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tkavanagh
04-17-2010, 06:20 PM
FWIW:

I found this while searching Texas newspapers on-line for Comanche stuff:

BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, January 23, 1861, p. 2, c. 4-5
We cut the following from the Goliad Messenger, of the 12th inst.:
There is a cannon in Goliad, which was taken from the fortress at Old Town a few years ago, and as it was spiked, it has been permitted to take the weather as a useless piece of rubbish.
Our enthusiastic townsman, A. C. Jones, conceived the idea one day this week of having it drilled out and refitted for use. He has been successful, and the ancient "baby-waker" has been made to open its mouth to the consternation of the babies generally, and no little amusement of the boys.
This cannon is a twelve-pounder and as the figures upon it say, was cast in 1700. It is a French instrument, and is said to have been brought to Texas by La Salle.
Nine balls were drawn out of it besides gravels and sand. Could it speak, it would, doubtless, depict many a bloody scene, and tell many a tale of woe.
==

Of course, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle could not have brought a 12-pdr, nor indeed any other cannon dated 1700, to Texas. He died in 1687.

Did it really exist? If so, where did it come from? How did it get to Goliad? What became of it?

tk
2883V
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