New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-11

later changed to percussio1) in spite
of the fact that the percussion sap was
invented in 1907. For some reason
the cap met with 40 favor among
military authorities either in this
country or in Europe until long after
he ceased to make pistols many
flint lock muskets remaining in use IN
the British army as late as 1870.
Whatever he may have known or
thought about the percussion cap he
was debarred from it's use by the
we'll known hostility of the ordnance
ot1lcers to the innovation.
The flint lock small arm, of Spanish
origin, came into use early in the 18th
century and was the only method of
lgnlting a charge for aperiod of more
than two hundred years
In the office of the Secretary of
Navy at Washington may be seen in a
grass case, cared for as priceless rel
les, a pair Of pistols which are said
by the custodian to be as fine speci-
mems Of the armorers art as can be
found anywhere in the world.
They are gold mounted. of exout
site design and workmanship. and
were made by Colonel North for
presentation by the State of Connec-
ticut to Commodore Isaac Hull in
token of gallantry and naval skill.
He also was commissioned by. and
made for the state another pair,
presented to Commodore McDonough
in commem Grafton of the victory on
Lake Champlain in 1914, when the
commodore captured the English
squadron.
In many collections Of old arms
may be found specimens with the
name, S. North, Berlin, Conn or
'Middletown, Conn engraved or
stamped on the plate near the lock.
and whenever a collector comes
across one of these, he knows that he
has a prize indeed.
In spite of his numerous inventions
Colonel North took out no patents for
Colnoel North too out
for himself This was eminently
characteristic of him. A tireIess
worker. he cared not for personal
gain. He preferred to give his coun-
try the benefit of any improvement he
could suggest.
His patriotism all through life was
Of Very concrete type, in line with
the incident of his marching to Say
brook when he was sixteen
He made firearms because his
country needed them. He considered
it his duty to devote his resources
toward supplying that need.
"One passage in a. letter, written in
1909 to Robert Smith, secretary of
the navy, in response to an appeal to
hurry forward the pistols on a. GER
tain contract Illustrates his sentt-
m ents in this respect:
Il believe it the duty of every
American citizen to unite and assist
the government at this time in re-
polling the unjustifiable tyrannical and
imperial orders and DEGREES heaped |
upon us by the powers of Europe and
you may depend that nothing shall be
wanting on my part to support the |
Just rights of the Union; every branch !
of this business shall be crowded to |
the greatest eXtremities'
''Here we have the eNression Of the |
keynote or his lifes purpose, consist |
emily followed to the end of his days |
''In times like these We like to think
of those men of former times which |
it has been the good fortune of our
country to have,-men who were the |
soul of honor, whose standard of bust |
ness ethics was high and religiously |
lived up to, who first, last and all the |
time were patriots of the purest type. !
Such a man was Simeon North" |
Berlin Briefs.
Miss Anne Peterson of Kensington |
was rendered q surprise party at the
home of Mrs. Harry Burdick Friday
evening. A pleasant evening was OBJ
served by all those present and re-
freshments were served.
Miss Norma Sergeant of East Hart
ford is spending the weekend with
friends in Kensington.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harold Stearns of
Berlin street have gone to Middletown
% snend the week with MIS-. Staarn,s |