New-York tribune., 1922-05-07

horses and divided themselves into throe mar.
ties began to ascend the Hill from three sides
creeping up in silence, every man confident
or his Skill as stalker and marksman. the
central division made its way up to the crest,
where Ferguson met them with volley and
charge with the bayonet. The backwoodsmen
then fell back slowly, keeping their pursuol
IN check by a biting fire from behind the
trees and powders until storm of bullets in
Fergusons flank showed that a second division
OF his enemies lying in wait for him.
turning at once upon them. Ferguson found
that the third division Of backwoodsmen.
which had been hidden on the opposite flank.
was firing steadily into his rear Thus en-
trapped, the militia found the odds too many
against them. Still they fought hard until
Ferguson was killed, and nearly four hundred
OF them had fallen killed and wounded before
the remainder, rather moro than seven hun
dred, laid down their arms. The whole loss of
the backWoodsmen eighty eight killed and
wounded, and the only marvel is that it should
have been great, for their exploit was as
fine an example as can be found of the power
of woodcraft, craftsmanship and sportsman
ship in war. The victors celebrated their suc
cess by hanging a dozen Of their prisoners be-
fore they dispersed in revenge for the execu
ton at Augusta Of certain militiamen who
had been taken in arms against the British
after accepting service with them. The vic
TINS were, of course. Americans, for it was
not Mother Country and Colonies. but two
Colonial factions that fought so bitterly in
Carolina"
Sighting along the barrel Of that old Ferg,-
son gun it is interesting to speculate upon the
Of
took; to guess just how much it DELAYED the
cause Of the American coonists.
After Lord Nelson was disabled by the loss
Of his arm in the unsuccessful attack on Santa
Cruz de Teneriffe on July "a, 1897, the kings
gunmaker undertook to provide him with
weapon that would overcome his physical
handicap in battle. He presented the British
naval hero with ingenious repeating flint
lock pistol, which could be recharged and
cooked by hook lever made to fit against
the admirals thigh or the bulwark Of his ship.
That gun is one Of the prizes Of Mr. Dalys
collection.
There are all sorts Of freak weapons, in
cluding a duck's-foot pistol with four barrels
made to discharge simultaneously. The bar
rels unscrew for reoading.
There IS one pistol that Mr. DAILY has cata-
logued as "The Unwecome Husband" IT is
a deadly contrivance made to be attached to
door frame. cord hooked over the knob
pulls the trigger and sends bullet into the
mldriff Of any ono who opens the door There
are combination swords and pistols One Of
these was once the side arm Of member Of
the Swiss Guard, the organization that for
centuries has been in the service of the popes
The blade of this weapon is engraved on one
side with a crucifx and on the other with
the arms Of the Pope and st. Peter.
There are a number Of similar weapons,
some Of them handsome dress swords in which
the pistol, close to the hilt, is clevcrly con-
cealcd so that the wielder's opponent might be
shot down at the very moment their blades
crossed.
Another group Of treacherous weapons.
mostly freaks, are classified by Mr.. DAILY as
criminal pieces There is a womans pocket
book, an innocent appearing contrivance Of
leather, that can be discharged by a simple
pressure its sides. There arc combination
pistols, with dagger blades projecting beyond
the barrel and the hinged britt made in the
form of knuckle dusters.uas my of these ars
CT German make, but u are few at
tributed to Irish gunmak !.