Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1895 — GUN WITH A HISTORY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GUN WITH A HISTORY.

Old Cannon that Protected a Missouri Town from Invasion. The accompanying cuts display two objects that are particularly prized by the residents of Hermann, Mo. The old cannon is the one used during the civil war to protect the town from invasion, and the building is that of the Volksblatt, one of the oldest German papers in the State. By an act of Legislature in 1860 tho cannon was presented to the town of Hermann to commemorate the occasion, when fourteen enthusiastic and patriotic citizens held Marmaduke and liis entire company at bay for several hours, impeded his progress to Jefferson City, and virtually frustrated the attempt of the Confederates to capture the capital. When the story of the approaching

enemy reached Hermann the cannon was soon got in readiness to do its best, and was kept booming frequently enough to at least retard the progress of the boys in gray. It is little wonder that the citizens hold this old ple'ce of iron as something to be prized, for human life and safety are not things so lightly regarded that one can look upon their old-time preserver with a feeling of nothing but indifference, and, although the old cannon has been a- long time silent, the days when it took an nctivopart in Hermann’s affairs are still remembered. And, although it is now a useless bit of property, still it marks an event, and is accordingly prized. The old printing-house, too, saw its share of struggles at the same time the

historical cannon was sending forth its deadly missiles. When Generals Price and Marmaduke invaded Hermann and its surrounding territory all the types and the old Washington hand press, then in possession of the Volksblatt, were buried and resurrected as soon as the enemy decamped, and publication of the paper was promptly resumed. The Volksblatt was founded by Muehl and Strehly in 1847, making it now close on to half a century old,

THE GUN WITH A HISTORY.

VOLKSBLATT PRINTING OFFICE IN 1849