New-York tribune., 1922-05-07
Lord Nelson's repeat
ing fintlock pistol,
shouting leuer which
enabled Great Brit
aims oue-arr,ed nouol
hero to cock 1t by
hooking it on the
ships rail

there is no publicly owned collection of fire.
arms in America that is worthy of inspection.
"Whether the firearm has tended toward
war and crime peace and order is ques-
ton hard to answer to-day as it was FIVE
hundred years ago. The advocates of peace,
who believe its strongest guaranty lies in a
wel-equipped army may point with pride to
the fact that the three greatest explosives,
gunpowder, percussion powder and dynamite,
were, respectively, discovered by a monk,
clergyman and the donor of the Nobel Peace
Prize"
Mr.. Daily doesn't always talk that way.
Sometimes he just says Look" and hands
down from the wall pair Of silver-incrusted
fintlock pistols that hung in the sash of
a Scottish chieftain, and when he has done
that Mr.. DAILY watches as a mother might for
encomiums for her child. He has been making
this collection for more than thirty years, and
his anecdotes of his collecting experiences are
as interesting as the history making weapons
themselves. Some he bought at painful prices
at Christie's, in London; others were got for
q trife in pawnshops; some were gifts; others
we're heirlooms that he acquired after patient
Now that the collection is complete, and Mr..
DAILY says he does not know where to look for
any additions, it might be expected that he
would consider leaving it to some museum.
But, no.
"Ive had splendid fun making this coec-
ton. When I'm gone I'd like to see it scat
tered so that other collectors can experience
that same fun"
There is the saddle gun Of William of Or
ange The stock is heavy and the barrel short.
1t has been cup at Christies four times, and
the last time Mr.. Days passion got the better
of him. He bought it.
"Remember Tennysons The Defense of
Lucknow -? asked Mr.. DAILY, and began to
recite:
Nine. Yes mine, mine! Down. Down
creep thro the hole.
Keep the revolver in hand! You can hear him. the
naurderous mole!
Quiet ah oulet-wa!t I'll tho point of tho plcka1s
be thro!
Click with the pick coming and again
Now let it speak and FIRE, and the dark pioneer
more
And ever upon the topmost roof banner of Eng
land blew.
As Mr.. DAILY recited he had been holding in
his hand four-shot hand revolving pistol,
made by Holland & Holland, Of London, with
the British proof mark on the barrel. 1t had
a large center hammer with safety catch and
a folding trigger.
"This is the revolver referred to in Tenny
sons poem The episode described occurred
during the Indian mutiny, when the resldency
at Lucknow was undermined by the Sepoys
The refugees knew that this tunnel was being
driven, but felt that their only hope of sal
walton was to wait until the enemy had COM
pleted it, and if possible to kill them, as they
had to come through it one by one. guard
was left night and day. AS the pick broke
through Sergeant Bailey was on guard with
this revolver He killed the two Sepoys and
their bodies blocked the entrance, saving the
residency and the occupants.
1t is not so difficult to understand the urge
that has driven Mr.. DAILY to collect 1900
weapons as he sights down Sergeant Bailey's
old-four barreled revolver. Any one who
him then knows that it is not mere bit Of