Year: 1897

page_text: I, ALEXANDER NURICK of Fisk Street, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The game of this invention is designed for instruction as well as amusement and
may be played either in or out of doors.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. I is a front elevation of the game of this invention. Fig. 2 a plan thereof.
Figs. 3 and 4 views of details.
The game board represents a fort, a being the base or outer bastion formed with
an inclined face and between this and the inner bastion b, also inclined but at a
different angle is ditch or foss c, extending entirely around the inner bastion b.
In the centre of the latter is located the fort proper consisting of the four corner
towers or turrets d and the centre tower e. The towers d are connected together
by walls provided with hinged shutters g having apertures h slightly larger in
diameter than the balls i adapted to be employed as bullets. Similar shutters are
provided in the towers and have a spring j arranged at their base and leading to a
pocket k, which will allow of the easy opening of the pockets to extract the balls.
In the centre of the towers are provided short sockets l, adapted to receive the
staffs m, each carrying a flag.
For striking the balls a catapult n, is provided composed of wood, celluloid, or
any suitable material, and one of these is provided for each player, all being of
different colours. When the game is converted into an outdoor one, mallets may
be substituted in the place of the straight catapult. The entire fortress may be
composed of wood, celluloid, tin, aluminium, or any other suitable material.
When the game is to be played as an indoor or table game, each player is given
a certain number of the bullets, which are differently coloured for each player, and
he is also provided with a catapult of the same colour as his ammunition. Each
player then deposits his ammunition at the edge of the table in front of him, and
as his turn comes shoots one of the bullets against the fortress by bending the
catapult n more or less and releasing the same. This will throw the bullet with
more or less force against the outer bastion a where according to the force and
angle it strikes the same, it will jump into the main body of the fortress, a central
tower, or into one of the slot holes, and counting the player the number of points
designated at each position, or it will knock over one of the side or centre flags,
counting an additional number of points. If the bullet strikes the side of the
fortress or on the bastion b, it will in all probability roll back into the ditch or
foss c, being lost to the player. The next player then shoots, and so on until the
balls are all either located in fortress or lost to players in the ditch. When the
score is taken, each player counts in flags, which he appropriates when knocked
over by him..
It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the game may be highly
interesting and instructive by forming a code of rules to follow, and that various
changes can be made, as when the game is used as parlour, floor, or outdoor game,
rules can be made allowing players to croquet the bullets of an adversary, and the
game may also be simplified by omitting one or more towers or slot holes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :--
1. In a game, the representation of a fortress having corner towers, and a central
tower, and inner and outer bastions inclined at different angles, a ditch or foss
between the two bastions, shutters hinged in the towers and sides of the fortress,
said shutters being provided with apertures leading to pockets adapted to receive
the bullets when struck with a catapult, substantially as described and shewn.
2. A game consisting of a fortress having outer and inner bastions, inclined at
different angles, a foss surrounding the inner bastion, towers, and side walls forming
the fortress proper, said towers having a socket to receive a flagstaff and the towers
and side walls provided with hinged shutters having apertures leading to pockets
having spring hinges adapted to receive the bullets when shot into the same by a
catapult, substantially as described and shewn.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the game,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 27th day of February 1907
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.