The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-13

permits the barrel to turn over to the
right-thus exposing the chamber into
which the cartridge Is inserted. AT the edge
of the chamber portion of the barrel, d
lip or segment of the barrel. Is arranged
to work outwardly on a worm screw. On
this device rests the lip Of the cartridge
and after dischargng the piece and de-
taching the barrel to reload a further turn
moves the segment, and at the same time
carries out the shell of the cartridge This
part of the gun Is extremely simple and in
teresting. 1t is so fashioned as to be Sc
cure against all liability to get out of or
der-a fault but too common In this kind
of arm. The piece cleans itself at every
discharge and may be fired a thousand
times without fouling the only debris left
after firing being a slight deposit of a
white dust in the grooves OF the rifle. 1t
has been subjected to the severest tests.
and ita performance has always been
admirable. The rifle Of this pattern weighs,
when completed, less than seven pounds,
and the carbine about six pounds.
If this story should end here one would
think that Armstrong got all the fame and
money that he deserved For did not Har-
per's, a reputable magazine. state that he
was the inventor of the New Breech-load-
ing Rife?" Had not the Norwich Arms
Company, firm with almost unlimited re-
sources, promised to pay him 100000 for
the use of his patent-right?
The foregoing paragraphs have already
answered both these questions In the af-
firmative. But, startling as 1t Is, the
name of Armstrong has never, for more
than thirty years past, been mentioned
as an inventor by any encyclopedia, mag
aZne or newspaper. Neither did he ever
receive one cent for the use of his fire.
arm; and thereby hangs the tale of his
devotion and sacrifice.
After coming to the agreement with the
Norwich people, the inventor returned to
his home at Augusta. The 100000 had
not yet been paid him, although the Nor
witch Company had commenced to adver-
tisc the new rife.
When Armstrong thought over what he
had done, his conscience troubled him,
for ii was intimated that the guns were
to be manufactured exclusively for the Use
of the northern troops. The more he pom
dered over the matter the more he felt
that he had done wrong by the south. AS
he had not yet received his money, there
was yet a loophole of escape from dis
honor"
1t was honor and principle against riches
and fame. He decided to do the right.
mo one shall ever say that James Arm
strong aided in crushing the rebellion"
He wrote to the Norwich Company, re-
duesting them to insert in the contract
tliS cI1USes mat uDili VI AuS 9dhQ iAlH5
shall be sold for the use OF the United
States Army In the present war;" The
Arms Company promptly and sternly re-
piled that they would do no such thing.
with the clause inserted. they would
lose their largest customer. Armstrong
was equally firm. lie went to New York.
had the agreement withdrawn secured
possession of his sample rifle, and returned
home at peace, with his conscience, out
to battle against poverty.
Now, Armstrong had a cousin, James
Armstrong, who, by the way, had quite
a history of his own. James had once cor
nered the salt market, the monopoly he
ing consummated at Cincinnati. 1t was a
deal of such vast proportions that IL art
erward became known throughout the
commercial world, and will doubtless be
remembered by many of the older Queen
CITY merchants Cousin James Armstrong
made 100000 out Of the transaction. Life
In America was too slow for him then.
lie went 20 Paris, bought the title of
baron. and lounged In the lap of luxury
and ease.
II was to this baron cousin that the in
ventor next turned. With the influence of
his wealth Baron James could likely have
made additional millions out of the new
invention. But the baron was not so dis
posed. lie was leading happy-go-lucky
life. and didn't want any business cares.
lie received his cousins specimen rifle,
but did nothing with II.
All the while valuable time was speed
ing by. The description of the Armstrong
gun had been published and mechanics
began to make Improvements" which
were rapidly patented. The improved
breech-loaders were made and placed on
the market by the millions
Armstrong; decision TO do the right"
had allowed him to be headed off by more
eager inventors He died in comparative
obscurlty and not much more than COM
Portable circumstances. Three OF his sons
are now living-the Hon. I Armstrong,
present representative-elect to the Ken
lucky Legislature from Bracken county;
Robert Lee Armstrong, a tobacco MGR
chant. Madison, Ind, and Or. George
Armstrong, a practicing physician at st.
Louis. Mo- A short time ago these sons
entering suit against the
different manufacturers of breech-loading
rifles for infringement on their fathers