Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-07-30
MEN WHO CARRY PISTOLS.
Pocket Pistols Very Generally Car
ried-Members of Congress Who Go
Armed

/
"DO members Of Congress carry
pistols y Well, yes, a majority of
them dO,' said a dealer in arms as
he leaned across a case full Of re-
v0lveTs and talking with a star re-
porter about bellgerent Congress
men. at would astOnish yOu to
know bow many go armed; partic-
ularly the men from the south and
west They carry some pretty big
'guns'-thirty-six and thirty-eight
caliber. They 90 armed as much
now, if not more, than in the early
days, when the code was recogniz-
ed. In those times, when states.
men used to go to the Spa springs
at Bladensburg TO settle their diff
entities, they used TO have cases of
dueing pistols. They did not carry
pocket pistols. The House had its
code of rules and the members had
their code of honor, which was more
elective and more respected. A
great many members always carried
their case Of pistols in their trunk.
They formed a part of the outfit OF
a man in public life. There is com.
monty an erroneous impression as
to what these pistols were. Some
people have an idea that a dueling
pistol was "A little weapon that
would not kill ten feet others think
they were the little stubby Derring-
ers like mOrtars, that make an aw-
ful noise and kick way up in the air
when you shoot them. Now, in re.
aIity, they were that long" he
marked off a section of his arm
nearly up to the elbOw-"and car
ried "A ball like that of a Colts ma
Wy. They had heavy wooded
handles, coming up under the bar
rel like the stock of a musket, and
flint locks. They we're brutal look.
ing things-regular heavy artillery.
1t was with one of them that Burr
shot Hamilton. They were of
French make. You never see any
Of them now. Since dueling has
gone out OF practice carrying PTS.
tolls on the person has become more
common. Men who are not in the
habit of being out late, or of going
into bad company, carry pistols for
self.defence. 1t is very common.
A majority Of the gentlemen you
see on the streets of Washington in
the evening are armed. Carrying
pistols IS by no means confined TO
the rough or criminal classes. The
better class of men, and even a large
number of ladies, carry them. But
in particular members and Senators
from the south and west 90 armed.
They carry the latest improved
weapons, double action, folding
hammer, and of the best make.
Western men all want them large
and effective. The Smith q Wes-
son, and the Marvin, Hubert &
Co., latest improved, are most car
ried. The latter is particularly
popular. Ladies of course carry
smaller guns
ayes sir, guns are carried more
now than they ever we're before.
The quietest and most respectable
people in the city-the business
man and the solid citizen are the
most apt to have weapons in their
pockets. And here's a paradox.
The more pistols carried the less
shooting occurs. You won't find
one man out of a hundred that car.
ry pistols who has ever used it.
Gentlemen carry them for defence
against foOt-pads and ruilians; and
roughs knowing that they are arm
ed let them alone. There has been
much said about Washington ladies
going about alone after dark. Most
of them are armed. Some people
are averse to carrying arms, but
there is hardly a house that has
not a pistol in it,"
"Are knives and swOrd-canes
carried as much as formely ~ ask
ed the reporter.
mo; they are carried scarcely at
all. Foot-pads and assassins may
carry knives or black jacks-they
are afraid Of the noise of a pistol
but gentlemen all carry pistols.
Negro roughs, as everybody knows,
carry razors. They cut and slas h
with them in a villainOus manner
Washington STIR.