Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-10-20
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WORCESTER, MASS. UCT. D.
Revolutionary Relic.--Amcng the
interesting articles deposited IN the
Cabinet OF the ANTIQUARIAN Society at
Worcester, is a mos. formidable wea-
pom of destruction, manufactured du.
ring the Revolutionary contest, aud
rightly expressive Of the desperate pur.
hoses of its inventor. What name to
bestow on machine 80 complicated,
we know not; the reader, after hear.
ing of the form and shape wherewith
il appears, eau tax bis own invention
for an appropriate appcllation to be-
stow on an implement of slaughter so
deadly and destructive.
AL the extremity of shaft or han
die about eight feet in length, is fixed
head OF steel formed in two prongs
eight inches long, united like those Of
farmers large hay fork: these, in.
stead of being rounded and smoothed,
are formed with sharp edges, SO that
an assaiIant who had seized on either
with his hands, would have been
speedily and easily deprived ofthose
members; both are pointed for the
purpose Of ihrusting against an enemy.
AT the insertion OF this fork into The
wood, two stout and keen blades of
equal length are firmly fixed at right
angles with the former, projecting on
| each side, and whe,ted like the two
first on both edges; beneath, is third
ofequal length, extending downward,
and designed to inflict death wound,
if the holder, in fight, should strike
| his victim from above, The contriver,
after having thus provided FIVE little
swords to attack and disable his OPP
ponent, in every manner circumstan-
ces might make expedient; by thrus-
Ting forward, rs with a spear; by lev
cling a heavy descending blow, as
with battle axe; by pushing beyond
his body and ,rans6xing the unfortu-
nate wretch with a returning stroke, as
with the antique bill hooks sometimes
seen; or by tearing and lacerating
him could be done by no other imple-
mcnt on The face of the earth, seems
to have bethought himself of q provi.
sion against the loss of this portable
, arsenal. To prevent the possibility OF
the weapons being wrentched fromhis
possession, the handle is lined with
sharp blades rising about half an inch
above the surface, and extending two
feet along from the points; so that if
the combatant escaped all the traps
set for his destruction at the extremity,
and rashly seized the weapon below
the points, with any malicious inten-
ton, by the first effort to become its
master, his hands would inevitably be
cut to the bone and disabled from the
performance ofany other military duty.
| At the termination of these knives
guard is set to preserve the grasp still
more securely. The handle is of very
strong and firm material, and termi-
oates at the lower end in short and
thick point oil steel, rounded and ad-
justed for plunging into the fesh-
Strengthened and protected as it is by
metal, the staff could not be severed,
or essentially injured by the heaviest
blows dealt from the sword of an as.
sailant.
Against all engines and implements
used in the art OF human destruction,
excepting always those moved by the
"viIlainous saltpetre, this single instru-
ment would be most competent de-
fence. The swordsman would be
kept at bay, or impaled, without be-
ing able print single bloody mark
upon an enemy placed at distance so
great as the extremity of the handle.
The trooper would find little ben eft
10 bis elevation, for he could not be
bsyond the operation ofthe fork and
its armament of blades. The infantry
might, without the imputatlon Of great
cowardice, shrink from an encounter
with spears aiming at life in all direc-
tons. On whatever side we view
them, they look formidable and dan
gerous. When men should meet hand
to hand, either in boarding ships OF
storming forts, they would do most
fearful eXecution.-Egis
VERSAILLES, Ky. SEPT. %.
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