CANNONBALL RELIC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 154, 11 April 1928, Page 7

CANNONBALL RELIC

WHERE IS IT NOW? CARRIED DURING THE ARMADA

On an island off the coast of Scotland there is a tradition that in the year 1588 one of the ships of the great Spanish Armada hove threateningly into sight, driven northward by the fierce! winds then prevalent. The invaders, no doubt to induce quick submission to whatever demands they meant to make, fired a broadside over the land. But that same night, before they could land in force:, a sudden wild gale arose and the proud galleon was wrecked on the rocks that lay hidden in the bay. The physical characteristics of some of the islanders seem to confirm that story, for both hair and complexions speak plainly of Latin ancestry. It is said that they descended from sailors who had survived) the waves and • sought refuge among their erstwhile foes. The presence of those eouthern-

• looking people might have had a differ- • ent explanation, but other evidence of » that long ago event was provided in rather a peculiar manner. Just beyond the village, close to the shore t and un- ; der the lee of a rugged, colourful cliff, stood an old ivied house, the home of a certain large family. One day two of the young sons, dislodging .a boulder on the grassy slope that led to ,the precipice, found that they had started a small landslide. Well out of the way, they watched it rattle down with boyish enthusiasm, and when the dust had cleared from jbhe air a strange object was lying on the ground. It was about the size and shape of a large orange, dark like iron, and heavy. Being familiar with the tale of the Spanish ship, they concluded at once that this was one of the solid shot from her guns. Taking it home, they searched through the encyclopaedia and other books for information regarding the ammunition used by that famous fleet. They learned that at that period stone missiles had given away to iron ones, such as this specimen, it having been discovered that a projectile of metal weighing only a few pounds was as effective as the more primitive sort

which weighed much more. Persuaded that they had found something really vyorth while, the ball was placed among their treasures and shown to friends. But interest in it* soon faded, for in that land of ancient memories old things were more or less common. In the course of time both boys went to distant countries, and the cannonball was left behind. One day a use was found for it on the drawingroom hearth—to break the lumps of coal in the scuttle. And there it lay during all the years while that big family dispersed to the four corners of the world. When the youngest child, grown to womanhood, married an American and wen> to live in the United States, the contents of the old house were sold at auction. But the cannonball, having proved itself a gen-

, ume help, was carried to town to con- , tinue its services there. Some years passed and this house, too, was disposed of, the furniture being sold with it. For a while after that the very existence of the cannonball was forgotten. One day there was a reunion of several members of that -family in New York, and in talking over the oTd experiences the uniaue coal-breaker was called to mind." What had become of it? No one knew! The last anyone remembered was'seeing it in its accustomed place. Now for the first time

! they realised what an interesting curio ! they had used so nonchalantly. A letter written to the present owners of the house brought back the reply that nothing was known of an iron ball, although they did not seem to recall that when they took possession there had been such an article on the hearth. After the decorators had clear ed away their rubbish it had beeb seen no more. So where is that cannonball

now (asks M.G.G. in the "Christian Science Monitor"). Perhaps thrown into a junk heap, there to remain in obscurity until unearthed bv some odd chance. In thinking over the possible adventures of that relic of other days it becomes clear just how it is that real treasures are sometimes picked up in the most unlooked-for places. Some clay when that bit of historic metal is disclosed will the finders know that they have in their possession a souvenir of the so-called Invincible Armada, which in the reign of Elizabeth sailed so confidently to conquer England, and came instead to such disastrous end'? If they do not recognise it for what it is, will they imagine' anything so romantic and unlikely as what is actually the case—that they are holding in their hands in this twentieth century a missile shot in. the sixteenth; from the sides of a haughty Spanish galleon.