The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-07-11
JAMES BOWIE AND
HISFAMOUS KNIFE
Such Weapon Declared "ln a
Strong Mans Hand Is Better
Than.a Pistol

Colonel James Bowie won ms spurs
and a reputation to be Classed among
the list of romantic immortals in the
early part of the last century by his
efforts in behalf Of the Texans in their
attempt TO secure their Independence.
Bowie. with .Davy' Crockett and
thirty-seven other Americans, con-
stituted a party hat cut their way
into the Alamo to meet a tragic death
at the hands of Santa Anna and the
invading Mexicans.
Very little is known of the early
life of Bowie. Like many others in
backwoods soldier~of fortune. whose
chief claim to fame today is his hav-
ing invented the dagger-pointed knife
that bears his name. and his bravery
n the defense of the Alamo. At the
beginning of the Texan struggle for
liberty he settled in that State. and
took an active part in assisting to
make it a republic. AT the time the
future Lone Star State was Mex
lean territory. He was one of the
American pioneers, the coming Of
which was very much resented by the
M~exicans.
Bowie was a born leader. He fought
SO valiantly in the battles Of San Saba,
N~acogdoches and Conception that he
| won for himself the rank OF colonel.
He was in command at the celebrated
Grass Fight in 1885. The prowess that
enabled him to fashion a deadly Wea-
pom from an old file, which had been
considered useless, helped him now
in shaping raw frontiersmen into eff
Gent soldiers. and in modelling the
rough hewn destinies of Texas.
When Bowie and his comrades made
their entrance to the assistance of the
brave party who We're defending the
Alamo. they knew we'll hat they
were throwing away their lives. Yet
zone of them turned back. They all
died loyal to America and to their
brothers in arms. The brave deeds
that they accomplished on that day
did more than anything else. even
in spite of the socrifice hey made.
to thoroughly arouse the Texans
against Santa Anna, and to pave the
way for the future States freedom
from the Mexican yoke.
The AlamD. in spite Of the peaceful
purpose Of its original building. had
been made strong enOugh to resist
any attack except from artillery.
Built in 1744. it was the last of a
line Of Franciscan missions eSta bliSh-
ed along the San Antonio river for
the conversions Of the wild Indians.
The mission. at the time of the Texas
uprising. had been abandoned. SO far
as its original purpose was concerned.
and was converted into a rude fort
for military
Bowie was III In the leg as
the Mexicans forced their way into
the Enclosure. Although severely suf-
fering, he braced himself against a
wall and fired into the ranks of ad-
Vancing foes until his ammunition was
exhausted. Then. gripping his ia
nous knife. he crawled forward on
all tours and flung himself at the
nearest Mexican. Stabbing and slash
ing, he fought on. needless of his own
wounds. as long as. the breath re-
manned. His body, riddled with bull
lets, is reported to have been found
after the battle lying in the center Of
a ring Of thirteen dead Mexicans. all
killed by the fearful strokes of his
deadly 'bowie knife"
There is an interesting story con-
nected with the invention of this
knife Upon one occasion, when Bow
lie was yet a young man. he witnessed
a duel on the d along the Mis-
sissippi river near Natchez. The quar-
rel had not been confined solely to
he duelists. but all the friends OF
the two persons engaged entered into
the g one against the Other
Bowie was present and having some
time earlier lost his hunting knife he
had ground down the end of an old
file to q sharp point. sharpened one
of its edges, and fitted a rude
handle into it. This was the only
" weapon available when the free fight
began. AS the two factions clashed
Bowie was wounded by a pistol shot
But this wound did not check his on
ward rush. He drove his homemade
knife into his assailant. killing him at
a single blow. In that impromptu bat
tie six men We're killed and fifteen
wounded. a goodly share of the cas-
ualitieS being the result of Rowie,s
strange knife. The weapon and ira
owner suddenly found himself famous