Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-09
MEMORIES OF THE PAST.

Happenings and Doings of the SfIr-
 ring Days of War Time in This CitY
 An old CItiZen's "Reminiscences
 The Wrought Iron Cannon of she
 Consolidated shops - Buried For
 Kears-AnotherN Negro Boy.
 The accounts printed in the COURIER short time ago of the adventures of the little negro boy of cast iron that was formed at the Consolidated road shops in this city dur- ing the stirring times of '61, have started much discussion among old residents whose memories of these existing days are still fresh, and many interesting "reminiscences of the doings of those days in this city have been related.
 A well known citizen, who was then 8 prominent employe of the Consolidated road shops, conversed most entertainingly with a representative of the COURIER a few days ago upon this interesting subject. He re- lated many tales of how the people were stirred by every new development to pitch almost of frenzy.
 When the dark days of the struggle ar.. rived, there was, as is we'll known, general appearance of discontent throughout the North, and mobs of unruly citizens openly defed the law in their declarations that the
 
 luther the best interests of the Union aGd bring hostilities to speedy close.
 Many stories are told of the excitement caused by the call for more troops when the struggle was slowly going against the north- ern forces. The orders for drafting men were received in various of the large cities by open dem onstrations. Mobs took possession of the streets, and the seeds of diseord and dissen- sion appeared to spring up and flourish everywhere. This critical period is wildly remembered by old residents of New York city, where the riotous demonstrations were most violent.
 The employees of the Consolidated shops in this city had long before that time forged a huge cannon of wrought iron, which they brought out to salute and celebrate every hews of victory. It was what might be used to dangerous ends if it should happen to fall into the hands of mob. When the draft ing riots broke out here the men at the carshops were fearful lest the rioters should capture their big cannon. At that time there was @ small storage building upon the edge of the excavation occupied by the round turntable, had no cellar, and at night when all was quiet, tunnel was made un- der it from the side of the turntable hole. Into this was drawn the gun and then earth was replaced in such manner not to ap- pear to have been disturbed. There it lay buried for long time, and several, who have asked upon the fate of the cannon, say that it in ali probability is there now. No one, the gentleman continued, remembers of it's being dug up, and it seems to have been forgotten by those who knew of it's hiding place. It is one Of the interesting features of that time which was so full of exciting and long-to~be-remembered events.
 Another of the happenings of these times has monument that may be seen even at the present time as fresh and expressive as ever. After the return of Dr. Skiff's little T.. II passage before Massachusetts troops from Boston to Baltimore, another, almost an ex- act counterpart, was cast in the Consolidated shops This was given by MT. M. M. Rounds, then superintendent at the shops, to Mr. George Hotchkiss, another of our noted citi- zens, who resides at the corner of Orange and Bradley streets. He had it firmly fastened to his fence before his house. But this little iron servitor, like it's twin brother upon Dr. Skiff's porch, had caught the eye of the college boys and they determined to pos sess it. There seemed to be strange fascination for Yale students in these two dusky representatives of the race whose bonds of slavery had been broken and cast off by the strong arm of the North. MT. Hotchkiss' darkey was stolen much the same as Dr. Skiff's was, but it's fate was more mild. About two years after the abduction MT. Hotohkiss' family were awakened one night in the wee sms hours by roise upon their front porch. When they arose in the morning they found that their missing negro boy had returned and, like a way worn prod igal, was leaning wearily against the door.
 MT. Hotchkiss was, of course, delighted to find his wandering boy again. This time, however, he was not so rash as to display it too prominently before his residence, but fastened it to the fence between his house and that of MT. Amos F. Barnes, his neigh bor. Here it has we'll stood, a memorable figure and object of much curiosity. Iu it's uplifted hand it holds small club and is as faithful and constant @ guardian ss one could