National Republican., 1883-06-08
MORE ABOUT COLTS REVOLVER.
Did n Maine Genius Invent IT,
To Uie EtfitOr.

TO The EtiitOr.
While the subject as TO the invention of
Colts revolver is up, it might be well to pur-
sue It further. Tho story of Grandma
Caruthers, as given in yesterdays REPUBLI-
CAN, may be true in all particulars-weIl not
question that. But here are some facts con-
cerning the origin of this famous weapon,
which give as they were given to me, and
will add that have every reason to believe
them correct. Some fifteen years ago was
acquainted with an old man. William Ken
dall by name living at Kendall's Mills, Me-,
NOW known as Fairiield). Ho had been
during his long, active life engaged in me-
chanical pursuits; was u mill owner, and
builder, notwithstanding his hand to
anything, making his own machinery, and
inventing such rs he required. IL was this
inventive turn that absorbed tho greater
part of his time and attention, with
out seeming 10 add TO his prosperity,
for after spending weeks or months in per-
fcoting some new piece Of mechanism, its sue
cess destroyed its charm, and he left IL for
some one else 10 profit by, and became alb
sorbed in another The "Kendall water
wheel" which was one of his most important
inventions, brought him more trouble than
profit from the litigations that followed, and
so with Others of his devices which | will not
stop TO mention. The story of the revolver, as
told TO me by himself, Is substantially this :
Getting his idea from tho pistol with re-
volving barrels known as the pepper box y
then In use, he made first a model, and then,
rough but complete pistol with revolving
chambers embracing all the essentials of the
Colt weapon Of to-day. These he exhibited
20 several, but took no steps either 10 perfect
or patent Whether IL was Colt himself or
not forget, but some one IRON New York, [
think hearing Of his pistol came 10 Bath
Me-, where ho was then living, aud engaged
In mill business, and made proposals 70 get
possession Of Il; but Mr.. Kendall feel
ing sure that he had invented
what would prove 20 be an effective and
deadly weapon, aud having besides a leaning
In religious belief toward the Quaker society,
he refused 10 sell or even show his models
The importunities Of the stranger were con-
tinued for several days without avail, but on
returning 30 his shop one night, after having
been az work Ia the woods, he found hisdesk
had beea broken open aud both the pistol and
model taken away. The New Yorker also
disappeared at the same time, and shortly
after a patent was taken out by Colt for a
weapon differing but little from the one that
had been stolen from him, in fact only In tho
shape OF the hammer, which was curved and
struck horizontally, while he had made his To
strike vertically downward. lie made no
effort 90 contest the patent, knowing from
former experience that he would probably be
Worstod, but he was certain that from the
models taken from his shop, the Colt revolver
had been patented. Having known Mr..
Kendall 80 we'll, and understanding his char
setter and pacullarites, / never doubted his
story concerning his oriWnation of the re-
yolying chambers aud the construction aud
loss OF his models. L.. NJ.