shot-at

Updated: May 12, 2025

I have purchased more than one "perpetual motion" myself. Many persons will remember Mr. Paine "The Great Shot-at" as he was called, from his story that people were constantly trying to kill him and his water-gas. There have been other water gases too, which were each going to show us how to set the North River on fire, but something or other has always broken down just at the wrong moment.

P. T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnum - The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries,: Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages