1S3s 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 Ia his belt was tile noted
"bowie knife" given 10 him by bis
brother. Rein T.. Bowie. Ii was made
of a large file, strong. of admirable
temper and gave IFS name to.a family
OF terrible weapons not yet extinct
Crockett met Bowie for the first time
in the Alamo. and he writes IA his
journal: "Wlile we were conversng
Colonel Bowie had occasion 10 draw
his famous knife. ANA / wish ] may be
shot II the bare sight OF Il wasn't
enough 10 give man Of a squeamish
stomach the collie he saw | was nd
mrlng II aud said be. Colonel, you
might tickle a fellows ribs a long time
with this before you'd make him
laugh"
Brave, generous, determined and en-
terprising james Bowie sought adyen
ture FOR It's hazards. and he was naiu
rails among the hrst "a take np auns