Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-06-02
TERRIBLE WEAPONS.
A PAIR OF THEM WHICH A TRAVEL
 ER PICKED UP IN PARIS.


 the same time uurderous objects I have eyer seen in all my travels picked up in Paris during my trip there last SUI. mer, said J. V. Atkinson of Savannah to friend.
 "I bought both of them from an old gunsmith in the Quartier Latin, and he assured me they were, without doubt. the only ones ill existence, as far as his knowledge of death dealing instruments went, and he also told me that he had purchased them of an old Spaniard wh, had spent most of his life in the South l American countries.
 am sure he must have had them made to his especial order, for as 1 have already stated, during all my travels have never seen anything that would ill any way approach them for villainous, murderous purposes.
 ssFhe first, as you see, looks innocent enough, and when ask you what you think it is you will reply'-
 A silver matchbox, " answered the reporter as he gingerly handled the beau. titully chased silver object.
 Touch that spring.
 At an easy touch the lid of the box flew opon on powerfully hinged spring and disclosed the interior, and in com partment about one-half of the capacity of the box were dozen wax matches.
 aNow you'll find d tiny button on the side next you and near yoar thumb Just press that lightly" ;"
 As the suggestion was followed lit tie, sharp pointed, creamy white, curved object popped into view from that DOT. tion of the box not occupied by the matches.
 What is that?''
 That, <" said Mr Atkinson, "is not more nor less than the fore fang of the Crotalus horridus, the great American rattlesnake and ono of the most venom. ous of serpents known to ichthyologists You will notice that the fang is sharp as a needle at it's point; that it is slit for distance up the middle. and that l it is hollow. You will also observe that fine, amber oolored, jellylike substance is contained within the hollow of the fang. That is nothing less horrible thaU | the vonom of the crotalide, and the rankest poison, the most deadly of agents known to man. 4 couple of scrapes OH mans hand or face mean certain and horrible death-nausea and vomiting, retching, eohvulsiohs, semiparalysis, complete paralysis, state of coma, death il most horrible form and the swelling 10 horrible proportions of the corpse as 1t rapidly turns black from the virulence of the venom. You may take the fearful agent. bake it be tween bricks. freeze it between blocks of ice, and it will still retain it's terrible power You may inoculate a rat with the venom, and he will die in few moments, dog in five and \ man in from ten minutes to an hour, according 1 to the amount received and the condi- tion of his system at the time. The blood of the first rat can be inoculated into g seeond, and the blood of the second into 1 third, and so on down through 100- yes, goo subieots-without recourse tG the original venom and the last subject will die as quickly and convulsively aS the first. for its virulenee is absolutely fatal.
 You can readily see what terrible weapon it would be in the hands of an unscrupulous villain. A scratch or two, and the deed would be done, while ths victim would simply imagine that he had been scraped by pin. Yet in q close fight with some of the despicabla footpads and murderous thugs who arg infesting your fair city do not think ] would have any scruples about using il on one Of them myself.
 s'It would be difficult even for first claas physician 10 discover Ut the first sight just how the man met his death.
 .'Its companion piece, of deyilish in- genuity, is needle gun. Peculiar look. ing thing, is it not?" asked MT. Atkin. son as he passed richly engraved and silver mounted object that looked like {. .eress between miniature double bar reled shotgun and revolver to hls friend, who handled it with extreme caution.
 sThat little gun is about five inches over all, and yet it contains within those chambers, ill the boxlike part be- tween those fine watch spring steel bar rels and the pistol grip, enough of fend- ish mischief to lay out q dozen strong men.
 fThe charge is strong but powerful cartridge made of highly explosive chemical which, by the peculiar con struction of the chambers, makes so lit tie noise that it could not be heard by a person ten feet away. The instrument of destruction is bunch of fine cam erlo needles that have had their heads slight ly fiattened to offer resistance and catch the propelling force, and their points have lain in the very same sort of ven. om of which I spoke until they are thor oughly corroded with it,
 "As they .eaye the gun they scatter and penetrate to the most vital spots where their terrible work IS quickly done. Nothing short of post mortem