The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-04
A BURIED CANNON
Monster Gun Submerged in the
ouieksands Of South
Jersey.

A monster cannon Weighing over four
tons has been imbedded in the quicksands
of a creek about eleven miles south cI
Burlington, in his State. This monster
cannon was built at the Hanover plant
during the War of 1872. The Philadelphia
Inquirer gives an interesting deserip-
ton of the great cannon and its untimeiy
burial in the q~uicksands of South Jersey.
says the Newark Sunday CALI
This cannon was erected on the largest
plans then procurable in the service, and
deemed advisable. After an infinite
amount of labor with the then less skill
ful implements, this piece of ordnance,
weighing four tons, was cast, heavily
bored and slung upon a truck especially
built for it. It's destination was Philadel-
phia, where it was to be mounte for
harbor defense below the city, probably
at the Navy Yard or ~thereabouts, as En-
glish fleets had been seen off the Capes,
and. in fact, on several previous occasions
had attempted an attack on the city; but
owing to the difficulty in ascending the
channel. and through other causes, were
frustrated. Thus it was thought ex-
pedient to hustle the big gun through as
rapidly as possible.
When ready, six spans of horses ana
six yolSes of oxen were attached to the
truck. and it's thirty-ive mile jaunt to the
river was commenced. The teamsters and
mechanics and the guard escorting this
valuable piece were given two lays to
make the journey.
From the furnace to the Burlington
County Almshouse is about ten miles.
This lap was successfully covered
with no mnishap. Then a mile beyond the
County House flowed a swift but shall
low brook right across the road, neces-
stating fording. Here the farmers with
loaded wagons struggled down one grade
and up the other on their annual trip TO
market. The county appropriations were
few and far between, and bridges We're a
rarity. Whenever a stream could be
forded no bridge was put, but there were
lots of places forded needing bridges new
ertheless. This u-npretentious little run
was one-of them, on account of quick
sands.
With creaking of chains and blocks and
the cracking of whips, the cannon team
bore down the bank and spiashed into the
shallow run. The leading teams had
crossed over and were pulling on dry
ground again, but the great gun here be-
gan to show it's metal" for it had begun
to sink as soon as it struck the mire and
auicksands. The drivers hallooed at thelp
Horses and the teams splashed and iran
tically tugged in a hearty endeavor to
drag out the mass of metal. Lower and
lower sank the gun, until he truck was
entirely below the surface. Then the gun
itself became awash and finally it slipped
down and out of sight.
Assistance was summoned from Pen1Der-
ton, New Lisbon, Juliustown and the sur
rounding farms, but by the time they ar
rived the run had firmly packed the sand
about the gun, and there it remained. To-
day the road is built up and the run
known as "Cannon Run" to the surround
ing inhabitants is tunneled through a
heavy stone arch across the road; and
while reduced in size, it still gurgles
across the surrounding meadows until it
buries itself beneath a labyrinth of foil
age. in the Rancocas Creek.
one would not surmise, be he a stran-
gerSjf he should gaze into its waters. that
this run thwarted and cheated the United
States Government. Yet, this thing lit
really and truly did, and it's prize is sup
posed to be forty feet under it. Numerous
attempts were made to get the gun out,
and many plans were suggested by which
it could be removed, but it seems none
seemed feasible, or else more expensive
thar the gun; consequently it was left
severely alone.