While I was studying Electronics Engineering at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago, after high school, one of my classmates was a guy several years older, out of the Army, married with a small child. His name was Alan Youngs; I've attempted to look him up to no avail. During discussing our shared interests, guns, militaria, etc., he asked if I would help him acquire a cannon. A CANNON? Well, ever interested, he explained the details. A Civil War Memorial display in a cemetary outside of Chicago contained 3 ancient cannons. He proposed to steal one. Being still foolhardy at 19, I agreed to look the deal over with him. The weather was cold, perhaps December. He drove an International Harvester 4 wheel drive vehicle, I forget the model, but it had an enclosed rear body with 2 rear doors. As my folks slept, he picked me up at home and we proceded to the cemetary; no gates, no guards, no reason to expect detection. We animaled the chosen cannon onto a jack he had brought, lifted it's 1000 lbs. or so up high enough, and shoved it into his truck. Unaccosted, we brought it to my house, my folks still asleep, perhaps 3AM, slid the gargantuan thing down the outside basement steps into our house. Over the following months, I endeavored to build a support and elevation device for the cannon barrel, which was about 7 feet long, 10 inches diameter at the fat end, perhaps 7 at the muzzle. An inscription on the end of the muzzle stated "1862". During the following months, this unusual monstrosity sat in our basement, passed by the "gas meter reader" numerous times who entered to record our usage for billing purposes; evidently he either thought it was a mock-up, or just didn't care; we went unmolested by authority. Finally, my folks prevailing, Alan agreed to remove the device. As usual, his amazingly perceptive abilities prevailed. We got the whole gun mounted on a trailer, cannon barrel pointed skyward, and he hauled it away on JULY 4, and having passed at least 2 police cars enroute, remained unquestioned. His eventual disposal of the hulk I never learned. Thanks for reading. Obviously such a tale as this could not possibly be made-up. Every word is true. My parents obviously knew they had a problem child on their hands all along. Aside from that, they recognized the potential existing, I think, of supporting my desire to understand everything, and work with it. Frank
I hope he kept it, as although stolen, it is legal to own a cannon in much of the U.S. Several guys have cannons here that they fire on July 4th and New Years. It may be that they have to be black powder cannons made prior to a certain date, like 1898. I also had a friend who salvaged a tank from an island in the Aleutians that was WWII vintage. He was allowed to kept the tank, but the Feds made him remove and dispose of the firing mechanism. He couldn't shoot anything, but it was a coll lawn ornament!
@Shirley Martin Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men? The SHADOW knows!!!!!! (Orson Welles?)
I think you're right, Hal....you'll have to forgive Frank...he's kind of a loose cannon this morning! You reminded me of another Cannon, William Conrad, the voice of the Shadow.