Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-26
"EMILIANO" ARRIVES.
Names Memento Of the Spanish Wa
in Augusta.
Bronze Cannon Taken from Fort Toro Near
Guantanamo. Cuba.

That beautiful bronze cannon looking
anything but beautiful just now, has ar
rived in the city and is nearly at the end
of its long journey from Fort Toro i.
| Guantanamo bay. Cuba, to the State Cap
itol in Maine. After Ill years OF life in
| the present form during when it has
been shipped from Spain to Cuba and has
acted as a guard in the fort, it will rest
| peaceful as a curiosity and relic of the
| Spanish war in or near the State House
| for the sons of Maine and their visitor
| to look upon and admire 1t will be a
| thing of beauty when 1t is polished. The
mate of this cannon will rest somewhere
in Bangor. having been given to that cit
by Congressman Boutelle
The forenoon freight train, Wednesday
had among other things in its line a fla
car bearing the two cannons and the
"Emiliano' as our cannon is called, was
unloaded near the Rines hill crossin:,
where 1t now rests. while the other one
was sent upon later train to Bangor.
The cannon VIII remain at its present
resting place until it is decided just where
to place it on the State ground. There is
no fear of its being stolen or rolled into
the kennebec river for a death dealing
instrument that weighs G50O pounds and
has the projections upon which it rests
when mounted on n carriage is not an
Cuba and brought here.
The history of this gun is an interest
ing one. The copper in the composition
that makes up the bronze from which {
is made. was mined in Mexico during the
l,.- II tra, ta1 "a
Spain where in Seville. January 5, 17SS.
three cannon were cast alike. They Were
later taken to Fort Toro in Guantanamo
bay. Cuba, and placed there as part Of
the equipment. Here they remained on
duty untn recently.
They were a part of the battery that
was silenced by the guns of the Texas
and the Marblehead during the lombard
mcnt. A few weeks ago the u. 5. 5.
Eagle was on duty near Guantanamo
bay. and Lieut. Commander Fletcher dis
covered these bronze cannon in the ruins
of the fort. one had been spoiled by Gu
riosity seekers but the other two We're
all right. The war department had taken
all that they thought was of consequence
to them. from the fort and Commander
Fletcher secured permission to remove
the two guns. which he did with diff
Guilty, to his ship.
Then he communicated with Senator
Hale and Congressman Boutelle tender.
ing them the present of the guns to do
with as they saw fit.
Senator Hale at once communicated
with Governor Powers offering him the
cannon to be placed on the State grounds
or in the State capitol and the governor
gladly accepted in behalf of the State
| Congressman Boutelle decided to give his
| to the city of Bangor.
The Eagle arrived few weeks ago at
the Portsmouth navy yard and the guns
were shipped as soon as convenient, The
! picture Of the Emiliano arrived several
/ days ahead of the gun.
| AT present the gun which is II feet long,
! is lying 50 that the upper part proper can
not be seen, but it is beautifully decorat +
| ell ana bears inscriptions telling of the
| time the guns was made. the name and
other inscriptions. 1t is formed after the
old time manner and when polished will
doubtless be very pretty.
| 1t is planned to have a small brass tab
! let placed on this memento OF the Spanish
war and it will be an interesting thiny
when it is once in place. Where it VIII
be placed has not been settled upon deli
| nitely. 1t is desired to set it in the 70
tunda though just where it could be
! placed is not known. 1t should of cours ,
be placed on a carriage which will have
/ to be erected for it.