William Cantelo
Photo credit: Barry Cantelo
William Cantelo (possibly pictured above) was the inventor of an early form of machine gun. Cantelo kept a laboratory in the basement of the pub he ran in Southampton, England, and neighbors would often hear sounds like rapid gunfire coming from below. Sometime in the 1880s, Cantelo told his sons he was going on a business trip to try to sell his new invention and was never seen again.
It was first assumed that Cantelo had met with an accident on his travels, until his sons saw a newspaper photograph of another inventor named Hiram Maxim. Maxim is credited with creating the Maxim Gun, a type of machine gun. And he bore an uncanny resemblance to William Cantelo.
Cantelo’s sons certainly believed that Maxim was their father and hired a private investigator to establish the truth, without success. There is also some evidence that Maxim visited Southampton and may have met Cantelo, if, indeed, he wasn’t Cantelo. Whatever the truth, Hiram Maxim died an extremely rich man, while William Cantelo’s sons inherited a pub with bullet holes all over the basement.
Like I said, I believe the man just may have wanted to get away from family for a while...like forever!
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Key Lime pie anyone?
7 comments:
Maybe his sons were mooches and he wanted shed of them.
Well, that is interesting. To bad we don't have a photo of Cantelo to compare with. The kitchen is nice, and save me a slice of pie. Well make that a sliver. Believe it or not, I've never tasted Key Lime pie:))
Sure sounds like someone who wanted to disappear and not be found.. I would love a piece of Key Lime Pie. We got lucky and missed a big portion of the snow storm - it stayed mostly south of us.
Key Lime Pie? oooooh, yes please. Oh, and interesting article.
Hey Gorges...
I'm thinking the same thing. Maybe even some foul play?
Thanks fr stopping by this morning!
Hey Mamahen...
I think you are going to like it for sure.
Thanks for coming over this morning!
Hey Linda...
Glad you dodged the snow...this time. It's coming though.
Thanks for the visit this morning!
Hey Momlady...
I figured you might like it. Seems to fit ya somehow, and I mean that in a good way!
Thanks for dropping by this morning!
Good mystery! There are a few possibilities here, double life, greedy or just done with that portion of his life. Love this mysteries.
Coffee in the kitchen sounds good and I haven't had Key Lime pie in ages.
Hey Jo...
Endless possibilities, for sure.
Thanks, dear, for dropping by this morning!
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