Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-11-22

FOUNDER brass canon was well dis
guised and moved near the fair ground,
When ali was ready to start means were
used to divert the attention of the agent
until the arms could be removed so far
away that he would be unable to over
take them. He soon missed them. how
ever, and started in hot pursuit, and
feeling the Importance of his Office
Drunk as he was), he hurried along
until he overlook the leans, and man
aged 10 get astride of the canon, and
huzzaked Justify. But it was soon nee
essaFg to put. him in the wagon, and by
the time he got to Dayton he was so OBJ
fdsticated he knew little of what vas
done with the arms.
The delegate, having hurried ahead
to Dayton, had everything arranged to
get the arms aboard the cars before
daylight. AS the general freight agent
of The railroad was an ardent free-soiler,
he was let into the secret of the plot,
and he volunteered TO go along with The
arms to Chicago. and arrange for their
transpoi tation into Iowa, they could
not be safely sent through Missouri
The agent returned III the wagon to
Lebanon, believing The arms would
soon be returned in thorough repair.
The arms reached Iowa. and the small
arms were taken by volunteers, who
started to the aid OF the Kansas settlers.
DR.. Martin writes me: ''A six FOUNDER
brass canon was under the control of
General James 81. Lane when he and
his company came on toward Kansas.
by way of Iowa and Nebraska, When
near the line, they were pursued by U.
S. troops, and to keep the canon out of
their hands, it was hid in the waters OF
Rock Greek, and escaped their search.
''One of our citizens was with the
company, and came on to Topeka, and,
knowing l was chairman of the State
Central COMMITTEES he informed me
where the canon was hid, and offered
to 60 after it, and turn it over to me
if paid for his work. l agreed to pay
him, and he brought in this historic gun.
1t is now in the armory in Topeka. 1
have 40 doubt that this is the gun you
spoke to me about, as my recollection
is that it came from some. part Of OHIO
at the time when Genral Lane was in
the recruiting business for the relief of
Kansas. He visited Indiana, Ohio and
Iowa, and it was on that occasion that
the six-pounder was furnished for the
defense of bleeding Kansas.
''The old canon is a great favorite
here, and is considered quite a land
mark in Topeka history. and put to use
on all public Publications.
''The old gun is still dangerous when
trifed with, as was proven short time
since. We loaned it to Clay Center at
the reunion of their company of the G.
A. R., and, in sham battle, the old
lady. by a stroke. of bad management,
went off prematurely, and blew off one
pour fellows hand, and, strange to say,
he was man who had gone through
the Rebellion on the Confederate side,
and had not received a wound .
After the settlement OF kansas troub-
les, General Lane told the delegate he
met from this county at Columbus that
the gun was in no engagement in kan
sas, but was of great service, by show
ing the border rufians that the settlers
were better prepared to defend them
selves than formerly. And, after the
war of the Rebellion, General Ewing
told him, also, that the cannon was af-
forward used by the Union troops in his
brigade in Missouri. The gun was once
taken by the rebels, but was afterward
recaptured, and did good service in the
Union cause.
Considering the means by which the
arms were got possession of, it is yet to
soon to give the particulars and names
of the men here or at Columbus vino
were parties to the plot in arranging to
get possession of the ar ms and sending
them to kansas. JAMES ASTON.
LEBANON, OHIo, November 9th, 1888.
The Virginia Election,