The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-15
RICHMOND'S ARM0RY.
HISTORY OF THE TURKISH STONE
CANNON-5Al
They FInd More Appropriate Place mt
Last Interesting "Reminiscences.

Originally Intended for the University
They FInd More Appropriate Place
Last Interesting "Reminiscences.
Ia front of the Regimental Armory
on the corner of Seventh aud Marshal
streets. in this city, stand two larg'
stone balls spherical in shape. abou
twenty-four inches in diameter, ant
mounted upon stone pedestals. An
other of like form aud dimensions
stands at the rear end of the building
on Marshall street. The two on Seventh
street have history worth preserving
but the importance Of that on Marshal
is fortuitous. and is due only to tn,
dignity borrowed from its sscciatior
with the former. The three afford ap
propriate establishment TO a building
devoted TO military purposes, and from
their size and consequence are apt TO
attract the notice OF pissers-by. Abot
sixty five years ago Commodore Jess
ID. Elliott. OF the United States navy
was cruising in the Mediterranean, IN
command Of the old frigate Constitu.
ton. While at Constan;iIople he saw
some of these stone cannon balls lying
about the old Notifications at the mouth
of the Bcsphorous. the neglected repre-
sentatives of an effete artillery system
The thought occurred to him that
he would bring some of them to Amer
lea as curious relics OF the OttOmar
Empire. He secured two and brough
them to Norfolk. Va. at the end of hi.
cruise. From Norfolk they were sent
To Richmond with the request that the,
should be presented to the Uniyersts
of Virginia. Why he desired to make
this disposition of them does not ap-
pear. 1t would seem they suited a
military rather than purely literary
institution. They were landed at
Rockets, 10 Richmond. about the year
1928. The authorities of the University
were notified Of their arrival aud OF the
purpose Of Commander Elliott. They
were intended for the adornment Of the
beautiful lawn in front Of the rotunda
at that place.
At that time there was no railroad by
which these heavy masses of stone could
he easily transported to such distance.
If they were taken to Charlottesville it
would BE- in ore of these large noun
tain wagons. which then did all the
carrying trade between the cities Of the
east aud the western pant of the State.
The cost Of this transportation
was comparatively great, and the au-
thorllies Of the University did not feel
that they could afford the expense.
Their new college hadb cen in operation
only few years, and needed all the
money the State could spare to insure
its success. Silt was the big stone
Turkish cannon balls lay for years in
the mud at Rockets. neglected and
dshonored. Could they have gwen ex
preston to certain emotions they would
have demanded transportation back to
the banks of the BOsphorus, where the
beauties of the Golden Horn would have
been more to their taste than the muddy
shores of the James
The influential aud wealthy house Of
Dunlop, Moncure * Co.. owned at that
nme large wharfs at Rockets, Just east
of the present james River Steamboat
Company S landing. They here com
mOdated an immense traffic in sugars
aud molasses between Louisiana, Cuba
and Richmond. These stone balls hav-
ing been long left neglected on their
and no claim being set up by
the University. the State or the city,
they felt that they had the best title to
them. In the year 1888 Mr.. Henry
Moucure. Of that house. erected for his
own use, on the sOuthwes. corner OF
Seventh and Marshall streets. what was
then considered an elegant private
dwelling. IL was a large square. two
story brick building, with four rooms
on floor. occupying. capacious
grounds. with the kitchen. stables snd
outhouses common to such establish
ments at that day. As soon as
his new residence was ready for
use Mr.. Moucure had hauled up
from Rockets the Turkish stranger
and gave them more honorable recog-
milton. He had pedes'als made aud
placing them on the sidewalk. one on
each side of the front OF the house.
mounted the cannon balls on them. He
afterwards had a third one made az
nearly alike the Others as could be, ard
placed il on Seventh street. at the south
ern corner Of his lot. The latter is
easily distinguished from those that
came from COnstantinople by the tex
ture Of the stone and its imperfect
contour. Here these halls remained
for nearly forty years. the admiration
Of the town and q wonder to strar z re-
Upon the death of the late Colonel
John Amber, who lived in picturesque
ED mansion then standing upon the
present site of Mr.. X A. Lancaster S
residence. Mr.. MoDcure gave up his
newly built house and took possession
Of the former, he having married a
daughter of its deceased owner.
The house built by Mr.. Moncure.
after having many owners. became
at last the property of a gentleman now
living. who caused it to be supplauted
By structures Of a more useful and
profitable character. The pedestals and
balls. however. having been located on
the sidewalks by Dir. Moncure. aud
having long occupied public thorough
fare, thereby became tie property Of
the city. After the destruction OF the
they had so long been adorn
ing. they should have been sent TO the
University, for which place they were
originally intended. But. inasmuch as
the city bad Just erected a public ar
mory in the same neighborhood, no
more appropriate position could have
been selected for their permaneor rest
ing-place.
These veterans of former age must
be very old. After the invention Of
artillery the tirst projectiles used were
made OF stone. and tnis Yves sometime
before the year 400. Iron cannon
balls were introduced very soon after
tins date. The guns then in use were
Of so primitive a character that they
could not have STOOD the strain oil
charges necessary 10 propel sub.
stance as heavy as iron. Tie first
artillery pieces were called BON
Dards,r and were made of fiat wooden
slaves held together by iron strips a.
tie hoops support those Of barrel.
They were also lined inside with thin
sheets OF hammered iron. Stone was
found 10 be very effective, and, being
cheap, the use was long con
.inued. At the beginning of tue
Of these new engines
IF war, guys were made quite small.
but 81 perience soon taught the artiller-