The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-07-25
A
WELCOME
By ARTHUR WILLIAMS

During the first half of the nine
teenth century the weapon in vogue in
what was then the west" = Kentucky.
Indiana, Illinois and Ohio-was the
bowie knife. 1t took its name from
Colonel Bowie. its inventor or at least
the man who made it famous by his
frequent use of it. 1t was twelve or
fourteen inches long and was worn
usually stuck in a belt at the waist
but men have been known TO carry It
hanging between the shoulder blades.
This was probably because when its
quick use was called for man could
throw his hand up to the back of his
neck and pull it out in hurry.
1t was back in the thirties or the for
ties that a young man alighted from
the stagecoach that drew up to tav-
ern in the town of Vincennes. Ind.
now a stable place, but then a back
woods village He wore his hair long,
and there was a German cut about his
clothes.
al wonder who that Teller is?' re-
marked Bill Thompson. who was sit
ting in the open window Of the bar OF
the tavern. He don't look like any
thing ever see in these parts afore.
"Dutchman," said ST Griggs.
mot bit of a Dutchman! The
Dutch that come out we're don't wear
no SIGH clothes as them. If he's come
out to stay | reckon he'll need settln'
down He's rayther too fine BIRD Tor
this yere Wilderness"
The two men followed the stranger
to the bar. and as soon as he had been
Drovided with a room Thompson STEP
ped up to him and said:
stranger welcome to Vincennes.
Do you mean to stay with us?'
For awhile"
"Wer, come in and have a drink. We
always expect strangers to drink with
us when they come yere. It's regular
institootion with u.s."
~ don't drink anything but beer or
wine"
Beer or wine! Dye expect to get
them soft drinks out yere? Brandy Is
the drink in these parts. Step up and
try it."
The stranger said he had never drank
LIQUORS and didn't care to begin
Whereupop the two men undertook to
force him into the customs of the coun-
try He was very obstinate ana per
sisted in refusing.
"Waal, stranger" sale Thompson.
1.-The custom out yere is drink or fight
Which'n you do?"
What kind of fighting do you mean
-boxing?'
Boxing! Dye suppose we skin our
delicate knuckles Oh one another? Not
much! We use Colonel Bowie's imple-
ment"
Whats that?''
Didn't yer never see one?' And he
pulled the article out from the back Of
his neck. The stranger took it and
examined it. running his thumb along
the sharp edge of the blade and feeling
the point with the tip Of his forefnger
when you fight with this" be asked
"do you wear anything about your
stomach or your chest?"
"Haw. hawr' laughed both men.
Now. they were bluhng They had
no idea of fighting the young man
They wished to initiate him into west
ern customs.
"You say l must fight or drink" ask
ed the youngster
That's our way out yere.''
with that thing""
"Yes."
well" continued the stranger. IF
you'll cover up your body. leaving only
your legs. arms and face exposed.
think I'll fight"
What y givin' me?" said Thompson
What y goin' to do about your own
body?'
Nothing"
eff you's agoin' to fight" said 81
Griggs. "come on and stop yer fooIin'
Griggs and Thompson exchanged
glances. and Thompson put on more
bluff than ever. leading the way to
suitable spot for the contest GriggS
gave the stranger his knife. and the
other two took position They were
| somewhat surprised at his readiness
to fight. and Thompson. though he kept
up swagger. began to look d trife
| uneasy. He was afraid he'd be obliged
to hurt the youngster He stood on the
| defensive. but this was because be had
to- The knife in his opponents hand
| was like humming birds wings dut
tering dangerously near Thompson's
face. Presently he felt blood trickling
from his nose. and. putting up his
hand. found the tip end was gone
by gum he exclaimed. This Joke
has gone far enough Who be YOU.
younker, anyway. and where did you
learn to handle bowie knife?"
I'm Frederick Dubois. the son of
Jules Dubois. one OF the original
French settlers of Vancouver I've lust
finished at German university, and it
is there ! learned to handle the small
sword. which is but a trife longer than
this bowie knife. | have come out
| here either TO sell tho fauoj1v proDor+,