The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-07
OLD KICKAPOO GUN.
AN ANCIENT CANNON THAT HAS A
REMARKABLE RECORD.

1t Played sn Important Part In the strus-
g1cs Over Slavery In Kansas - Was "A
Bone of Contention Saved From tn.
Furnace by n Historical Society.
There was recently shipped from Chi
caGO to tho Kansas State Historical soci-
ETY. one of the most valuable relics of
the border ruff1an warfare It is the Old
kickapoo cannon which did service at
Old Kickapoo, Lawrence and other
points along the Missouri border during
Kansas early struggle for free state gov
eminent This old gun formed the bone
OF contention in many hard fought
contest between proslavery and anti
slavery forces, and large number of
the old citizens of Kansas can remember
tho stirring events clustering about the
history Of this remarkable implement Of
warfare.
Of late years the whereabouts Of the
old gun has been u matter of conjecture,
and by many it was thought to have
been lost. but it is due to the efforts Of
Colonel II. Miles Moore and Captain J.
&. Walkinshaw of Leavenworth that Old
kickapoo has been resurrected 1t now
rests i'll the rooms of the State Histor-
ical society in this city
The gun is six FOUNDER smooth
bore bTaeS cannon and was first stolen
from the United States arsenal at Lib
erty, Mo. and from there taken by Gen
eral Richardson's army to the sacking
and burning Of the old Free State hotel
at Lawrence. the Eldridgc House, after
it was indicted by the pruslavery grand
jury at Lecompton and ordered abated
us nuisance by Judge Cato, who had
the writ directed to Sheriff Jones, who
summoned the posse, mostly from Mis-
souri. to assist i'll executing the writ.
The bombardnent which followed
was one of the memorable conflicts Of
border rufiian days The cannon was
placed ON Massachusetts street, Law
renee, opposite. and trained ON the hotel
and fired by General David Atchison,
then United States senator from Mis-
souri, Tho first shot went over the roof
OF the hotel The second went through
"a second story window, and tho third
and fourth shots struck the stone walls,
scarcely making an impression ON them
Jones, seeing that he was not likely
to abate the nuisance that way, applied
the torch and destroyed the building.
The posse then scattered The Kickapoo
rangers then took charge of the cannon
and carried it to the village of kickapoo,
six miles up the river from Leaypn-
worth 1t was planted Gu top of IA high
bluff and there remained posted as a
menace to the free state men Of Ieaven-
worth.
Colonel II. Miles Moore first suggest
ed the plan to go up TO Kickapoo and cap
turc the gun. He communicated his;
scheme to few free state men, and ten
of the more daredevil ones, under the
leadership of Captain l. G.. Losee, we'll
armed with Sharp's rifles and revolvers,
made dash for Kickapoo one dark
night, took possession of tho cannon,
and without being discovered were soon
back III Leavenworth. Fearing the gun
might DO recovered by writ in the
hands Of tho sheriff or other proslavcry
officers of the county or territory the
gun carriage was hidden in the south
part Of Leavenworth and the cannon
buried i'll Dr. Davis old peach orchard,
where it remained short time.
Fearing danger. it vas dug up and
taken to Lawrence one dark night in
the bottom Of wagon covered with
hay. 1t remained but short time,
when it was taken back to Leavenworth
and placed i'll DR.. Davis temporary
graveyard until tho warclouds of 1856
and 1857 had passed away The gun
was then resurrected and turned over to
the society Of turner's of Leavenwurth,
in whose keeping it remained for long
series Of years On each recurring
Fourth Of July and other state occasions
and holidays cold Kickapoo" was
brought out, crowned with laurels and
escorted with music and joyous crowds
through the streets Of the city.
Finally the turner's relaxed in their
care Of the old cannon, and some i'll ad-
vised parties without authority loaned
the gun che day to the Leavenworth
Coal company for the purpose Of aiding
them to free the shaft of mass of
debris that had fallen and clogged ND
the hosting shaft. The gun was taken
down the mir shaft, loaded with solid
shot, placed upright and fired into the
mass above AS there was no chance for
a recoil, the gun burst, tearing huge
piece from the side of the old warrior.
The gun was returned to the turner's,
but they seemed to have no use for it,
and soon it was lost, and no one knew
anything about it. About five years ago
Colonel 81. Miles Moore was passing
down Shawnee street, Leavenworth, ands
in an alley near tinshop noticed fl
old cannon. He gave it close inspec-
ton and found it to be Old Kickapoo.
The turner's had sold it to the timer for