The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-12
DAMASCUS STEEL INVENTOR.
Penitentiary Doors Swing Open Fol
His Release.


Des Moiues, July I'm the paroling OF
S. R. Dawson tonight Governor L. NJ
Shaw probably saved to science a secret
once lost and now rediscovered nv the
aged man just set free from prison-the
art of making Damascus steel and hard
ening copper.
Practically all his life Dawson has been
working on the problem Of the manurGc-
ture Of Damascus steel. In the early '90's
he perfected his process, and after ex-
! haustive tests by business men it was
pronounced a success.
Just as he was entering upon a rcaliza-
! ton of his life dream he murda ed Waltz,
Scott, young man who hal eloped with
and married his daughter Clara.
| That was Christmas ev, 1895. He was
tried and sentenced to the penitentiary,
and into the prison cell he took with him
the secret of his steel process.
Just before Dawson committed the muir
der that blighted all his prospects, a
company had been formed to manufac-
ture the steel. Dawson in return for the
financial support and assistance given
him by the men who formed the com
fo4iS HSACCu " put Tic secret INTO IOI-
mula for making the steel into a safety
vault. He further agreed that when he
became disabled he would give the key
to the officers of the company so that
they could so ahead with the work.
Dawson put the secret IN the vault but
when he was sent to the penitentiary he
argued that he was not disabled, and re-
fused to give Up the key. One of the
members of the company who saw the
documents placed in the vault declared
that they could not be deciphered by
any ordinary man.
Dawson was 90 years old when he was
sent to prison and for years has not been
in rugged health. Fearing that the con-
finement and his advanced years might
suddenly terminate his life, the company
known as the Damascus Steel company
which was formed TO put the Damascus
steel on the market, began to seek for
Dawson's release. Rather than take a |
chance on having the secret lost to the |
world, Governor Shaw made use Of his /
official perogative and the prison doors /
will swing open to the old inventor.
As soon as practical after Mr.. Daw- /
son obtains his freedom meeting OF /
the Damascus Steel company win be held. !
At that time It is expected that an ar
rangement viii be made with Mr.. Dawson
whereby the secret viii be conveyed to
some trustee in case OF his death or in
jury. That done the company expects to
expend large sum Of money in making
a series Of exhaustive tests to learn
just what the steel can be made for com
Dawson has always claimed that It can
be made cheaper than the steel Of ordf-
nary commerce. If il can be produced at
a reasonable cost in commercial ouanti-
ties the company expects to erect a smell
ter. blast furnace and a large plant.
The company which was organized and
under the laws OF Iowa in
the fan Of 195. is capitalized for $4,000
and has the following officers. all OF
whom live here: DR.. L. D. Rood. presi-
dent: Stewart Goodrell, vice president:
A. H. Miles. secretary. These officers
with the following. form the board Of
directors: G. II. Chappen, W. L. Read
and 1. II. Chamberlain.
Before the company was organized the
steel process received an exhaustive test
It the hands Of c C. Mccarthy. then
auditor OF The state OF Iowa. He de-
------ kt-f7alAtclF 81 the Lrle mat the ,
process was success, but he dropped the
natter because of demands Of Dawson
made in regard to the organization OF the
company.
The murder committed BY Dawson was
he elimination OF romance that at
racted great attention at the time. Mr..
nd Mrs. Dawson declared that their
laughter Clara. a beautiful girl. was in
ane because she loved Walter Scott. a
lan OF s., who was infatuated with her
Ter father and mother separated them
nd sent the girl 20 an asylum from
which she was liberated BY Scott
Then the parents spirited her way 70 n
onvent in Chicago. where Scott aqsin
ound her. Later he discovered her in
leokuk. Iowa he wrote 10 her. His
stters were intercepted and Re was ar z
ested for improper Use or the mails but I
-ss q course acquitted.
Finally December - ISe5. the couple
luded the gir's parents and were married g
he next day Scott went % his brides !.
orae 70 set her effects and was shot dead !
= his father-in-law. Dawson was sen :
snced 70 ten years Imprisonment and !.
az served half Of the term.
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