HIGH MOON: James Bowie

The following information is cobbled from Wikipedia to aid in your enjoyment of this week's installment of HIGH MOON:

James "Jim" Bowie (April 10, 1796 – March 6, 1836), a nineteenth-century American pioneer and soldier, played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution, culminating in his death at the Battle of the Alamo. Countless stories of him as a fighter and frontiersman, both real and fictitious, have made him a legendary figure in Texas history.

Shortly after his marriage Bowie became fascinated with the story of the "lost" Los Almagres Mine, said to be west of San Antonio near the ruin of Santa Cruz de San Sabá Mission.^[26]

After obtaining permission from the Mexican government to mount an expedition to search for the legendary silver mine, Bowie, his brother Rezin, and nine others set out for San Saba on November 2, 1831. Six miles from their goal, the group was ambushed. The citizens of San Antonio believed the members of the Bowie expedition must have perished, and his wife, Ursula Bowie began wearing widow's weeds.^[54]

To the surprise of the town, the surviving members of the group returned to San Antonio on December 6.^[54] Bowie's report of the expedition, written in Spanish, was printed in several newspapers, further establishing his reputation.^[55]

After the initial report, Bowie never talked of his exploits again - despite his increasing fame.