Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-09
FAMOUS WEAPONS.
perrinaer's Pistol and James Bowie's
Knife.

Knife.
Two of the most deadly weapons
ever invented are the derringer pistol
and the bowie knife, and once they
were the most popular weapons In the
southern states.
From 1910 to 1865 the derringer was
a part Of every southern gentleman's
personal equipment. Usually he had
pair Of them and they were called
bone breakers" They were intended
for close quarters, and at twenty feet
their bullets would smash an arm or
leg into splinters. Hardly more than
three inches in the barrel, and carry
ing about sixty bullets to the pound,
by reason Of the popularity In the
manner Of boring and the arrangement
of the powder chamber, no small pistol
ever drove a bullet with such terrible
power and deadly effect.
The wonderful little derringer be-
came world renowned. It's history, II
eloquently told, would comprise much
Of interest and involve many historic
episodes. In every section Of the con-
tinent and every country Of Europe the
derringer became a household symbol
of safety, which has given the name
a place in history. From the populous
east to the wild western borders the
trustiest friend Of the pioneer was
fr,tn fo
feet pistol which the ingenious brain
Of Derringer gave to the world many
years ago. OF all the weapons In mod
ern warfare, or of those worn by the
chivalrous defenders Of honor, none Is
so effective and perfect as the derrin-
ger. 1t has been the unerring arbiter
in duels and encounters, the most fatal
Nemesis In the hands Of retribution, the
most pitiless harbinger Of revenge and
hate, the most unfaltering ally OF JUS
tice or Of crime, the world has ever
seen. ~
The bullets seek their victims with
the speed Of the SUMS rays. Many
tall form and full brow of promise,
many a head honored among men and
bearing laurels Of fame above the
ashen locks Of age, has fallen prone
to earth, red with blood, whose founts
these little balls have pierced. 1t was
a bullet from a derringer that crashed
through the brain Of President Lincoln
and plunged the nation in grief. The
assassin Booth selected the derringer
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. 1t is now in the pos
session Of the war department.
Wherever the derringer has been the
messenger of fate to man daily records
bear witness to the irresistible power
which turks in these light and delicate
servants Of purple death. Just behind
the lines which separate the District
Of Columbia from Maryland, near the
town Of Bladensburg, q secluded spot
embowered with trees and known as
Blood Rum" has witnessed many ira
gic scenes in which the derringer has
figured conspicuously. Not only at the
famous Bladensburg duelling grounds
but throughout the entire south the
derringer was the favorite weapon on
the field Of honor"
About 1880 there lived In Philadel-
phia a gunsmith named Derringer, who
was noted for the exquisite fineness OF
his work on firearms, and its general
excellence, especially in pistols. The
fiintlock was then used, and to insure
its not missing fire the lock work had
to be done with q great deal OF care.
In 1888 the contract was let by the
government for pistols to arm the
First regiment of Dragons, just Gre
ated by act Of congress. Two thousand
holster pistols carrying thirty bullets
to the pound, were wanted. Derrin-
ger had no difficulty in securing the
contract, and also one for thirty-sx
pairs of officers pistols Of a finer quail
ity. From that time until 1860 he was
the first small arm maker in the Unit
ed States in the matter 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 Derringer ever
made. They had two sets Of barrels
fitted to each stock. One set was -FOUR
inches and the other six inches IN
length. Each carried sixty bullets TO
the pound. The pistols were gold
mounted, with beautiful inlaid work
wherever it could be placed In silver
and gold The locks were made py
Brazier, the most famous maker OF
gun locks in England, and these cost
$50 alone. Capt. Magruder said that
these pistols saved his life three times.
He could cut the spots out Of the four
Of spades at twelve PAGES. The cost
Of these pistols could not have been
less than s275. and were presented to
the captain when he went to Mexico
to take command Of his battery OF the
First artillery.
The fame of the bowie knife Is as
wide as was that Of the old time
32-inch Roman sword.
Two states-Tennessee and Mary
land-claim the birthplace Of the In
ventor. James Bowie, and the question
has never been quite definitely settled.
But he gave the name to a weapon as
deadly as any that has ever been
forged from steel.
When Louisiana became a state the
old Spanish and French records Gre
ated a great deal Of trouble. 1t fire.
quently happened that planter who
had taken up a large tract of land and
fairly opened it out as a plantation
,,,oul5 laorn that IL was claimed by