Son of Daniel and Mary Tuttle

Husband of Kara Johnson

Father of James, Allen, Frederick, Emma, Carl, and Hiram.

HIRAM PARDOE TUTTLE, M.D, prominently identified with the medical profession in Tacoma, Washington, was born in Keokuk, Iowa, December 9, 1844. His father, Daniel Tuttle, who is now a respected resident of Watsonville, California, emigrated to the West in 1852, coming across the plains by ox team to the Golden State, and enduring all the hardships incidental to that journey. He was accompanied by his family, and they settled temporarily at Shasta, California, whence they removed three months later to a permanent settlement at what is known as the Twenty-one Mile House, on the Sacramento river, where they remained five years. In 1857 they removed to Watsonville, where the father still resides, enjoying, as the reward of his perseverance and industry, a comfortable income in his declining years.
The subject of this sketch was eight years of age when he experienced the hardships of a western journey, and may almost be said to be a son of the Golden State, where so many of his early years were passed. In 1860, at the age of sixteen, he entered the University of the Pacific at Santa Clara, at which institution he graduated in 1865. He immediately afterward entered the Toland Medical College, which is now the medical department of the University of California, at which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine and Surgery in 1868, carrying off the much coveted gold medal. The Doctor at once commenced his practice at Monterey, California, which now flourishing city was then in its infancy, although possessing that progressive spirit which has since made its name known and respected abroad. Here, the Doctor continued his labors until the spring of 1889, during which time he was local surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railroad. The development of that vicinity, however, was slow at first, too much so to suit the ambitious spirit of Dr. Tuttle, and it was then that, attracted by the phenomenal advancement of Washington, he cast his fortunes with Tacoma, where he has ever since remained, meeting with that marked success which is always the reward of conscientious and skillful work. In 1892 he was elected Health Officer for Tacoma, in which capacity he inaugurated a number of reforms and proved himself an efficient friend of the city. He is a member of the Pierce County Medical Society and of the State Medical Society, of which latter association he was elected Vice-President in 1892.
In 1866 the Doctor was married to Miss Kara A. Johnson, a lady of education and ability, who is a native of California, and they have five children, all promising young men and women.

An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 294

Inventor of "Thorite" Dies Very Suddenly

Dr. Hiram Tuttle, a resident of Tacoma for twelve years and well known throughout the East and West as the inventor of the powerful explosive "thorite" died very suddenly early yesterday morning, upon returning to his home, 709 South Nineteenth street, from a six week's vacation spent upon the ranch of his son, James M. Tuttle, of Buckley.

Dr. Tuttle reached the city on the morning train, and proceeded immediately to his home, stopping for a pleasant exchange of greetings with a neighbor and then entering his own home, where Mrs. Tuttle had prepared breakfast in expectation of his arrival. He appeared to be in the very best of spirits, but complained of a peculiar feeling about the heart. Within a few seconds afterwards, his head dropped, the muscles relaxed, and thinking that her husband had fainted, Mrs. Tuttle placed him on the floor and sent for Dr. J.L. Powell. The physician found him dead. Heart stimulants were administered, but without effect.

Prepared for Death

Death was due to dilation of the heart. Although he had never complained to his wife, he, himself, apparently knew that his heart was not strong, and added proof of this knowledge was found in the memorandum book, which contained his simple words: "If anything happens to me, notify A.Y. Tuttle." - the latter being his son, a resident of Seattle.

Dr. Tuttle was nearly 57 years of age. He was born in Iowa, December 9, 1844 and when but 9 years old crossed the plains with his parents in a prairie schooner, six months being spent on the journey to California, which was one of constant excitement. Immigrants belonging to the wagon train just ahead and the one just behind that of the Tuttle family being massacred by Indians. This was in 1852 and the memory of that early journey was never forgotten by Dr. Tuttle, even to its smallest details, although he was but a child at the time.

Upon reaching California, Dr. Tuttle's father established a hotel at Colusa some twenty miles from Sacramento. Dr. Tuttle obtained his education in California, graduating from the University of the Pacific at Santa Clara in 1865 and from the Toland Medical college of San Francisco in 1869, being awarded the gold medal for excellent scholarship at the latter institution. He took up the practice of medicine at Salinas and became very successful during the many years of his residence in California, gaining a wide reputation.

Investigating Explosives:
In 1889, Dr. Tuttle moved with his family to this city and located here permanently, taking up his profession and inventing in considerable real estate, both directly and in mortgages. When the financial panic of the early 90's came, the greater part of his fortune was involved and caused him considerable worry. A few years ago, when the Klondike fever as at its height, Dr. Tuttle began experimenting with chemicals in a small way at his office with a view to securing a powerful explosive suitable to frozen ground. Gradually, he became imbued with the excitement of the discoveries - which he was making and the result was that he discovered "thorite", a wonderful explosive which has met with great favor among the military authorities.

At the outbreak of the Spanish war, realizing the true value of the explosive which he had discovered, Dr. Tuttle communicated with the government at Washington and was immediately summoned to the capital city, where the ordinance department made arrangements for tests of this wonderful power which fully justified the claims it's inventor had made in it's behalf. It possessed special qualities, adapting it for use for projectiles intended to pierce the heaviest armor plate. Congress passed an act appropriating $50,000 for the purchase of Dr. Tuttle's invention, to be used in conjunction with the Isham shell. Certain provisions were embodied, however, as the result of conflicting interests in the ordinance department, which prevented the negotiations being carried to a successful conclusion at that time. The matter is still pending.

Dr. Tuttle made several trips to Washington in the interests of his invention and only returned in August from a six weeks' visit to the capital, going then to his son's farm for a rest.

Known in the East
The doctor is well and widely known throughout the East and in military and naval circles, numbering among his friends such men as General Miles, who is said to be a firm believer in thorite. While conducting his negotiations with the government, Dr. Tuttle continued his scientific investigations and has developed other wonderful explosives adapted to other purposes, but has kept these inventions to himself, largely owing to the unsatisfactory state of his negotiations with the government.

Dr. Tuttle is said by those who knew him intimately to have been one of the most brilliant men in his line. Those who knew him saw in him an exceedingly, energetic, ambitious man, who though during his brightest days possessed of considerable wealth, was nevertheless quiet and unostentatious and wholly unaffected. He was an optimist and invariably sought for the bright side of everything, thus doubly endearing himself to those who knew him intimately.
The funeral arrangements await the arrival Friday of Mrs. Emma Gaisford, a daughter, whose home is in Okanogan County. Besides his widow and Mrs. Gaisford, five children survive the deceased. They are James M. Tuttle, of Buckley, A.Y. Tuttle of Seattle, Frederick Tuttle, of Everett, and Carl and Hiram, two boys who have resided with their parents.

Tacoma Daily Ledger - October 10, 1901

∼Dr. Hiram Tuttle and the story of thorite

Dr. Hiram P. Tuttle was a medical doctor who had earned a medical degree in 1868 from the Toland Medical College in California and had practiced medicine in California until 1889, when he moved to Tacoma, Washington[1].
After about ten years of medical practice in Tacoma, he quit his practice and began experimentation with explosive compounds that might be suitable for use in the Klondike region in support of gold mining. He was successful in finding an explosive which he called thorite. While it is unknown whether thorite was ever used in gold exploration, he was able to interest the US military in its possible use in exploding munitions. Most of what is known of this history of thorite was found in available newspaper accounts which may not be entirely accurate, but will have to suffice until more detailed records are acquired.

The earliest article found regarding thorite appeared in the news in late February 1899[2], in which it was reported that thorite was presented to Admiral Pellisere of the British squadron at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. After exploding a portion of thorite in the open air demonstrating its great force, Dr. Tuttle then displayed how stable the compound was by first placing a red-hot poker in it, then pounding on it with a sledge hammer. Next an unfused shell was fired from a cannon on a British flagship against a rock cliff to show it would not detonate by force of expulsion from the cannon. This was followed by firing a fused shell against the cliff that exploded with much greater force. Finally a cannon, made by Dr. Tuttle from the axle of a car, was used to launch a one inch shell filled with thorite through a half-inch steel plate. Following this demonstration Dr. Tuttle traveled to Washington, D.C. and introduced his explosive thorite to the U.S. Army Ordnance Board.

In late June 1899[3], it was reported that thorite was being tested at the Sandy Hook proving grounds in New Jersey under the auspices of the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications of the War Department. Results of these tests were said to be satisfactory. Results of further testing of thorite were reported on July 12, 1899[4]. Thorite was placed in service shells and fired from an eight-inch gun both out to sea and through four-and-a-half inches of steel plate without causing the unfused shell to explode. These tests were meant to determine the feasibility of using thorite as a charge in an armor piercing role. A news article on July 29, 1899[5] reported some of the details of a report by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications on recent tests made at Sandy Hook. Fragmentation of shells exploded with thorite was found to be satisfactory and a program to fully examine it was planned.

An August 1899[6] news report included details of more successful tests of thorite. Thirty nine pounds of thorite was used to fill a twelve inch unfused service shell that was fired out to sea. The thorite survived the pressure of the propelling charge without premature detonation. Additional successful tests were made by firing thorite from a five-inch-siege gun, a Sims-Dudley powder-pneumatic gun and an Ames rifle. In addition to tests of thorite, it was mentioned that tests were pending for the so called Isham shell, which was intended to allow penetration of armor plating without detonation of any charge it was loaded with. This shell was the invention of a civilian engineer, Willard S Isham.

In October 1899, following this phase of the testing of thorite, plans were made to manufacture thorite in the Philippines to aid in the battle with Philippino insurgents during the Spanish-American War[7,8]. It was said that the raw materials for thorite had been shipped to the Philippines where it would be processed and loaded into 3.2 caliber shells there. Dr. Tuttle, was to travel to the Philippines with a son and Lieut. Charles F. Parker, to assist with the manufacture of thorite. But, the War Department cancelled the order to produce thorite in the Philippines after a conference with the Secretary of War, Root, the Chief of Ordnance and the inventor, Dr. Tuttle[9]. Thorite was to now be manufactured at Sandy Hook. A news article on December 29, 1899[10] stated that Dr. Tuttle was kept from going to the Philippines by an order of General Buffington, the Army Chief of Ordnance, because of possible danger to his person. It was hoped that Dr. Tuttle would come to the east and manufacture thorite at Sandy Hook, but this was considered unlikely because Sandy Hook was a testing ground and not a manufacturing center. One news article[10] in late February 1900 stated that raw materials were to be sent to Dr. Tuttle to allow him to produce several thousand pounds of thorite for the war effort. It is unknown if this shipment was ever sent.

On February 8, 1900 a news article[11] announced that plans were made to test thorite at the US navy's Indian Head proving ground in Maryland. A ten-inch rifle was to have been loaded with an armor piercing shell loaded with thorite and shot at an eight or ten inch thick plate set up to resemble a section of a ship. It is unknown whether this test occurred because no published accounts of its results have been found yet. The article also mysteriously states that "the army made some experiments with thorite at Sandy Hook without sensational results". No reason is given for this negative assessment. An April 10, 1900 news article[12] stated that Rear Admiral O'Neil, chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, had yet to decide on any high explosive. It also said that thorite had given highly satisfactory results, but there was a concern that the ammonia in it might be corrosive to metals. A Lieut. Strauss at the Indian Head proving ground was ordered by the Admiral to begin tests of any thorite reaction with metals.

In April 1900 Dr. Tuttle offered to sell the right to manufacture thorite to the government for $150,000. Senator Proctor, of Vermont, submitted a bill in congress to appropriate $500,000 to purchase the rights, but the Ordnance Bureau of the army opposed it because they were looking for a superior explosive[12]. General Miles, head of the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications, made what were considered sensational charges against the Ordnance Bureau of the army for refusing to accept thorite[13]. The general thought that the reluctance to accept thorite came from a preference by army ordnance officers to only accept inventions that originated from fellow officers. General Miles had tasked an officer to proceed to Manila in the Philippines with Dr. Tuttle to establish a plant to manufacture thorite, but the order was revoked by General Buffington, chief of the army Ordnance Bureau. Subsequently, Dr. Tuttle was said to have been considering offers from the governments of Great Britain, Russia and Germany to purchase rights to thorite.

In the midst of the controversy between General Miles and General Buffington, congress reached an agreement on a fortifications appropriation bill. A Senate amendment to purchase the rights to thorite were stricken from the bill[14]. In January of 1901 another fortifications appropriation bill was being considered in the House which included a provision to purchase the rights to thorite for $100,000[15]. Representative Hemenway, from Indiana, was questioned about his support for thorite and said that while General Buffington said there were other high explosives which were the equal of thorite, he had also recently contended that thorite was unequaled and unexcelled[16].

A June 1901 news article[17] claims the controversy over thorite between the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications and the Bureau of Ordnance had grown bitter. A report had been prepared describing test results for thorite at Sandy Hook conducted by a Major Rogers Birney. General Buffington would not release the report but his board felt that thorite did not meet a reasonable degree of efficiency, so no further tests were warranted. The Board of Ordnance and Fortifications, under General Miles, were still recommending the use of thorite. A brief news article[18] in August 1901 stated that the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications had reported adversely on thorite and that the explosive maximite would be used instead. No reason was given for the change of mind of the board.

After a six week stay in Washington, D.C. where he was promoting thorite, Dr. Tuttle returned to Washington state sometime in August 1901. After spending a six week vacation at the home of his son James M. Tuttle, Dr. Tuttle returned to his home in Tacoma on October 9, 1901 where he was met by his wife. While waiting for her to serve breakfast, he passed away from heart failure.

In 1902 and 1903 amendments were proposed to bills in congress to pay the heirs of Dr. Tuttle for the use of thorite, but they met with defeat[19,20].

1) An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 294

2) MORE POWERFUL THAN DYNAMITE
New Explosive Powder Invented.
San Francisco Call, Volume 85, Number 83, 21 February 1899

3) TEST HIGH EXPLOSIVES
Spokane Daily Chronicle
June 29, 1899

4) New York Times
July 12, 1899, Wednesday

5) New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
July 29, 1899

6) NEW EXPLOSIVE TESTED
The Sun (New York)
Aug 9, 1899

7) SOLDIERS TO USE THORITE
The Evening Times (Washington)
Oct 31, 1899

8) THORITE WILL BE USED
The Times (Washington)
Nov 1, 1899

9) To make Thorite at Sandy Hook
New York Times
Nov 4, 1899

10) A WONDERFUL EXPLOSIVE
The Weekly Argus (Crawfordsville, Indiana)
Feb 24, 1900

11) MUCH EXPECTED FROM THORITE
The Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Feb 8, 1900

12) TRYING HIGH EXPLOSIVES
Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Apr 10, 1900

13) Miles Accuses Ordinance Bureau
Prefers Charges for Failure to Secure Rights in New Explosive, Thorite
New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
April 21, 1900

14) Fortifications Bill
Evening Star (Washington, DC)
19 May 1900

15) The Seacoast Defences
The Evening Times (Washington)
Jan 31, 1901

16) IN CONGRESS TODAY
The Evening Star (Washington, DC)
31 Jan 1901

17) Bitter Controversy.
The Bureau of Ordinance and the Board of Ordinance and Fortifications Disagree
Fort Worth Morning Register (Fort Worth, TX)
June 8, 1901

18) Board Reports Adversely
Evening Star (Washington, DC)
27 Aug 1901

19) NOTHING FOR MRS TUTTLE
Seattle Times
May 11, 1902

20) Morning Olympian (Olympia, WA)
February 21, 1903