The age-herald., 1899-02-21
GUNS THAT NEARLY
 WIPED OUT A TOWN

l From the Denver Republican.
 1 Everybody will be relieved to know that 1 the ancient double-barreled cannon, once
 1 the most cherished possession of the
 Mitchell Thunderbolts," has been con-
 verted into monument and stuck in the 1 ground muzzle end down. says a special l dispatch from Minneapolis.
 l This Siamese destroyer Is Missouri pro- l duct and has history. It is the only l doubIe-barreed cannon in the world, and everybody who scans its eccentric record | will be glad this Is so. It was invented | by John Gilleland, member of the mili- tary organization known as the Mitchell | Thunderbolts," and was at A. J. Packen- | hams foundry in the town of Athens, Mo, I In 1883. MT. Gilleland's scheme was this: | Two cannon balls were to be connected by chain fifty feet long and one rammed into each barrel of the gun. Both barrels l were to be set off at once. and the balls | would diverge, carrying the chain taut l through the ranks of the enemy, like the | sickle of some great moving machine, and | cutting down the foe by companies and battalionS.
 The town could not sleep from the day MT. Gilleland sprung his idea until the can non had been cast and polished up for duty. Then came the eventful time of trial It was one of those rare spring days that come only in Missouri. The dogwood was in bloom and the squirrels parked and chattered as they discussed the prospects of an early mulberry crop and an abund- ance of green hickory nuts and oceans to "cut" later on. The catbirds were scolding away over their home-building, and now and then the vivid flash of the redbird drew a curve of scarlet across the sombre | shadow of the forest. The woodpecker drummed merry for rich reward, and here and there in the Armament a pair of buzzards fioated with metionless wings without apparent effort, even as an an- chored ship rises and falls with the swell. It was on such day as this that the pop ulation of Athens sallied forth to witness the first test of Chang and Eng" MT. Gill; leland's Siamese destroyer. First came the Athens silver cornet band and then the Mitchell Thunderbolts, in all the glory of their new regimentals.
 The cannon brought up the rear of the company, and it was the proudest day of Henry Clay Boler's life when he found him self cracking his whip over his best span of mules and pioting that wonderful piece of ordnance to Polk Seaton's pasture for it's sulphurous christening.
 The mayor and city council, in carriages, came next, and citizens on foot and mule followed the dignitaries in irregular but | joyous formation. Arrived at the pasture, the gun was placed, after much debate, gto 3te ,far,f, 1a. pointed toward the declivity. so that there should be no danger of depopuIating the ad- ! joining township. A charge of powder-net as much, however, as would be used in ac- l ton. according to MT. Gillelands explana- tion-was rammed home.
 The cannon balls were chucked in after the powder and tapped up snug. Every thing was soon in readiness, and just to show they knew thing two the speeta- tors were standing on tiptoe, with mouths agape. Everybody stand backt' shouted the commander-in-chiefo of the firing squad. and the crowd reluctantly placed about twelve feet of daylight between themselves and the destroyer "Firer' yelled the com mander-in-chief. and bang went the gun, but only one barrel had responded.
 One of the cannon balls went to the end of the chain. and then came valiantly back dSdln, look1nB TOT us cOmpdn10n It HeW over the gun, circled about in the air with demonaoal shriek, and proceeded to drag | that chain sideways, backward and every other way through the crowd.
 It caved in all the ribs on the right side of the Rev. Hicks, pastor of the Metho- dist church. It broke leg for the mayor, and the city clerk got such a crack on the side of the head that he has acted queer at intervals ever since. It wound the chain three times around the left leg of the towns leading saloenkeeper, and knocked down everybody else who didn't get an early start for tall timber. All this happened in about three seconds. Just as the first ball concluded to set tie down the other barrel let go. and that was tough on the saloonkeeper who was tangled up with the chain. He took a trip with the two other projectles. or would have taken one if the chain had not caught under the breech of the cannon thereby bringing the whole combination cannon balls chain. cannon and saloon
 keeper-to standstill fin one most unrnfli-
 tary heap. The saloonkeeper got off with
 the amputation of one leg. The doctors
 managed to set tine other one together with
 numerous minor of such bones a the un-
 fortunate man happened to have with him
 on that occasion. He was drawing a pen-
 sion when last heard of.
 And that is why Missourfs great double
 barre!ed cannon never had a chance to
 figure in actual warfare. It was used af-
 terward in firing salutes on the Fourth of
 July and other great days. but somehow most ct the people would take to their eel lars on such occasions. even though they knew the cannon's charge had no ball and chain attachment. Recently the gun was ,escued from junk shop and set up a