The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-17
PITCAIRN,s PISTOLS.

The frst snot fred on Lexington Common in
the early morning OF April 10 IT'S, may not have
been the one wnic1 was "heard round the world.r
1t would not be well for any person to say now
mat IL was. for no would invite destruction from
the hands OF tue debaters over the cause OF that
poelical remark. Yet the snot. 1red at
Lexington by Major Pitcairn, the British
Major OF marines. was toe explosion whose
sound. bounding on the air through the length
ana breadth OF the American Co,onies, startled
the ears OF every patriot and made them painfully
acute Tor the shrieKs and groans OF the minute
men who we're massacred on the green OF the
Massachusetts village. Major Pitcarn's shot slz-
nailed tne massacre, and the massacre
sgnalled the Revolution. the boastiul and
brutal Pitcairn never dreamed that the brethren
OF the men at whom ne discharged his pistol
would very soon possess that little arm aiter
having ilrst wounded It's proper owner. When IN
tho cleaning on the green, he said arrogantly TO
the sixty or seventy boys and men standing
anxiously but without fear :-"Dispsrse, ye
villains, ye reoes. disperse; Law down
your arms,n he expected a sudden scamper-
log OF scared provlncias. He was mad.
dened that not one OF the villagers moved,
and, crying out "why dome you lay down your
arms and dlsperse." he fred his pistol. The
massacre followed. To the ordinary man 1t is q
pleasant thought that IL may have been one OF the
villagers VINO escaped unhurt from Lexington
Common, that later Ia the day. following toe re-
treating British like a Nemesis, signted and shOt
MAJOR pitcairn. At all events he shot, aud
ne equt yments were captured. the pistol with
which ne began The bloody day, and Ii eompan.
ION OF the holster being among the prizes. Those
weapons are now In tais city In the possession or
Or. ". lrenGus Prime, the editor OF the New YORK
Observer Tue writer visited the oflce Of DR..
Prlme yesterday ana was SHOWN
TUE PlTcA1RN PISTOLS
They are OF tue OLD fashioned nnt lock, smooth
bore ana straight trigger pattern, about twelve
incnes IN length rom stock % mazze and most
rcnly chased with hhgrce designs At tnat time
tnry evidently were considered as weapons Ge lure
auCn a. might htunglY ne carried hY q dandy
Brush onlcer. the astory OF tnelr descent from
tue possession OF Major Pitcairn 10 tn2t OF taeIr
present guardian may De detailed ga iolows;-
On April ~. l775, Al the carry hour OF two In the
morning. l36 militia men OF Lexington were
assembled on the common, but wnen word was
brought that no troops we're coming tney sepa-
rates 10 taeir homes, TO return &C the SOUND OF
tne drum. Al hal.pasr our BY crder OF Captaln
Parker, the signal was gwen Oh the approach OF
Tue enemy. aAd The Grave mea OF sergeant Mon.
roe's company, some vi wn0m We're IN 4 lew
minutes 10 die, TOOK their posts near the
cnurcn. WHen toe British appeared, Major Pit.
c4lIn commanding, that ufficer was on morse oacR.
tneif arms and dtsyerse. ThIs oraef producing no
effect, ne drew AIS pistol aud ared IL, at the same
tine giving to his soldiers the command 70 are.
The e9cnts that follow form the ismlllar history
compelled tae retircm9nt OF the militia after many
nad o8en ktlted or NOuuded, went to concord the
news OF tue mornings WORK spread over the sur.
rounding euu0try tue minute uen rusueu 10 the
BEGAN lheIF return marcu 30 uosfVn, thay were IN
the midst oil au eueu y'B country and every ina
haoltant on armed solder MAJOR PItcotrns
norse was Woahaeds ana wan ns sQaiptncats Ieli