The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-19
FAMOUS WEAPONS,
Oerrtnger's Pistol and James Bowie, g
&3ii$8jss5ss!n Knife.

5ItTE9l7sjEystH IAllllG.
t5s!ssSSof it5W!osSof the most deadly weapons
,g .Ye,rgtlnyented are the derringer pistol
ahd d%.$be %sthe bowie knife, and once thew
4 wersI sIuhe most popular weapons in the
\southern states. III ''''
from 1910 to 1865 the derrinper
Is part of every southern uentle-
5 personal equipment. Usually he
palr OF them and were called
bone\ oreakers.' They were intended
Sfor closS quarters, and at twenty feet
sthc3r bulS SIets would smash an arm or
lee into sS,linters. Hardly more than
1 three mehe'@sAA, the barrel, and car
ryin= about SlN'N N,bullets to the pound,
4 by reason of 'h'X; peculiarity in the
d manner Of bormSE and the arrange
mcnt of the powd(A Or chamber, no small
pistol ever droveJya bullet with such
terrible power aad deadly effect.
The wonderful little derringer be-
came world renowned. Its history, if
el"quently told, would compare much
Of interest and involve many historic
episodes. In every section of the
continent and every country Of Eu-
rope the derringer became house
hold symbol of safety, which has civ
en- the name a place in history. From
the populous east to the wild western
borders the trustiest friend Of the
pioneer was found in the small and
lnlmltably perfect pistol which the
ingenious brain Of Derrngcr gave to
the world many years ago. Or all the
weapons IN modern warfare, or Of
those worn by the chivalrous Defend
erS OF honor, none is SO effective and
perfect rs the derringcr. 1t has
been the uncrring arbiter in duels and
encounters, the most fatal Nemesis
IN the hands of retribution the most
pltlless harbinger Of revenge and hate,
the most unfaltering ally Of Justice
or OF crime, the world has ever soon.
The bullets seek their victims with
the speed of the suns rays. Many a
tall form and full brow of promise.
many head honored among men and
bearing laurels Of fame above the
ashcn locks Of age, has fallen prone
to earth, red with blood, whose founts
these little balls have pierced. 1t was
bullet from derringer that crash
ed through the brain of President
Lincoln and plunged the. nation in
grief. The assassin Booth selected
the dcrringcr as the surest messenger
OF death, and after he had fired the
fatal shot the pistol dropped to the
floor in the box of the theatre. It is
now in the possession of the war de-
partment.
Wherever the derringer has been
the messenger Of fate to man daily
records bear witness to the irresisti-
BILE power which turks in these light
gahd delicate servants Of purple death.
just behind the lines which separate
the District Of Columbia from Mary
land, near the town Of Bladcnsburg,
a secluded spot embowered with trees
and known as "Blood Rum" has wit
messed many tragic scenes in which
the derringer has figured conspicu-
ously. Not only at the famous Blad-
enburg duelling grounds but through
out the entire south the derringer was
the favorite weapon on the "feld Of
honor.' ......
About 1890 there lived in Philadel-
phia gunsmith named Dcrringer,
who was noted for the exquisite fine
ness of his work on firearms, and its
general excellence, especially in pis-
tolls. The flintlock was then used,
and to insure it's not missing fire the
lock work had to be done with great
deal Of care. In 1888 the contract was
let by the government for pistols to
arm the lst reiment Of Dragons, just
created by act of congress. Two thou
sand holster pistols carrying thirty
bullets to the pound, were wanted.
Derringer had no difficulty in secur-
ing the contract, and also one, for
thirty-six pairs Of officers pistols Of
a finer quality. From that time until
1860 he was the first small arm maxi
er in the United States in the mat
ter of pistols, or, perhaps, Of the
world.
General John Magruder, a famous
officer of the artillery in the old army,
and a Confederate major general,
owned the finest and most elaborate
,nP sc&o ~