Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-03
;'TE k,Msz
OF HALLQELL'S
FROM TAEb0xER


Hallowell. Me-, July I(speciaD.-
The approach Of the glorious Fourth
recalls to the minds Of the older resi-
dents of this city the celebrations Of
earlier days and particularly the. part.
that the old cannon, the Thunder Jug.
as it was called, had in those eat
celebrations.
This old piece of ordnance which
now stored IN the Haliowell granite
storehouse at Granite Hill, has an i'm.
teresting history. 1t was originally a;
part of the 'arrpament of the British
inan,sf-wer Boxer whieh was captured
!bz>>.he United stats laiF .Enterprisss
in the War OF 1872 =. ~
After -the close o4lse-wAr a syn&4
cate. of Halloweltnb the cam
non of-dhe Uni kses, government
and brought js city. where IT
was mounted tor many years was
used to fire saintes in celebration OF
Independence day, Presidential .selec-
tons and other IMPORTANT occasions.
During Polka administration QS45-
1s4s) the President Sfsited this part Of
the State. 1t was announced that he
would Arrive pm the Boston. boat early
in the eAfhine, land at Hallowell and
proceed 81 Marriage TO Augusta. Great
prepare tlotSt bad been made for his
coming. fftskfials for huge -bonfires
had been gxthered together in central
locations i'm the two cities, the church
bells were to he rung, salutes fired
and a grand welcome given to the Pres
ident.
The Thunder jug" loaded nearly to the
muzzle was stationed at the Steamboat
wharf and it was understood that as
soon as the steamer came in sight around
the bend zhelow the city the cannon:
would be fired, and this would be the
signal TO light the honhres, start the
ringing of bells and the general celebra-
ton. But unfortunately for these plans.
some mischievcus boys OF, as the angry
Democrats who had led the arrange
ments declared. some jealous Wings.
crept to the wharf and touched off the
Thunder jug" at s o'clock-two hours
before the arrival of the steamer with
the President. Accepting this as the
signal. the bonfires were lighted, the
bells were rung, the parades were form
ed and the salutes were fired II was
some time before the mistake was discov-
cred and when the President arrived at
10 o'clock the fires had gone out, AL the
powder had been burned and the grand
reception planned was somethingi.of a
allure. T.
During the Civil war one VIM. Ken
dali used TO so around with d paper
after every announcement OF a northern
victory to secure subscriptioNr pur-
chase ammunition with which fire sa-
lutes with the Thunder jug II celebra-
ton of the victory.
An Accident
About the year 1919 group of
HalioEsll citizens decided to celebrate
supply of ammunition and proceeded
TO .iaad' the Thunder Jug. The first.
political victory They procured a
charge went off splendidly. A man by
the name of Sandy Cleaves, who liv-
ed at that time in q house which stood
on the site now occupied by Gilleys
paint shop. on. Central street, was
helping with the loading. As he ram
med in the second charge a spark of
fire which had remained in the breech
from the first discharge. ignited the
powder. causing a premature .explo-
sion Mr.. Cleaves' arm was blown
off and several others were less Sc
verely injured. The ramrod which
Mr.. Cleaves was using te press the
charge home. when the accident oc-
Cured, was afterwards found on the
little island on the Chelsea side of
the river
For many years now the old can
non has not been discharged as its
use has been considered dangerous.
The last public appearance of the
Thunder jug" was in 1909 when il
occupied conspicuous place in the
parade of Hallowen s great Fourth OF
July celebration. F-.'
About 80 years age another cannon
very similar to the "Thunddy jug"
used TO stand in an upright position
at the 'BitteuSe" corner on Water
street. Augusta. near the present site
of the Augusta post office, and was
used for years as a hitching post /"