Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-23
A SPANISH CANNON.
The State Presented With One Through
Senator Hale.
Taken frtm Fertilization Near Guantanamo
Cuba. by Lieut.. Commander Fletcher.

The Capitol in this city is soon to
have another addition To its list of at
4 fractions. This time ii is in the sub
\ Stantial form Of a bronze cannon for
merry shc property Of His Majesty the
King OF Spain. This cannon has a his
| tory and is presented to the State
\ through Senator Eugene Hale
I II seems that Lieut.. Commander +
f. Fletcher Of the L. s :. Eagle. was
! in command of the boat while she was
/ on duty not long ago in the vicinity Of
/ Guantanamo bay. H. found several
mines III the harbor which H. either r.
moved or destroyed ana then he found
on one Of the small islands ia the bay
! in For, Torn, six cannon three Of iron
and worthless ANA three " beautiful
bronze. These had been in a batterv
that WAS slenccd by the guns Of the
Texas ana the Marbehead and had
been left behind by the army as they
We're not easily transported over the
/ sWamps. The commander gained pos
session Of two Of the bronze cannon
through the consent of the governor of
the province and other official sources
ana removed them to The Eagle. though
each weighed $500 pounds The third
gun had been spoiled by curiosity seek
crs 50 it was not thought advisable to
remove it,
After this the commander wrote to
Hon. Eugene Hale Offering him one Of
the guns to he used by the State Of
Maine as a memento of the Spanish
war. Senator Hale submitted the let
ter from Commander Fletcher TO Gov
ernor Powers. who conferred with Ad-
jutant General Richards and it was
thought ii would he an excellent thing
to have the gun.
Senator Hale in his letter TO Cover
nor Powers said
Ellsworth, September 4, 1899.
My Dear Governor:
Lieut. Commander F. T. Fletcher of
the United State navy. has placed at
my disposal Il spanish bronze cannon
which he has taken from the fortified
lions near Guantanamo. Cuba, which
We're reduced by the fire of the Texas
and the Marhlehead during the bonn
bardment in the late war
If you think it a fitting thing to do |
will be glad to present the cannon to
the State. to be put in some suitable
place in the Capitol or in the grounds
about it. as a memento of the war with
Spain.
Very truly yours.
EUGENE HALE.
Hon. Llewel1yn Powers, Governor Of
Maine.
To this the Governor replied:
Augusta. September 5. 1899.
My Dear Senator:
l accept with gratitude for the State
of Maine the present of the Spanish
bronze cannon which you have tender
ed. | feel that all the people of our
State will be grateful to you for this
offer and your interest in obtaining it.
and will be glad to have it placed at
the Capitol, as suggested.
| thank you in their behalf most cor
daily for the same.
Very sincerely yours.
(Signed) LLEWELLYN POWERS,
Governor of Maine.
Hon. Eugene Hale. Ellsworth, Maine.
No arrangements have been made as
vet for the delivery Of the gun to the
State House. as this has been left
wholly for Adjutant General Richards
and Commander Fletcher to arrange
1t is presumed tnat the gun IS ABOARD
the Eagle at the Portsmouth Navy
Yard and it will doubtless be soon de-
livered. Then will come the matter of
deciding upon place to set the his
toric piece, which the inscription on
the side tells was made in Seville,
Spain. January ;. 1883. 1t will make an
imposing display as it is liz feet long
and when polished and mounted on
carriage will attract a great deal Of at
tention. 1t is planned to have little
brass tablet explanatory of the source
from which it was secured and its his
tory. Whether it will be mounted in
the rotunda or out in front of the State
House is q matter to be discussed.