The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-19
FAMOUS WEAPONS.
Derrlnger's Pistol and James Bowie's
Knife.

Two OF the most deadly weapons
ever invented are the derringer pistol
ana the bowie knife, and once they
were phe most popular weapons in the
\ southern states.
= from lS4o to 1865 the derringer
= WSs part Of every southern gentle
MANS personal equipment. Usually he
had " pair Of them and were called
"hone\ breakers.' They were intended
for cloS$ quarters, and at twenty feet
their buXets would smash an arm or
leg into s&linters. Hardly more than
three mcheFS.irn the barrel, and car
rym9 about siN,y" \pullets to the pound,
by r>ason Of 'h'A peculiarity in the
manner OF borlnS} and the arrange
ment of the powdtf A. chamber, no small
pistol ever drove, a bullet with such
terrible power and deadly effect.
The wonderful little derrinyer be-
came world renowned. Its history, if
elornently 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 a house.
hold symbol of safety, Which has Civ
ell 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
inimitably perfect pistol which the
ingenious brain Of Derringer gave to
the world many years ago. OF all the
weapons in modern warfare, or Of
those worn by the chivalruus Defend
ers of honor, none is SO effective and
perfect as the derringcr 1t has
been the unerring arbiter in ducls and
encounters, the most fatal Nemesis
IN the hands of retribution, the most
pltllcss harbingcr Of revenge and hate,
the most mfaltering 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. It was
a bullet from a derringer that crash
ed through the brain Of President
Lincoln and plunged the nation in
grief. The assassin Booth selected
the derrlnger as the surcst 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 irrcsisti-
bic power which turks in these light
and 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 Run,' 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 derringcr was
the favorite weapon on the "ficld of
honor.'
About 1880 there lived in Philadel-
phia a gunsmith named Derrinyer,
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 its 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 tc
arm the 1st reimcnt Of Dragons, JUS
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 fol
thirty-six pairs Of officers pistols Of
a finer quality. From that time until
1860 he was the first small arm max.
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
pair of pistols that Dcrringer eve,