A man engaged in magnet fishing, Nate DeMontigny, made a startling discovery while fishing from a bridge. Magnet fishing involves using a strong magnet attached to a rope to search for magnetic items. Upon pulling up a metal container, Nate initially thought it was a cosmetics case but decided to open it before discarding it. To his surprise, he found a Derringer pistol inside, a small firearm known for its ability to fire one or two rounds.
The Derringer pistol, named after its inventor Henry Deringer, gained notoriety as one was reportedly used by John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Nate speculated that the gun might have been discarded in the river due to fear of being caught with it, considering it still had a tag attached. He promptly contacted the local police, who retrieved the weapon for examination.
The Bridgewater Police Department will hold onto the gun for about a year to see if anyone claims it before deciding its fate. If Nate is allowed to keep it, he plans to restore and display it in a shadow box, considering it one of his most significant finds. He mentioned that officers informed him he could reclaim the gun if it comes back clean.
Magnet fishing, popular among enthusiasts in the US, serves not only as a way to discover valuable items but also aids in clearing rivers and lakes of metallic debris that could harm the waterways.
