The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-02-18
ORIGIN OF REVOLVER.
fircarm First Used in Battle with Mcxi.
cans.

There is a romantic side to wca.
pons of war said an old army Officer
the other day. "Thc origin of our
purely American arm, the Colt rcvol-
yer, furnishes an instance that will
illustrate this. 1t seems perfectly
adapted to American frontier condi.
lions. 1t has given its skillful WELD.
ers victory OF many a hard fought
field. And this is why its rise and
development should be a part Of our
country's military history.
I'm the thirtics we we're cnlarcinp
our national boundaries in the South
west. We could not consistently de-
vclop IN any other direction, for the
country to the Northwest was not very
desirable. We were looking for a re-
glon that was especially adapted to
Southern products, to be cultivated
by slave labor. The South was in the
saddle, and meant to remain there if
Southern blood and valor could accom-.
plish 1t. The young and thriving Re-
public OF Texas was the point toward
which the attention Ct the region
south OF Mason aaa Dixon's line was
turned. a handful of daring young
Americans had wrcsted from Mexico a
region five times the size of any State
Ill the Union. 1t was then called the
Republic Of Texas.
Tho State of Tennessee was pri-
marily responsible for this daring
step. Gen. Sam Houston had gather
ed together a daring band of young
men full of hot-Llooded courage. The
blood of the pioneers that took Ten
nessce from tho most warlikc Indian
tribe on this continent was in them.
For a long time it was an uphill fight.
Not only the Mexicans, but tie Co.
manches and Lipans-unequalled war.
riors and daring horsemen-harassed
and raided the scattering frontier set
Elements and towns along the Texas
border until it really appeared as if
the entire scheme of the settlement of
Texas must go down in blood.
But the men who started in to do
this work were not Of the quitting
kind. They were Of that Tory-hating,
lndian-fghting stock that obstacles
did not daunt nor dangers quail. And
they set their teeth hard and swore
they would stay. To guard their from
tier thoroughly and effectively they
organized bands or companies Of rang
ers. under officers who could not only
fight Indians and M~exicans. but con-
troll and discipline their own men.
"Among the ablest of these COM
manders Col. Hays, better known as
Jack Hays, was incontestibly the
ablest. He vas o born leader Of men,
just such men as were peopling that
great Southwestern fon,ier. In stat
ure he was about five feet eight and
never weighed over $50 pounds. His
hair was of q darkish brown, inclined
20 be red, and his eyes were Of several
%colors, according to his methods. In
his hours of relaxation and among his
friends they were Of a dark gray, with
a hue of hazel. In excitement, and
especially in q fight, they we're Of q
color understandable. They simply
seemed to blaze.
"Some time in the later thirties
Col. Hays was directed by the Presi-
dent Of Texas to go to New York aud
purchase suitable arms to equip his
troops. He had then about $50 men,
but they were net uniformly armed
and lacked equipment suitable for a
mounted command. They needed to
be equipped alike and with the very
best weapons available at that time.
$50, in obedience to his orders and
with q letter Of credit on the treasurer
Of the Texan Republic, Hays took
passage in q schooner that was bound
for New York. He was a month in
making the trip, for no started in Sep
TENDER, when the Gulf ia usually
| stormy and the prevailing winds are
\ from the southwest and everywhere
else. They were blown into yearly
every port from Galveston northwnrd
before they got in sight Of the island
Of Manhattan. Col. Hays went the
rounds Of the firearms dealers Of New
York. It was not @ difficult under
taking, for there were but four or iv'
Of them. But he did not End any
thing that he had not see before il
1.-The way Of firearms.
II "One day, however, q dealer said
'There is o man living over in New
. Jersey ct present who has just in