Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-10
FIRST GONG N KNOxvILLE.
The Effect IL Had ON Men,
Horse, Chickens. Etc.
j. H. oro,ler in Knoxville Trlbuns

y. II. CrOzier IN knoxville Tribune.
The present Franklin House was
formerly called the Mansion House.
In the latter part Of the winter or
beginning Of the spring Of 1889, the
landlord purchased a { gong to summon
his boarders aud others to their meals.
This was a considerable curiosity, and
the source Of a great deal OF amuse-
ment.
All who have heard d gong, land
who has not at this day. know that a
soft roar is the FIRST sound Of the gong
this roar increases in volume rapidly
land finally a tremendous banging
winds up the discOrdant music. The
Mansion House being situated imme
diately in front Of the Courthouse,
some amusing scenes occurred with
the people who attended court, when
the gong was a new thing. Sometimes
there would be a hundred people
between the Mansion House and the
Courthouse attending an auction.
About dinner time, when the gong
would sound, they would scamper of
at the top Of their speed, running, as
though to save their lives, and would
not stop until the gong ceased its
music or they had reached a hundred
yards of.
One Sunday in the month Of May, l
went up to the Mansion House, where
| then boarded. about dinner time.
The sun was bright and its warmth
was very genial and pleasant. There
we're six or eight wagons standing IN
front of the hotel; they belonged to a
company Of movers going to the West.
Their outfit was much better than
movers generally had. Their wagons
were new. strong and substantial;
their horses stout and in good order.
10 the company Nhere we're eight OF
ten men, some fifteen or twenty boys;
white, yellow and black, and some ten
or twelve women aud girls; some Of
the women having children in their
arms. The boys 10 the street wrest
ling, jumping and playing various
other feats Of agility; the women and
girls were either standingon the pave.
ment OF sitting on the stones; the mer
we're standing or sitting in chair.
) under tho portico Of the hotel. Pres
, emily the gong began 10 roar; the
/ horses pricked up their ears; the boy
: ceased their playing, and men, womer
/ and girls looked about in amazemeul
to ascertain what was the cause o
! such an unusual sound. Bang bangll
t bangll went the gong. The horse.
I started; the men ran TO them scream
ing vol at the top Of their voices; tn,
t boys jumped to their feet, and raj
! heller skelter, tumbling over on,
d another, exhibiting a great deal NOR
e activity than when they were playing
n the women aud girls scamped acros
e the street as fast as they oonld-it wa!
/ a scene Understandable confusion tina
can only be imagined. Fortunately
the horses we're checked up and n
injury done. The servant boy, VIII
beat the gong, performed his duty a
he was accustomed to do; he beatin
G 40 softer or louder than usual; h
q never waited for movers to get out Q
the way; the gong vas TO be soundeI
whenever the time came. As b
/, ceased beating, a driver Of one th
teams cried out to him, Look her,
is niger, If you make that noise agai
IF I'll smash your brains out with
IS rock" | told one Of the men that
II was the signal for dinner and that
1t would be repeated in half an hOuI
Ie But before the second gong sounde
y, tho movers we're out Of sight wiadin
their way to the great West.
In 1883 General Cannon and Nj
,f Polk were opposing candidates fC
Governor. General Cannon sent
% relation Of his, a Mr.. c., to Knoxvill
h to ascertain how the anvas was goin
on and to have some circulars printe,
Is His relative was one Of the worl
Is hypochondriacs | ever saw. He toll
d me that frequently when he went frol
his business TO hi home he would ca
d a servant to open the gats for him, f
s, fear he would die in the effort 10 rail-
81 the latch. He and an acquaintanC
81 reached Knoxville q little before ]
,e o'clock. Having been shown to the.
room, g., as the weather was TS
" warm, took off his cost and laid dow
le ON his bed to rest. HarkI the gon
I. AT the first sound y. leaped out
"a bed. Bang He ran TO the windo
and attempted TO jump out, but b
friend caught and held him until Ii
AZ diaeordant music of the gong cease
at Z. afterwards told me no never was
"a much alarmed in bis life; that Il
ty sound was the most terrific he he
d ever heard, anA il his friend had n
caught him he certainly would ha'
a, jumped out Of the window, for he vi
sure the whole house was iallir
II down.
" Mt. A. my partner in the. practic