The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, July 19, 1907, Page FIVE, Image 5
FAMOUS WEAPONS.
Derringer's Pistol and James Bowie
Knife.
Two of the nust deadly weapo
ever invented are the derringer pist
and the bowie knife, and once th(
were tihe most popular weapons in tl
southern states.
From 1840 to 1S65 the derring
irs part of every southern gent]
ma'4's personal equipment. Usually
had ' pair of them anid were call
"bone,breakers." They were i, id
for elos'e quarters, and at twc,, fe
their bullets would smash an arm
leg into splinters. Hardly more th
three inchei in the barrel, and ea
rying about sixty bullets to the poun
by reason of the peculiarity in ti
manner of boring and the arrang
ment of the powder chamber, no sma
pistol ever drove a bullet with su(
terrible power and deadly effect.
The wonderful little derringer b
came world renowned. Its history,
eloquently told, wokild compare mu(
of interest and involve many histor
episodes. In every section of tl
continent and every country' of E
rope the derringer became a hous
hold symbol of safety, which has gi
en the name a place in history. Fro
the populous east to the wild weste:
borders the trustiest friend of tl
pioneer was found in the small ar
inimitably perfect pistol which t]
ingenious brain of Derringer gave
the world many years ago. Of all tl
weapons in modern warfare, or
those worn by the chivalrous defen
ers of honor, none is so effective ar
peTfect as the derringer. It h
been the unerring arbiter in duels ar
eneounters, the most fatal Nemes
in the hands of retribution, the mo
pitiless harbinger of revenge and hat
the most unfaltering ally of justi
or of crime, the world has ever soo
The bullets seek their victims wi
the speed of the sun's rays. Many
tall form and full brow of promis
many a head honored among men an
bearing laurels of fame above tl
ashen locks of age, has fallen proi
to earth, red with blood, whose foun
these litle balls have pierced. It w
a bullet from a derringer that eras
ed through the brain of Preside:
Lincoln and plunged the, nation
grief. The assassin Booth select<
the derringer as the surest messeng
of death, and after he had fired t]
fatal shot the pistol dropped to t]
fJomr in the box of the theatre. It
now in the possession of the war d
partment.
Wherever the derringer has -bet
the messenger of fate to man dai
records bear witness to the irresisi
ble power which lurks in these Hig
ahd delicate servants of purple deat
Just behind the lines which separa
the District of Columbia from Mar
land, near the town of Bladensbur
a secluded spot embowered with tre
and known as "Blood Run,'' has wi
nessed many tragic scenes in whit
the derringer has figured~ conspic
ously. Not only at the famous Bla
enburg duelling grounds but throng
out the entire south the derringer w:
the favorite weapon on the "field
*honor."
About 1S30 there lived in \Philade
phia a gunsmit.h named 'DerringE
who was noted for the. exquisite fin
ness of his work on firearms, and i
general excellence, espeeially in pi
tols. The flintlock was then use
and to insure its not missing fire ti
loek work had to be done with a gre
deal of care. In 1833 the contract w
let by the government for pistols
arm the la reiment of Dragoons, ju
created by act of congress. Two tho
sand holster pistols carrying thir
bullets to the pound, were wante
Derringer had no difficulty in seeu
ing the contract, and also one f
. thirty-six pairs of officers pistols
a finer quality. From that time un
1860 he was the first small arm ma
er. in the United States in the me
Iter of pistols, or, perhaps, ~of V
world.
General John Magruder, a famo
-officer of the artillery in the old arn
and a Confederate major gener
owned the finest and most elabora
pair of pistols that Derringer ev
made. They had two sets of barre
.-itted to each stoek. One set was fo
inches and the other six inches
length. Each carried sixty bullets
the pound. The .pistols were go
mounted, with beautiful inlaid wo
wherever it could be placed in sily
and gold. The locks were made I
Brazier, the most famous maker
* un locks in England, and these c
$60 alone. Capt. Magruder said th
these pisto's saved his life thr
times. He could cut the spots out
the four of spades at twelve pae<
The cost of these pistols could n
have been less than $275, and we
nresented to the captain when he we
to Mexico to take command of I
battery of the First artillery.
The fame of the bowie knife is
wide as was that of the old time 2
inh. Roman sword.
Two state-Tennesse and Mary
Laikd-clini the bitlplace of the ini
'S iu r11., Jailles Bowie. ad(l tie ques
1in , "has ilever beei quite defiMiteLIV
settled. But he gave the iame to a
As weapon as deadly as any that has
ol ever been forged from steel.
"Y When Louisiana became a state the
le old Spanish and French records cre
ated a great deal of trouble. It fre
er quently happened that a planter who
e- had taken up a large tract of land
ae and fairly opened it out as planta
d tion would learn that it was claimed
d by some one under an old Colonial
et grant. James Bowie 'was a very fre
>r quent claimant under these old laws.
Ln Several capitalists of the time had
r- sent him to Havana, where the old
d, papers of the Spanish colony of Lou
ie isiana were kept, and caused careful
e- transeripts of them to be made. They
ll a.ppointed as their agent to put them
,h in possession of these properties
James Bowie. In these early days it
e- did not take much provocation to
if bring on a personal encounter, as a
-h 9i'ht to the death was euphoniously
iC entitled. A man who had been to the
1e trouble and expense of opening up an
a- estate 'only to find it claimed by a
e. lot of people he did not know was
r- generally pretty ready to fight for it,
m whether a fight would settle the ques
-n tion or not. The consequence of this
ie state of things was that James Bowie
d and his two brothers, Stephen and
ie Razin, had on hand almost constantly
to some sort or "diffirulty" that had
ie to be fought out with deadly weapons.
>f This was before the days when per
I- cussion caps were in general use, and
Ld the smaller pistols of the period were
Ls flintlocks-inconvenient to carry and
d not very reliable. So the knife had to
is be used when one wanted a really
St trusty weapon.
e, James Bowie set to work and with
,e a pocket knife and shingle he made a
n. model of the kind of knife that he be
;h lieved was about the proper thing for
a trhe business he had on hand. The first
e, ''bowie" was made by the local
id blacksmith at Shreveport, La., after
te the model furnished by James Bowie
ie and it was used by him for several
ts years. About 1830, however, Bowie
is heard of a Ne-w Orleans cutler, a
a- Spaniard named Pedro, who was mak
it ing knives of a wonderful kind and
in temper. They could -be driven through
ida silver dollar without damage to
er point or edge. This artist made
ie Bowie a knife whieh- was a marvel of
1e beauty and temper. The blade was
isJ nine inehes long, and, with the han
e- die, measured fifteen inches. This
weapon was used with telling effect
in by Bowie in nineteen different en
ly counters and it was the one in his
I- stiffened hand when, with six dead
it Mexieans about him showing the evi
h. dence of his fatal skill, he was found
te dead at the Alamo.
P Bowie 's method of using the knife
g, was one peculiar to himself. He di,d
es not hold it in his hand with the point
t- downward, but grasped the handle as
ha swordsman would griasp the hilt of
- his sword. He always struck at the
- neck of his man and aimed for the
Sjugular, and seldom missed hsi coup.
s In the most famous of his battles,
FOFf
e- 43 Seven-room !residenc on Boi
ts the business portion of the city.
s- 45. One lot extending from Frier
d200 feet. This- is a corner lot in a
se niently located, within five minutes
at city. 'Very convenient to the Chnr<
as has brick walls just ready to be fini
to terms I consider this one of the 11
st 46. Nine room residence in Brool
a extending from one street to anoth<
tv 47. New six-room Residence, coi
d. of the city, at a reasonable price.
r- 25 shares National Bank Stock.
or x o shares Land and Security Con
S Other valuable farm land and cit'
, 'The Man Between" the Se:
- NEWBERR3
Clas!
Sciel
in Tect
iExpenses very modera
rk surpassed. For cataic
)dent, JA
ot POINTS OF EXCELLENCl
re Thorough instruction. University1
nt library. Excellent laboratories.
1 fulness. Honor system, Full lite
courses. Degrees of A. B. and B.
.Next session opens September 18th
LEE DAVIS L.
the oie f'ought on the sand bar at
Nmeiihez Islaii. 1ississippi river, he
(.: 1 wo mni I heads abo:st off. giv
ill- each wily one sweeping blow. In
tlil- fecrful fi.dIilt there were twelve
weii enllaged. One of then was Jales
Madison Wells, known t1hrougiout the
country as president of the Louisiana
re:urning board of 1876-77. Bowie
wa? very dangerously wounded, but
managed to recover. While down on
the ground with an antagonist on top
of him who weighed thirty pounds
more than did Bowie, the indomint.a
ble fighter mairaged to get his left
arm around his enemy's neck and
then with a sudden right hand cut
he severed the other man's jugular
with an awful slash and was almost
smothered by the terrible outgush of
blood that poured from the wound.
James Bowie only weighed 140
pounds when at his prime. He
was a quiet, soft voiced man, who nev
er drank nor dissipated in any way.
He possessed enormous physical
strength for his size, and was as quick
and lithe as a wildcat and as game.
Bowie was the terror of all the hard
cases from Louisville to New Orleans.
A gJreat author said: "The nation
which shortens its weapons lengthens
its boundaries." The derringer and
the education and civilization have
rele-bowie are short weapons and our
boundaries have been lengthenid.
Wlashington Posit.
Schedule of Farmers' Union Rally
Meetings Arranged by State
' Exec, 've Committee.
Greenwood, S. C. ........July 25
Laurens, S. C., ........ July 30
Newberry, S. C. ........July 31
Lexington, S. C., ........Aug. 1
Edgefield, S. C., ..........Aug. 3.
Union, S. C., ........ ..Aug. 5
Spartanburg, S. C., ......Aug. 6
Cherokee, S. C.,.. ......Aug. 7
York. S. C. .............Aug. 8
Chester, S. C.,........ .. Aug. 9
Chesterfield, S. C. .. ....i..Aug. 10
Kershaw, S. C., ........Aug. 13
Sumter, S. C., ..........Aug. 14
Lee, S. C., .. .. .. .. ....Aug. 15
Marion. S. C., ..-......Aug. 16
Marlboro, S. C., ........Aug. 17
Saluda, S. C., .. .. .... ..Aug. 20
Orangeburg, S. C. ........Aug. 22
Bamberg, S. C.f..t...... Aug. 23
Barnwell, S. C... ....~... Aug, 24
Greenville, S. C.,.... .....Aug. 13
Piekens, S. C.,.. .... ...Aug. 14
Oconee, S. C.,.. .... ...Aug. 13
These dates are subject to ehange
provided the Executive Committee is
notif.lpd 'in itime. The iCommittee
would ihe glad to correspond with any
farmer' in any of the counties named
in regard to place best suited for
holdin : these meetings, and any oth
er m: ter looking to the success of
the reeetings. The speakers will be
named later. Any correspondence in
refe 'e to above should be addre'ed
to V. L. Anderson, Secretary,-.Exeeni
ive Committee, Nine,ty Six, .S. C.
J. B. Picket),
. Chairman.
W. L. Anderson,
Seety., Ex. Corn.
3ALE.
ndary street, very convenient to
d street to Johinstone street, 120 X
good neighborhpod, very conve
walk to the business portion of the
hes and the Graded School. This
hed. Can be bought on reasonable
st desirable lots for sale in the city.
:lyn, good large garden and orchard,
veniently located to business part
pany Stock.
property for sale.
. A. BURTON,
ler and Buyer.
SCOLLEGE.
sicall
tif ic!
inCall
te. Health record un
gue address the Presi
S. A. B.SCHERER,
Newberry, S. C.
0:-Hiigh Standard. Able faculty,
ethods. Fine equipment. Splendid
eautiful site. Unsurpassed health
rary, scientific, mpisical and artistic
. Winnie Davis School of History.
1907. Send for catalog~ue.
DGE. A. M, Ph. D. President.
All Summer G
The. Big Cut Price
Copel a
Y off on all Clothing and odd We expect to have
Pants for Men and Boys
Now is your time to buy cheap. and ready to move
so have decided to continue
Our sale has been wonderfully succes
many goods to move, and it is much eai
Those of you who did not attend our
week, as we will have some rare bargai
Remember, everything will be cut in
half of original price. Your saving wil
you take advantage of this sale.
S P E C
All Straw Hats at half pr
AFI Lawns and Orgar
All colored and
All Whi
NOTICE.-No goods will be charged
Copelal
In the McCoughrin E
Newber
New Market.|~ t
I have opened a first class
Mat Market on Friend street,
next door to the Observer office,E
and am prepared toifuirnish
choice meats of all-kinds.
All orceras entrusted to me ' At I
will receive ng~ pc r.sonal at-RSO
tenton- Loans
Come to see my market. Overdrafts
It is the cleanest and most up- Furniture an<
to-date market in Newberry. .fixtures
J. A. WRIGHT, Cash and sigh
Friend Street. ecag
Phone 232.
MBETING' JOINT COUNCIL.
The ehurch councils of Colony, Beth
Eden, and Mayer Memorial will meet
at Mayer Mtemorial next Saturday,
20th inst., at 2 o'clock, p. m. Pa*
Full attendance requested.Pa
S.eH.eFay. JNO. M. KIls
Barbecue.
The memnbers of Bachman Chapel
ehurch will furnish a first class bar
becue on the church grounds on Fri- M
day, July 26, for the benefit of the
churh. Refreshments will be served
and will be in charge of Mrs. Jinuanie A'-persor
Epp. Dinner 35 cents for ladies and
40 cents for gentlemen. Willi reCeiV
NOTICE OF BLECTION,. o h o
In consideration -of a petition su- C
ficiently signed by the freehoiders and
eletors of Excelsior sehool district Don't bL
No. -, asking for an eleebion to or
ganize a high school in con.nection uiiya
wit the Prosperity school'district No. j have E
14, as provided for ,by a recent Act going Ver)
of ~the legislature.
An election will be held at Excel- Station er
sior schoolhouse Saturday, July 2at,4re
ginnng at 8 . n., and closingat4etpce
p. m., under the supervision of the the Book 5
district board of trustees of said dis-.
tirit. Those favoring the proposition you can fi i
will vote "For High School,'' those elsewhere
opposing will vote "Against High
School.' Registration certificate and and see if
tax recepit are- requireinenlts of elec
tors sto vote.
J. 5. Wheeler,
E. 0. Coun'ts, M.
Co. Bd. Education.
oods Must Go.
Sale Coqtinued to
id Bros.
)ur new store finished Y off on all low cut Shoes for
uMen, Ladies and Children. Get
into by September 15, a pair before your size is gone.
our big sale until August 1st.
sful the past week, but we still have too
;ier to move the cash, hence the sacrifice.
sale last week must be sure to come this
ns to offer you.
price, and some of them will be cut just
I be at least from 25 to 50c. on the dollar if
I A L S:
ice.
idies, col'd, at l-3 off.
white Parasols at cost.
te Slippers for Ladies
and Children at cost.
I or sent on approval during this sale.
id Bras,
~uilding, Boyce Street,
-y, S. C.
CONDENSED
ments of the Condition of
COMERCIAL .BANK
Newberry, S. C,
he Close af Business June 14, 1907.
JRcES. LIABILITIES.
$402,728 55 Capital Stock $50,00000
3,107.87 . UndivIded profits
S.1 less expenses 54,924.33
3,116.93 Unpaid dividends 745.00
t Cashier's checks '65.00
21,333.82 Deposits, individ
. -. ual 4320,443.57
$43u,287.17 Deposits, Banks 4,109.27
$430,287.17
Son Savings Deposits.
TARD, Pres. 0. B. MAYER, Vice-Fre&.
J. Y. McFALL, Cashier.
mney Saved!.
i buying two pieces of SheetMui
e one piece free, making three ecs
it of two.
hina and Glassware5
y seconds when you can get the first
the same price.
00 paper and cloth bound Books .
cheap; also have a large stock of
and Crepe Paper at the very ?ow
If you are looking for Post Cards
tore is the only place in town that
id all of the newest things out. Look
and then come to the Book Store
I can't save you money.
jes Book Store1. -