Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-13


Col. Samuel Colt died at nine o'clock this
morning, Friday, Jan. 10, at tine age of forty.
seven. Last week Friday he was about in
good health. On SATURDAY. he was taken with
one of his periodical attacks of govt and in.
flammatory rheumatism, less severe than some
previous attacks, but took cold, and the result
was fatal.
Col. Colt was born in Hartford, July 9th,
1874. His father, Christopher Colt, resided
on Asylum Hill, in the house now occupied by
john ~. Taintor. He received his education
in the public schools, at an early age displayed
much ing nuity, and when but ten years old
lie entered his fathers factory here lie staid
three or four ye RS, when he was sent to school
in Amherst Mass, but lie ran away in July
1879, and shipped as Il boy before the mast on
an East India voyage. On his return he
served short apprenticeship in the dyeing
and bleaching business and afterwards lee
lured all about the country ON chemistry
While ON his East India yoJ age, his idea OF il
revolving lliStnl was conceived, and he worked
at It, us hr had opportunity and money, and in
1888, when tweuty-one years of age, lie took
out his frs patent.
Patents for Colts revolver were issued in
England, France, and the United States, and
a company was formed at Patterson, n. j..
that ear, with Il capital of $500 COO To mann
iaclurc the arms. Their first use in the pnb.
lie service was by Col. Harvey S rangers in the
Florida war, in 1887. The company soon sus.
pended, and no more revoivers were made tor
years. In At, the Mexican war occurring.
the manufacture was again commenced. The
first lot he hired made at Whitneyville and IN
AS he established himself at Hartford. lie
first occupied a small shop in Brinley's build
ing on Peal street, with six or eight hands
hut Shortly obtained commodious shops in
Col. POrters building on Grove street. He
commenced without a cent OF capital and
worked along up rapidly by his own talent
and energy.
In 1850 he commenced the South Meadow
imprOvement-a stupendous enterprise, which
has added much to The wealth, population,
and reputation OF Hartford. About 80 acres
OF meadow land were purchased, and protect
ed against the river fresheis by mammoth
dyke or levee, about two miles long. Within
the Enclosure, he built his large armory, Of
Portland stone, anu filled it with the best ma.
chinery. 1t is of sufficient capacity to employ
more than thousand workmcn. He also
erected Il whole village of neat brick houses,
for the occupation of his workmen The
whole outlay on these works, at the start, was
over million dollars.
At the time OF his death he was driving his
immense armory 10 its iul capacity, night and
day, on government contracts, aud buildings
are erected tor a duplication OF the original
armory, making one of the most extensive es.
adjustments Of the kind IN the world. Ills
pay roll tor his workmen for the past month
was S150,000
The manufacture of Colts revolving fire.
arms is carried on by a company OF which Col.
Colt was the head and front 1t is understood
that papers provide for their gong on pre-.
csely rs heretofore But the magnificent
projects in his own brain must perish with
him. The willow works, which fill a village
in the southern part OF the enclosure, and make
business OF many thousands II year, are sup.
Piled by the osiers raised ON the sides OF the
dyke. This was one of his outside enterprises.
lie had also in contemplation, among other
projects, an immense iouadry for casting can.
non, and would in II few years have made the
South Meadow city of twenty or thirty
thousand inhabitants.
Besides what we have already mentioned
Col. Colt was the inventor ol submarine bat.
terry aud teegraphic cable, which was operat.1
with in New York harbor, in 1913.
Col. Colt was married, June 9th. 1856 to
Miss Il izabeth jarvis, daughter of Rev. Wm.
Jarvis OF Mddetown. Four children werr
the fruit Of this marriase--two have died aud
son and daughter are now living. He had