The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-22
Secret Brought liberty.
The Strange and Romantic Story Of S. R. Dawson.

applied only by himself or some person
he might name. In order to protect
the company in case of his death, he
agreed to make out a written descrip-
ton of his process and leave it in trust
with the Des MOines National bank
He did this, in the presence, it was
supposed, of witness named by the
company. Later OH. when he was in
prison. and when stockholders had be
gun suit TO get possession of the secret,
the Y'itnSsS admitted that he did not
Know Dawson had actually deposited
the secret in the box. Whether he did
or not has never been divulged, as the
litigation. which has been pending for.
several years, has never been pressed
to a conclusion. The box is still in the
hands of the bank and its contents are
a mystery.
Dawson says he Is not concerned that
the secret viii get out of his posses
sion, as the terms of his contract with
the company amply protect him. More
over he processes to control enough of
the stock to prevent any movement
hostile to himself.
In the midst of the preparations Of
the Damascus Steel company for man
ufacture came the terrible crime that
ended in DawsOn's Imprisonment. The
inventor had a daughter, a beautiful
brunette, who was receiving the atten-
uons OF a young man Of Des Moines
waiter Scott. Dawson opposed the
young man S suit in most reIenf less
manner The daughter was sent away
70 SchOOt IN Ohio. Later Dawson sent
her to a convent in Chicago and even
mad her adjudged insane and held as
an inmate OF the state hospital at
mount fleaSant- In every instance
young Scott found out the place where
the daughter was held in hiding and.
with determination as fixed as the
Idt!ier bitter opposition. succeeded in
Setung her free. In every possible way
Dawson sought to hamper Scott and
even caused his arrest for the ALLEGED
Sendlng of obscene letters through the
mall Finally. the night before Christ
mas, 1875, Miss Dawson evaded her
WaIcnful father. hurried to young
$500 SeoCS uFug store. a license was Sc
cured. and the two were made man
and wife Immediately after the mar
Ilase the young man, accOmpan MED bv
an oHlcer went to Dawson's hDuse 10
KY tne BRIDES clothing. On reaching
1aWsOns apartments the latter 70
fused his son-in-law's dema16s aad
geIore the officer could prevent it. shot
Scott IN the abdomen and sent another
tai effect. ''N''' VII" IA
Inc crime caused a tremeI.. SEN
sation in Des Moines. Dawson vas II
In good health when sent to prison. and
Il was believed he could not survive his
term. 1t was this fear that led the
shareholders in the company to begin
s s!t Tor the possession OF the secret. At
lines reports came from within the
walls at Anamosa that Dawson was
Cyrng. He was apparently declining.
OUT ne mas come out of prison in fair
Meath and Weighing more than when
-S went IN. Many unsuccessful efforts
w. 49, maze TO nave him paroled. Final
a Petluon' signed by large numbers
u ieddlng citizens accOmplisbed tho
release 1t is frequently said the stock
hoiaers OF the company secured Davv-
sons parole. This is very 6ouhtfu1
ana IL is denied in vigorous terms bv
dawson himself. 1t is probable disin-
terested friends had as much to do
with mis- release as did share holders ff
not far more. : -
The general expectation is that Daw-
son VIII immediately press ahead with
the movement for the manufactura ~
Damascus steel IN a large scale TJe
proposes, in fact, - take his time Il
aIn still, in the eyes of the law a pris-
oner. he says. L do not propose to
DO a great deal until my time is ont
Ihis will be something over a year. al
lowing for good behavior. Until I cease
20 be q prisoner 1 shall not feel like
jeopardizing much capital in promoting
nay discovery"
The process of making the Damascus
steel or tempered wrought iron is sim
pie It amounts to little more than
casting. 1t consists in placing a good
quality of wrought iron in crucible
and heating IL TO a pasty stage. The
temperiLg and iuxing. element is then
added Il is the composition of this
element that constitutes The secret.
tnen further heat is applied and the
Whole mass is melted. II is then ready
10 De poured after standing fifteen
minutes 1t is said there is no diff-
Guilty in getting castings entirely free
from blowholes. and that the metal.
may be cast IN intricate mOlds 1t
may be used for any purpose for which
iron forgings or cast steel is now
used. and Il IS said TO be cheaper Of
production. The metal takes an excel
le.st polish The sempering is done at a
white heat. The tool is dipped while
being tempered until the point is black
When cool the tempered portion has a
white appearance. The degree Of hard
ness Is said TO follow the temperature
TO winch the metal is heated before
nues7srniur. There epafz7z IN ho M e5arr-