National Republican., 1883-06-07
COLTS REVOLVER.
A Kansas Woman claims Her Husband
Invented It.
Burlingame (Kdn.J Herald.

Burlbgame (kdn) Herald
Some time ago you mentioned tho fact that
the first husband of Grandma Caruthors in
vented percussion powder-such as is used in
gun caps, cartridges, &c.-and also revolving
firearms. In conversation with her recently
gathered tho following facts relative TO tho
subject, which may prove interesting. Mrs.
Caruthorss first marriage was to Mr.. Joseph
Shattuck, in the year 1923, being at that time
q years of age. They commenced house
keeping in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county,
Ohio. Mr. Shattuck was n gunsmith and sill
vcrsmth, and made dental and surgical in
strumcnts, and did other work Of that class,
being counted very clever workman. have
an implement of his manufacture which
displays moro than ordinary skill.
At tho above time thore was
considerable demand for such in
hand, which would be counted very slow in
this age Of steam and electricity. He in
vented percussion powder in the year 1925,
aud obtained patent therefor Boing siCkly
at the time he intrusted the sale of tho right
to make and sell IL TO q man named Fair
childs, who was to have ono-half of the pro-
ceeds for his share, but who took all tho
money and left for parts unknown. In 1897
or 1897, Grandma Caruthers is uncertain
which, Mr.. Shattuck got up a revolving pis
tol and made q pair of them for man by tho
name Of Sharp, who took them to England.
lie then made another one and took IL to
Washington to sell tho right to the United
States government, as it was thought to be n
very effective weapon. After staying in
Washington somo time he started for home.
While going home he met Gen. Jackson,
who then on his way to Washington to be
nauguratod. He showed him his invention
and Gen. jackson was very much pleased
with it. Mr.. Shattuck said he would TAX @
100000 for IL, but Gen. J. said that was not
one half enough. Gen. Jackson ordered n
gun made on tho same plan, TO carry one half
ounce balls. Mr.. Shattuck made this gun,
and ornamentOd IL with gold and silver in
laid work, and again went to Washington to
try and get the government to buy tho right
1t may seem strange that he should have ne
elected to have n patent taken out on so i'm
portant an invention, but have boon told by
old people that in those days men were very
lax about such matters, and trusted to each
others honesty more than we do nowadays.
heard of one case well authenticated, of o
man who invented an improved case for car
rying musket. He gave IL to n friend
who was going to Washington to have
IL patented, and who, on finding that
It was valuable, took the patent out in
his namo and sold it to the government
for $l0,000 ignoring his friends claims alto
gethcr. And so IL was with MIR. ShattuCk. k.
On arriving in Washington he went to u Col.
Bumpford who had something to do with the
furnishing department, and tried to get him
to take hold of it and put 1t through, but the
colonel had another invention which he was
interested in getting through, and so tried to
get Mr.. Shattuck's invention condemned. Mr..
S. said the colonel loaded the revolver with
patches saturated with spirits of turpentine,
which caused premature explosion of some
of the chambers, the ball from one of them
passing through Mr.. Shattucks hand, who
was firing it to show what it would do. After
staying six weeks in Washington making
futile efforts to got it introduced, he was
asked if he was Jackson man, with the
hint that if he acted like gentleman the
right thing would be dope by him. 1t hap
pcned that he was not Jackson man, and
was honest enough to say so, and this may
have had its weight in defeating his object
About this time Colt saw tho revolver and
had it patented, and made an immense for
tune out of it. Mr. Shattuck's health con.
tinued to fail until 1886, when worn out with
his continued exertions to obtain recogni-
| tion he died. Mrs. Shattuck put the matter
into the hands Of Judge Young, who, il
appears, neglected it until it was too late to
do anything with it. Grandma says she has
no doubt but that the anxiety occasioned by
tho trouble connected with this affair caused,
! or at lnest hurriol hnr husha Dc death II