The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-31

WHAT A PHILADELPHIAN INVENTED
The determination of the United States Govern.
ment to have representative place In the great
Paris Exposition in 1867, has naturally created
some rivalry between the different States as to
which shall have the finest exhibition OF 1nyen-
tions. We have noticed IN several New YORK
journals a statement of what the Empire CIty
could furnish and the tact of their boasting has
naturally caueed us 70 think what Phtladelphie
could put forward as her proud trophy Of me-
chanical skill There naturally occris to the
mind the name OF little invention not larger
than your three fingers which has secured
worldwide reputation for the PhadelDhian
who was its originator. Werefer to the der
ringer Plstol.n A history of its existence, and
a sketch of the lite of our telo VITO wnsman,
Henry Derringer, Esq, from whom it derives its
name, cannot but be interesting. We notice in
the California papers a unanimous decision OF
the Supreme Court of that State in the case OF
Derringer VS.. Plat, in which Plat was found
guilty of forging the trademark of Derringer,
and was sentenced to boJh tine and imprison-
ment. This suit Is but one OF dozen which 1t
Is necessary TO continually institute to protect
the original frcm the hundreds of spurious in
ventions which are being continually brought
out both in this country and in Europe, under
the name of the 'Derringer.n The fact that Sd
many efforts are male to secure good limitations
is the best evidence that to q Philadelphian
belongs the credit OF inventing the best pistol OF
the age,
false articles that Henry Derringer is dead and
that his secret died with him. We are glad,
however, for the sake of truth and science,to be
assured that the inventor is in health, and that
but few weeks since he presented newly made
pair OF his pistols 10 distinguished national
official. For the last fifty years the name of
"Derrlnger" has been familiar to all sporting
| and more particularly duelling characters. All
| OF the famous duels long before even the Cilly-
| Webb affair, were fought with his pistol. We
| were recently told by distinguished surgeon
| that it was never known to fall and that all
| wounds produced by it were fatal beyond all
| aid. General, now in charge OF corps,
recently wrote to son of Mr.. Derringer:-"I
! have always been ambitious to be tAoposs essor
| of this arm for which even Pistol Shot has
I respect bordering alteration. This obtains
| peculiarly in the South and West, in both of
1 which the name is a camphold word.n Mestier,
| the master armorer OF Galveston, says in his
book:-"Whilst the Colt is immortal in its inge-
nuity, the DerTipger is mortal in his effects" The
| first arm manufactured by him was made in 1884,
In this city and in Virginia in 1907. During all the
| warot 1872 all OF the Government arms we're made
by him, and it was one of his rifles that shot
| Ross in Baltimore. Virginia, Maryland, Penn-
| sylvanla, and New York have had all their arms
for years made by his contract. Tee Indian
| tribes, the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Pawnees,
and Others have all been supplied by him. In
1S47 he abandoned the supplying of the Govern
,ment with arms, after a continuance OF over
| forty years.
| The invention itself is small pistol, single
barrel, riAed. large bore, ranging in size from
an inch and halt to tour inches; the CHARGE OF
powder small, and the secret OF its powerful
torce is still most relrgiousy kept Mr.. Der
ringer is now an old man, living quietly in our
city, universally respected as public-minded
citizen, hOnored by the present, and feeling
contented with the friendship of all OF our lead
ing public men, from the time OF General An
drew jackson down to to-day.