Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-01-15
A 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.

ana Determined Spirit - The Way
the Fearless Fighter Once Protected
Preacher In Texas.
One fine summer morning In 1899
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 shaven. dark skinned.
with bright. restless eye that scan
ned the woods constantly. as II in
search OF an enemy. and the other 4
small. mild hammered man. whose gen
eral appearance betokened the preach
er. These two were riding I'm front.
talking earnestly OF the convention
which had just been held at San Fe-
lipe de Austin and of the possibility
that Texas might one day become an
independent state. Suddenly some one
i'm the party behind them started a
song with Il 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 il is
that this great new land took i'm and
sheltered many Il fugitive who left
his country for his cOuntry's good"
That prince Of pirates LATTE had sail
/ cd away from Galveston ten years be-
/ fore. and lis thousand freebooters
I 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 hand 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
Soht 10y Spanish missionaries. Here
the preacher posted a notice that the
I Rev. Henry Stephenson OF the Metho-
dist denomination would hold a meet
ing In the evening. At the hour named
1 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 il
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 dersSion. The tumult was deaf
ening The quiet little preacher stood
his ground bravely. though fin his heart
wishing he were we'll out of H. With
difficulty his travelling companion forced
his way 20 the front. still carrying his
rifle and 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 n pack of wolves or the wells
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 hi:
shoulders. jumped on a bench and
throwing his hat TO the ground. shout
ell In Il stentorlan voice: Men, this
man has come to preach TO YOU You
need preaching TO. and I'll be BANKED
il he shan't preach 10 you, The mex
man who diSturbs him shall fight me
My name is Jim Bowie"'
The effect was magical. With quiet
respectful attention the rough audience
listened 10 the sermon, Joined heartily
in the closing hymn. and not few
persons came up 10 shake hands with
the little man and apologize for tn,
rough reception they had given him. 4
month later ut the first camp meetin.
ever held in Texas some Of them be
came members OF the church. and IL
ISIS the cornerstone OF the first Prot
eStant house OF worship in the republi,
was laid in san Augustine.
The man whose timely aid proved SC
effective WAS Colonel James Bowie, and
the knife i'm his belt was the noted
"bowie knife" given TO him 10y his
brother. Rein l.. Bowie. 1t was made
Of large file. strong. Of admirable
temper ana gave its name TO family
OF terrible weapons not yet extinct
Crockett met Bowie for the first time
In the Alamo. and he writes in his
journal: While we were conversing
Colonel Bowie had occasion 10 draw
his famous knife. and l wish / may bt
shot If the bare sight OF IL wasn't
enough 10 give n man Of a squeamisI
stomach the collie. He saw l was nd
miring il and said he, Colonel got
might tickle fellows ribs a long time
with this before you'd make hin
laugh"
Brave, generous. determined and en-
terpriSing. 'ameS Bowie sought adven
ture for its hazards, and he was natu
rally among the first to take up arms
for Texas independence. Three NOR,
desperate men were never brought 10
Sether than Travis. Crockett and Bowl,
as they took their last stand within
the walls of the Alamo. Sick and help
: less in he'd on that last terrible day
Jim Bowie died lighting. AS Mex
lean ran forward 10 Kill him he rouset
himself by 4 supreme effort. caught hi.
aSSailant 10y the hair. plunged the fata
knife into his heart and fell back dead
When the story Of his death was told
70 his mother in Louisiana. she said
I am sure Jim never died with
wound in his back" and. with 4 Quie
smile. turned again to her househol,
duties.-ENchange