The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-20
Stealing n Cannon.

1
| The battle of Princeton occurred Jan.
Is, TIT. Several of the cannon were left
ON the grounds and some of them still
remain. In 1872 one was taken to the
town of New Brunswick, IA miles dis
tant, to defend the town against the
| British cruisers. After that the cannon
remained there until after some 80 years,
some students of Princeton College de-
cded that it belonged to Princeton and
| accordingly visited New Brunswick one
night and carried it off. A few days ago
the students Of Rutger college at New
Brunswick concluded that they would
recapture the cannon, which had been
planted in the college campus at Prince
ton. One Of the students thus tells the
story: -
Nobody in the wagon knew the road !;
we just trusted to luck, and after getting
tw miles out of the way once we reached
Princeton about one O'clock in the morn
ing. The old town was as still as death,
and you can bet we made no noise then.
We passed two or three wayfarers, but
the boys slowed themselves in the bot
tom of the wagon, and l guess they
thought it was an empty manure cart.
1t had no springs and it made enough
noise to waken the whole town. When
we got to the grounds we stationed four
watchmen round the campus, one in
front OF each dormitory. and got to work
digging right away. When we had the
gun about half dug out, we heard two or
three students coming up the sidewalk
toward the dermitories. The order was
given to lie Hat. TAere was no moon, and
The night was very dark. Those fellows
l guess, were pretty tight. We heard
them go up stairs, and directly some-
thing ratified down the steps. making an
awful noise. 1t was probably coal scut-
tie that one OF them kicked.
When every thing WAS quiet we
went to work again. We were an hour
getting it out of the hole. 1t weighs
1,0S8 pounds. Then we sat and looked at
it. Our united strength couldn't lift it.
A heavy erowbar was bent lifting the
butt. Finally, tying ropes around it
and getting a long purchase on it, we
moved it ten feet. After long series OF
pulls, about ten feet at time, we sue
ceeded in getting it to the wagon, 300
yards off. Then we had great time up
ending it into the wagoI. The driver
did the best OF the lifting.
Then we shook hands ell round and
started. 1t was about four O'Clock. The
day was just breaking when we reached
Kingston, two and half miles away, and
we got to New Brunswick about quar-
ter past 1O. We uploaded the cannon
right at the college door, and marched
into recitation without saying q word,
but in a very dilapidated condition,
none of us having mad a wink OF sleep.
When the recitation was through and the
students came out there was a great
scene. 1t got around what had been
done, and as '"Seventy-seven" (the
scientific class of 1870 made her 'ap-
pearance she got three cheers. We nine
were mounted on the shoulders of the
fellows and carried around the cannon,
they singing, "HurrahI hurrah! Well
shout the jubileep
Then the Juniors and upper-elass men
carried the canaon into the recitation
room and laid 1t down at President
Campbelps door. Three cheers were
given for the success of the expedition,
and three more that Princeton might
never get it back again; and then the
professors gathered around and congrat-
ulated the class. 1--WE have hid it now
aud before Princeton shall get it again
Chinese could use it for a hitching post"
This was all the information the en-
thusiastic student would give, butit is
known that q subscription list is being
circulated around New Brunswick for
money in order tu bed the gun In solid
masonry, and thus defeat all effotts Of
Princeton to reclaim it,.
Princeton is greatly excited over the
seizure, and the professors are doing
their best TO quiet the students, lest d
serious riot between the TIVE colleges
results, and it is said that DIR. MeC0sll
has written to Prof. Campbell, asking
that the cannon be returned.
In the meantime anew complication
has arisen by the discovery that the gun
captured by the students is not the one
taken from New Bruins wick. Like other
pious pilgrims before them, the students
deyotions have been paid at the wrong
shrine.
The Princeton students and profess
ors and also the citizens are much ex-
cited over the affair and have instituted
legal action against Rutger college. The
President of Rutger college has In turn
sent word that the cannon is not now on
the grounds OF the college, and that he
would do all in his power-to compel the
students to obey the laws of the State
nd conntru