The Holly chieftain., 1898-02-11
ZONE HORN CANNON"
THE END.

A short story Of the Revolutionary war
In New Jsrssy.
Time, which has woven q mantle OF
forgetfulness about SO many relics of
the American revolution, hiding the as
socintions that give to tattered flags
and rusty gun barrels . value beyond
price, has dealt kindly with the old can
non known as 'One Horn" This weap-
on stands on IN eminence in Fairyiew
cemetery ut westfieid. N. j. Beside !,
is the soldiers monument, and above.
OH n lofty fiag-pole, perches an Ameri-
can eagle, symbolical Of the liberty the
cannon was SO active in achieving.
Compared with the ponderous artil-
lery OF our time, ''One Horn" cannon is
but plaything. 1t is less than four
feet in length. and weighs with its
carriage barely $50 pounds. But in its
day the gun was regarded as formida-
BILE weapon; and its capture by the
Americans from the British in 1880 oc-
cnsioned great rejoicing in the patriots
camp.
Prior to June 23 of that year the can
non was used by Gen. Knyphausen in ii
campaign intended to destroy the pa
triots and the cause for which they
were struggling. On that eventful
morning. the British commander di-
vided his force Of 5000 men into two
columns, and advanced westward from
Elizabethtown. One division marched
to Springfield. and the other took the
road through what il now Crawford to
Westfield.
The citizens OF Westfeld awaited
with intense anxiety the arrival Of the
enemy. Their folebodipes were not
quieted BY the news from Springfield
that the village bad been piliaged and
burned BY the invading soldiers. One
detachment Of artillerymen visited the
old Baker Homestead on the outs,eirts Of
Westfield and promissd 70 protect the
family from harm, provided provisions
were set before them. Nrs. Baker nc
cepted the terms joyfully sand prepared
for the unwelcome guests . generous
meal, which included keg of very
hard cider. One Of the soldiers drank
no freely that he forgot his manners.
and began amusing himself by chasing
the farmers family about the room at
the point of the bayonet,
But minute man named Capt. Little,
who had been Watching the proceedings
from behind a bush, interfered Mt this
point by sending well-aimed bullet
through the brute's thigh. The report
Of Lttle's gun brought other minute
men to the scene, and skirmish en-
sued. The British were compelled to
beat hnsty retreat, leaving their gun
behind, In the possession Of the Amer.
leans. During the encounter the can.
non had been upset, and one Of the horns
or arms which held It fast to It's car.
ringe struck . stone and broke 1t of.
This accident suggested the name Zone
Horn," and SO it has been known ever
since.
During the same hour the division Of
the army that had marched for West
field reached the town. The first thing
done was the removal and confiscation
of the Presbyterian church bell. This
bell. in addition to it's Office Of summon
ing the people to devotional services.
was used as fire alarm md to give
warning of danger from the hostile In
dians who infested -he surrounding
country. The soldiers, after helping
themselves to the citizens goods and
taking prisoners few of the rebels,
marched away. The bell they sent to
New York. 10 supply its place. zone
Horn" cannon was brought into the
town. Whenever danger threatened its
voice thundered out warning to the
people, and many times bands Of BRIT.
ish marauders were driven away by its
use.
Tho cannon hos figured prominently
in many occasions subsequent to the
war for Independence. It has been fired
In scores Of patriotic celebrations, and
the descendants Of revolutionary patri-
OTIS have priced It 10 highly that many
rival claims to lis ownership have been
made. Within few years westfieid
has succeeded in proving It's title. and
the gun has been stationed in Fairview
cemetery, where It teaches an impress
sivc object lesson in patriotism.-N.Y.
Post.