The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-04
AN OLD TIME 4TH OF JULY
WHEN THE STATE WAS YOUNG
AND TIE PEOPLE PATRIOTIC.
A Grand barbecue, Firing of Gums
and Reading OF Ihe Declara-
ton OF Independence.
TO the Editors of the Appenl.

Yours is the Oldest paper now pub
lished in Memphis, but Tor numerous
years before it was started the ratri-
olic citizens ct Memphis regularly
commemorate d the Atm OF July in a
manner creditable to themselves and
our town. On, those were the good
old times, whsn people were honest
aud virtuou3.
Fifty years ago Memphis was buta
small burg, and located pretty much
all north of Market street. Missis-
sippi Row (now dubbed Front Row
for fhort), from 0vsrton to Market
street, east side, contained all tie
business house,, whether dry goods,
groceries, hardware, drugs, etc. Win
chester street from Front to Market
Square, was the leading cross street,
had the Enquirer Office, City Hotel,
principal saloon, and other public
places. North Miss ssippi still had
many Indian tribeP, whose trade was
considerable. Our old friend j. ].
Rawlings has frequently told all about
this in the APPEAL,
My oldest brother, by inheritance,
had a natural tact for mechanical
work in iron, whether in forging or
on the turning lathe, although at mat
time but large boy. Such a thing
as cannon of any size was unknown
in the town, hence he went to work
and made one from piece Il an old
c,st iron shaft, turned it off 10 proper
siZ9 and shape and reamed out the
bore, about II inch, and some IL
inches deep, not forgetting the touch
hole. He also made little gun car
riage and mounted the gun on it.
There were four brothers II US, and
We we're the cannoneers. All this, l
think, it was in the spring OF 1887. In
tnose days Maj Gen. E. P. Gaines,
United States Army, was prominent
militia y parsonage and occasionally
visited Memphis, near which he held
some property interests. He first
prof ected the routes over which the
Memphis and Charleston railroad and
main connections, also the Memphis
end Little Rock railroad, now run.
Gen. Gaines was always a welcome
visitor to Memphis. He came here in
June, 1887, as / find in my little diary
this entry on June 20, 1887, "Saluted
Gen. Gaines with the cannon, fifty
guns" Our merchants furnished the
powder, and we boys and the little
cannon made it belch from its nozzle.
To say that we felt our Importance
would be only admitting the fact.
Next entry in the diary reads:
"July 4th (lS37) we fired the cannon
at the barbecue AT L. Simpsons spring.
Began firing between and 5 O'Clock
in the morning, Robert Lawrence
read the Declaration OF Indt psndencs,
drawn July 4, l776; John d. Graham
read the Grafton; Q. d. Mclean read
about 100 toasts, volunteer and re2u-
lar: cannon fred about $50 times"
No doubt the EnquirGr's next issue
gave quite a full account OF the cele.
bration-a half column or more. The
enterprisiDg reporter OF today would
fill two or three columns.
My diary makes quite leap, for
the next record reads as follows:
"July 4, 1912. Whew 4th July has
come at last; went to see the vo!un'
teer companies march went to church
and heard the address; saw the vol.
unteer companies presented with flags
the Memphis Blues by the ladies,
and the Eagle Rife Guards by The
gentlemen of our patriotic city. Mrs.
Mcintosh addressed the Blues, and was
replied to by Capt. Joseph R.Willisms;
the ladies then presented to them
their flag; the Guards were addressed
by Thomas Avery, and was replied to
by Capt Z. f. Ruth; he (Avery)
t6en presented their banner; they
marched all over town, then
went TO the barbecue on Court
Square, where we all ats and drank
plentiiully. Oh, that Fourth of Ju'y
would come once a month, but they
are few and far between" Don't
criticise the composition, please; the
writer was but boy of fifteen, then.
About four years after that celeora-
ton, the Blues and Guards Chaving
preserved their organizations and were
the pride Of the eiiizens), responded
promptly 10 the call OF their country
to give Mexico few Lessons in war,
and quite number Of our brave boys
left their bones bleaching on the
plains OF Mexico, others we're wounded
and returned home.
Today is another glorious Fourth OF
July, but what have our good'citizens
Of the present, with all their wealth
and prosperity, done TO commemorate
it? J. p. p.