The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-19
A
WELCOME
BY ARTHUR WILLIAMS

tteHJH Century Tue weapon III 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 1t 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 1t
hanging between the shoulder blades.
This was probably because when its
quick use was called for a man could
throw his hand up to the back of his
neck and pull 1t out in hurry.
1t was back in the thirties or the spr-
ties that a young man alighted from
the stagecoach that drew up to a tav-
ern in the town of Vincennes, Ind.
now a stable place. but then back
woods village. He wore his hair long,
and there was a German cut about his
clothes.
81 wonder who that Teller isl" 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 l ever see in these parts afore."
"Dutchman," said 81 Griggs.
mot bit of a Dutchmani The
Dutch that come out yere DON'T wear
no SIGH clothes as them. If he's come
out to stay reckon he'll need settin
down. He's rayther too fine bird for
this yere wilderness"
The two men followed the stranger
10 the bar, and as soon as he had been
provided with a room Thompson step
ped up to him and said:
Stranger. welcome to Vincennes.
Do you mean to stay with us?'
For awhile"
swell, come in and have drink. We
always expect strangers TO drink with
us when they come we're. It's reg'lar
institootion with us"
II don't drink anything but beer or
wine"
Beer or wine! Dye expect to get
them soft drinks out we're? 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. |
Whereupon the two men undertook to
force him into the customs of the coun-
try. He was very obstinate and per-
sisted in refusing.
'fWaal, stranger" sale Thompson.
"the custom out we're is drink or fight
Whichll you do?"
what kind of lighting do you mean
-boxing"
Boxing! Dye suppose we skin our
delicate knuckles on one another? Not
muchl We use Colonel Bowie's imple-
ment."
whats that"
Didn't yer never see oneT' And he
pulled the article out from the back of
his neck The stranger took it and
examined 1t. running his thumb along
the sharp edge of the blade and feeling
the point with the Zip of his fore6nger.
when you fight with this" be asked.
do you wear anything about your
stomach or your chest?"
'Haw, hawp laughed both men.
Now, they were bluffing. They had
no idea of fighting the young man.
They wished to initiate him into west. /,
ern customs.
"You say must fight or drink" ask
ed the youngster.
That's our way out yere."
with that thingf"
"Yes."
"Well." continued the stranger, IF
you'll cover up your body, leaving only
-FOUR legs. arms and face exposed, !
think I'll fight"
What y givin' meT" said Thompson. J
What y goin' to do about your own
oodyT
Nothing
"If you's agoin' to fight" said 81
Iriggs. come on and stop yer fooin'."
Griggs and Thompson exchanged ,
,lances. and Thompson put on more ,
,luff than ever, leading the way to
suitable spot for the contest Grisgs
rave the stranger his knife. and the {
,ther two took position. They were
surprised at his readiness
o fight. and Thompson. though he kept !
lp swagger. began to look trihe
Ineasy. He was afraid he'd be obliged o
o hurt the youngster. He stood on the i
defensive. but this was because he had a
o. The knife in his opponents hand 7
vas like humming birds wings-1ut-
ering dangerously near Thompson's :
ace. Presently he felt blood trucking i
rom his nose, and, putting up his
and, found the tip end was gone. e
by gumt' he exclaimed. This joke a
as gone far enough. Who be you. n
bunker. anyway, and where did you D
,arn to handle bowie knife?" I
I'm Frederick Dubois, the son of =
ules Dubois. one of the original :,
rench settlers of Vancouver. I've just a
nished at German university, and it G,
there learned TO handle the small b
Iord. which is but trife longer than
IFS bowie knife. | have come out :
ere either to sell the family property
settle here, / don't know which; but,