A GATLING GUN
Entities extracted from this source (5)
Congressman Wallaceperson
2 claims cited from this source
a.k.a. Wallace
Bill Brownperson
1 claim cited from this source
a.k.a. Brown
Dr. Gatlingperson
1 claim cited from this source
Gen. Lew Wallaceperson
1 claim cited from this source
Samuel Morseperson
1 claim cited from this source
a.k.a. Morse
Chunks (1)
chunk 4331 · paragraph 0
A GATLING GUN
Dr. Gatling, the gun inventor, was in
Washington when Morse’s wire stretched a few
miles out into the country and back again. The
inventor of the telegraph had not then reached
the discovery of the ground connection. He
thought he must have a return wire to make a
circuit. Morse had spent his own money, his
wife’s money, and all he could get from rela-
tives. He needed more, and he applied to con-
gress. An appropriation of $30,000 hung in the
balance. It was in the hands of a committee of
five. Two were favorable; two were opposed.
The fifth was Congressman Wallace, of In-
diana, father of Gen. Lew Wallace, governor of
New Mexico about 1878. The Hoosier states-
man was absent when the deadlock occurred,
but he returned and voted for appropriation.
Morse got the money and made telegraphing
successful. But Wallace, by the act, dug his
political grave. He went back to his district —
the Richmond district, one of the strongest Whig
constituencies — and stood for re-election. The
democrats put up Bill Brown. Wallace and
Brown stumped the district together, and wher-
ever they spoke Brown would say :