VIDALIA — A fight at the River View RV Park and Resort on Saturday ended with the death of two men; several others in the altercation received gunshot and stab wounds.

One of the men in the fight, Jim Bowie, was shot at least twice and received multiple stab wounds.

However Bowie and his legend survived.

While the original fight actually took place well over 100 years ago, and not in an RV park, that didn’t stop onlookers from flocking the Jim Bowie Festival to see the reenactment of the historic sandbar fight.

On lawn chairs and blankets, festival-goes rested in the shade and listened as J.R. Edmondson, who played Bowie in the reenactment, told the tale of the life and times of Jim Bowie.

From the fight at the sandbar to Bowie’s death at the Alamo, Edmondson recounted Bowie’s adventures, then stabbed a man in the reenactment of the fight.

For the past several years Edmondson has portrayed Bowie at the festival — it’s his passion.

“He was amazing,” Edmondson said of Bowie.

Edmondson said for many years Bowie’s history was actually more fictional than factual.

For instance, in recent years up to five states were claming to be Bowie’s birthplace.

“He was very romanticized,” he said. “And he has historical importance.”

And for one festival attendee saving that history is reason enough to make it to the Bowie Festival.

Elmo Thompson, a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, said he’s seen the reenactment before but loves the historical aspect of the show.

“It was just over there,” he said pointing to the Mississippi River. “There’s so much history in the area. It’s important that it’s retold correctly.”

And for Edmondson it’s a deep appreciation of sharing that history, particularly Bowie’s, that keeps him coming to the festival each year.

“James Bowie took a knife to a gun fight and he won,” he said. “It’s amazing.”