Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-12-04
SAM B0WEN'S RUN
Twas Moving Day With a Bear
in Close Pursuit.

Have I ever told you the story of
Sam Bowen, long. lean. lank fellow,
and who was quite blow for brav-
cry. Sam was an Indian fighter and
declared he wasn't afraid of any living
thing, and reckon his wife believed
him, for she appeared not to be veiy
uneasy about Sam when he was away.
As general rule most women believe
their husbands are very heroic. But
to my story. Sam lived in the hills
of Cannon county when that county
was thinly and sparcely settled, and
game was abundant and plentiful,
such as deer, turkeys and SQUIRRELS.
The boys SO and go years ago loved to
have fun just like the boys of today,
but they didn't misbehave at church
and public gatherings as now, and get
themselves indicted, etc, but they
had fun sure enough. Every boy for
miles around had heard Mr.. Bowen
brag and boast about his bravery uu-
til they itched to test him.
Christmas was coming on and
Christmas Eve was the time every boy
expected to enjoy himself and have
fun. The bravery of Mr.. Bowen was
to be tested and the plot was entered
into by at least dozen boys from 10
up to 90 years of age. Sam liked his
dram and all you had to do was to let
Sam smell of the jug and he would
follow without lead string.
Liquor was cheap, ten cents a quart,
and less, SO the boys got jug OF IL
ouor as bait for Sam to get him Off
with them.
Christmas Eve came on, and very
heavy snow with it. The boys got to-
gether and half the crowd with the
lug of liquor went to Mr.. Bowen 8.
and let him smell of the jug a few
times. and then proposed to him to &c
with them on a Christmas Eve Spree
which suited Sam to ST..
Imay as we'll state that it was Gus
tomary in those days to build fences
across the public roads, fence people
up in their own houses, swap horses
for their neighbors.' and do lot OF
other things too tedious to mention
Sam had great big, black dog
which followed him every where h'
went. The boys pursuaded Sam to til
the dog and leave him at home, which
be did, and away Sam and the boys
went. After they had gone quite
while the other boys went to Mr.. Bow
ems house and told Mrs. Bowen the,
had tracked up some coons and want
ed the dog to help catch them. u
course Mrs. Bowen let them have tn'
dog. So the boys led the dog ava.
with heavy trace chain. The pia'
was working fine so far.
1t had been reported for severa
days that a big black bear was Il
the neighborhood, loose with a chai'
to it. The boys went up long, mar
row hollow for mile where the 9th
er boys we're to be. Concealing them
selves they awaited the arrival OF tn
ober BOYS and Bowen. There the Bow
en- crowd disbanded and Bowen starr
ed for home. After giving him tw
or three hundred yards the start tn
bows with the dog came ont OF thei
concealment and giving the dog
chance to scent Mr.. Bowen's trac
they turned him loose, threw chun
at him, and away he went after Bow
en-. full tilt, with the chain rattlin!
The boys, of course, followed to mn
out the result.
In little while they came to u
place where Mr.. Bowen first discove
ed something was after him. for II
first jump be made must have bee
fully 90 feet. and such strides fro
there on looked like no mortal con
have made. When be got home
cleared the yard fence at bound, rs
against the door, knocking it opel
and fell in the middle of the hoo