The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-10-01

Pcrilous Advcnturcs of 1.-The OLD Re
former" on It's Journey from An.
dcrson to ABbcvillc-Thc Old Can
non Capsized, In II Gully.
On Friday. September 26, Capt. John
f.. Brownlcc and Mr.. Henry Powers, Of
Antreville, went to the Democratic mass
meeting at Anderson Court House to
hear the speeches'of the State canvaSsers,
and especially to bring back with them,
for use here OIL Tuesday next Mt our
grand rally Of the Abbevillc Democracy,
the famous old cannon, "Tho Old Re-
former This piece Of ordnance is well
known to our people. It's voice has
been heard in these upper counties since
1888. 1t has doomed at many an ante
beilum muster. barbecue and Mexican
veterans reunion, and in more recent
times it has reused the echoes at Demo-
cratic mass meetings. 1t did good work
in 1876 in more counties han ono.
Next Tuesday it Wilt open its mouth and
utter nc uncertain sound in the interests
Of Democracy. -.
1t was in use mt the Anderson meet
ing. After the speeches were ended
Capt. Brownlcc obtained possession Of
the "Rcformcr," hut found that its
wheels lacked tires, aud TINT he could not
haul it without placing it on II wagon.
On a wagon it was placed. but rs there
WAS no frame suitable.i had to be tied
to the standards. Jerry. Capt. Brown
lc"'s driver, was told to mount the are.
formcr' n-straddlc and drive on. Jerry
was rather afraid. He said MAS
John, whar de trigger? Fsc skccrcd to
ride dat ting. Use skeercd to sit down
OH dc trigger"
of he went, however, and the wagon
went safely for about tHo miles, when
"crash !! went the wagon-body and the
artillery came to a stand-still. Fence
rails were appropriated or confiscated,
and placed under the cannon, and away
ven Jerry riding the "Reformer' again.
At the first rough hill the fence rails
broke, and another halt was called. a
fresh supply Of rails was contiscatcd and
the artillery moved on. Whenever n
steep hill had to be assembled the cannon
slipped back, and all hands had to get
ont and help it forward; and when CO.
ing down the other side the cannon
slipped forward and Jerry had to shout
for help. The kindly half-moon lent
her aid, and in spite Of many drawback
and delay the artillery reached the An
dcrson-Abbevillc line, mar Mr.. Strick-
lands. Here the Captain called for
Strickland, and he readily answered and
checrfully helped to put the cannon in
better fix. Green poles we're cut and
notchcd to fit the standards. The 'Oh
Reformer'' was finally placed on the
poles and off the party went over n bean
tiful road, sure Of no furtiic3. brcakdpyn
Just three miles from the Captains house
jerry, who was some distance behind,
raised a terrible yclG Baek went the
advance guard, end found the wagon
and annon anti mules all in n deep
gully! Jerryhad overcome bis fear Of
the trigger and had fallen asleep and
driven the artillery into the gully ! "Not
a drum was heard, not a funeral note"
but the Captain ru"fuiiy left the "Oid
Reformcr'' in tl,c dfich ana ~'bittcrfy
thought. Of the morrow" when he would
have to return with several hands and
draw the amor out Of the gully. Next
day the thing was done. The cannon
was safely conveyed to Antreville. Capt.
Brownlcc has now had the wheels put
to rights, and on Monday evcring he
will come to Abbeville, with sixty red
shirts as an escort to the 'Oid Reformer,"
whose voice will be heard more than
once between A~ntreville nndsAbbevitte.