Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-09-13
tanned the BULLY
Dramatic Incident of Pioneer
Days In Tennessee.
A STAGECOACH ADVENTURE.
Tho Thrilling Scene Whsn The Terribly
Calm Stranger cowod tho insulting
Desperate, as 1t Was Described by
Henry Clay, Who Witnessed IL.


Desperate, as 1t Was Described by
Henry Clay, Who Witnessed Il.
Upon certain occasion in his early
manhood Henry Clay was travelling in
public stagecoach in Tennessee. His
fellow passengers were a young lady
and her husband-the latter evidently
an invalid-and q man in the front
corner so mufiled up in fur lined
cloak that his features were concealed.
He appeared to be rather under than
over the medium size and was evi-
IDENTITY enjoying refreshing slumber.
BY and by big, brown faced.
brawny Kentuckian got into this
coach, smoking rank, coarse grained
cigar. lie gazed around fiercely, as
though he would impress upon the
minds of his new companions that he
would chew up and swallow any one
who dared to interfere with him. In
short, he was half horse and half ALI.
gator, with goodly sprinkling of pan
ther and grizzly bear thrown in. He
puffed forth huge volumes of smoke
without the least concern for the com
fort of his companions.
Presently the lady, who seemed to
be growing sick, whispered to her hus-
band, and the husband, in the politest
manner possible, asked the stranger il
he would not throw away his cigar, as
nl.Q !, ,i,
wife. With an impudent, staggering
stare the fellow replied, interlarding
his speech with several oaths:
81 reckon I've paid for my place.
I'll smoke as much as please, and I'd
like to see some one try to stop me-"
He looked dangerous as he glared
around, and it was very evident that
he was used to Quarreling and strife,
and, Furthermore, a struggle with him
might have been deadly one. The
young man who had spoken to him
shrank back and was silent The lady
lowered the sash by her side for a
breath of fresh air.
Mr.. Clay felt every gallant instinct
Of his soul aroused. He considered for
moment whether he should interfere
and found himself reluctant to draw
upon his own head the brutal violence
of the gigantic rutfian. In that then
lawless country he knew that his life
might be sacrificed unavenged. He
knew himself to be physically un-
equal to the contest, and he thought.
after all, 1t was not his duty to risk
his life in some quixotic manner.
Clay was settling back with pity for
the insulted and disgust for the insulter
when suddenly, but very quietly, the
clOaked figure in the corner assumed
an upright position. parting the buried
mantle without particle Of excite
ment, thereby revealing the small, well
knit, muscular frame Of man plainly
dressed in d closely buttoned frock
coat. with face rather pale and pair
OF bright eyes that cleaned like pol
ished steel, and those strange eyes
quickly attracted the attention Of the
fcrocious Kentuckian.
With terrible calmncss this man
passed his hand under his collar at the
back Of his neck and deliberately drew
forth Il long, gittering and ugly look
ing knife from sheath in that sim
glllar place.
stranger" he said. "my name Is
Colonel james Bowie, we'll KNOWN in
Texas and Arkansas. If you do not
put that cigar out of the window in
less than fifteen seconds I'll put this
knife through your heart us sure as
deathw
Clay said he would never forget the
expression Of the colonel's eyes at that
moment. They told. MS Enthusiastically
as signs can'tell, that the threat would
certainly he fulfilled. and this convic-
tion evidently impressed itself upon
the mind of the offender
During very few seconds his eyes
met those Of Bowie. With all his brute
strength he was the weaker man, and
he quai!ed. With muttered curse he
threw his cigar away, upon which
Bowie coolly returned the knife to its
sheath and. without another look or
word. refolded his cloak about him and
lay back rs before.
AT the next stopping place the Ken
tuckian got out and took seat with
hA ~ -