The ornate inlay on the stock of the Plains rifle that once belonged to Juan Linn, Victoria's first mayor, carries the inscription: "From P.D. Egan to J.J. Linn."
Posted on 02/10/2004 1:39:32 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
A priceless relic of Victoria's history, the Plains rifle once carried by Juan Linn, the city's last Mexican-rule alcalde and first Republic of Texas-era mayor, has been found, restored and will soon be put on public display.
Gary Dunnam, Victoria County's heritage director, gave those attending Monday morning's meeting of county commissioners court the first public peek at the restored muzzleloader.
"This is Juan Linn's rifle," Dunnam said as he pulled the long, iron-barreled antique from a modern-day camo-print case and handed it to the commissioners for their inspection. "It is a significant artifact which reminds us of one of Victoria's most prominent early settlers."
Dunnam, who for security reasons had been escorted to the courtroom by an armed deputy, assured the gathering that the historic weapon wouldn't discharge. "There is something jammed in the barrel which forbids it from being loaded or fired," he said.
"It's heavy," said Commissioner Wayne Dierlam.
Dunnam pointed out the ornate inscription - "to J.J. Linn" - on the silver patchbox in the rifle's stock, where patches used in the loading of the rifle were kept.
"Quite impressive," said Commissioner John Hammack.
Dunnam said the muzzleloader, a half-stock rifle, meaning the wooden stock extends only half-way down the barrel, was given to Linn by one of his wife's relatives, P.D. Egan.
"It was made by Nicanor Kendall from Vermont, who incidentally supplied arms for the Texas Revolution," said Dunnam. "It's got beautiful workmanship and detailing on it."
Though Linn - for whom the city street and local elementary school are named - was active in the Texas Revolution, the rifle is believed to date to the 1840s, a few years after the Revolution.
"This may have been made in the 1830s, but (restoration experts) say it looks like 1840s," said Dunnam. "It has been modified and upgraded. We don't know when John Linn got it."
During the Revolution, the Irish-born, Spanish-speaking John J. "Juan" Linn was a quartermaster for Sam Houston's army. His Victoria home was plundered by Mexican General Urrea's forces. Linn interrogated General Santa Anna for Texas President Burnet after the Mexican general's defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Dunnam explained that at some point in history, ownership of the .50-some caliber rifle passed from the Linn family to George Hauschild, a landowner and proprietor of the old Hauschild Cigar Factory on Liberty Street.
In the mid-20th century, the black-powder rifle hung for years in full display amid the cigarette-smoke-and-cooking-grease-saturated air of the Manhattan Cafe in downtown Victoria.
The Hauschilds later gave the rifle to a family accountant, Mike McCauley of Victoria, its current owner.
"The rifle has been meticulously restored at the owner's expense and has been loaned temporarily to the county's historical archives, where it will be on display once a secure display cabinet can be built," said Dunnam.
The case is expected to be ready in a couple of months, at which time the rifle will be put on display at the new Victoria County Archives at 205 W. Goodwin St.
Bobby Clegg, a historical re-enactor who portrays Linn, will be asked later to perform as Linn for school children. "He'll actually hold this rifle in his hands and the kids can come up and touch it," Dunnam said.
McCauley has placed the rifle on temporary loan with the county for a period of 10 years and may eventually give it permanently to the county, Dunnam said.
Dunnam got wind that the historic rifle was still in existence about a year ago and tracked it down.
With owner McCauley's blessing, the weapon was taken to Dennis McDaniel of Round Rock, a noted firearms restoration artist who has restored arms displayed in the Alamo.
Over a year's time, McDaniel carefully cleaned the firearm, repaired extensive damage to the stock and barrel and fabricated lost metal interior and exterior parts.
"(Former County Judge) Helen Walker and I picked this up last Tuesday," said Dunnam. "I think it is just unbelievable."
Similar half-stock Plains rifles are found in abundance and available for purchase on the Internet for $400 to $750.
"But, this one, historically, to Victoria, it's priceless," said Dunnam.
Greg Bowen is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6519 or gbowen@vicad.com.
The ornate inlay on the stock of the Plains rifle that once belonged to Juan Linn, Victoria's first mayor, carries the inscription: "From P.D. Egan to J.J. Linn."
That's disgraceful. It's as bad as those historical replicas from the heritage societies made from pot metal and can't be fired.
That's disgraceful. It's as bad as those historical replicas from the heritage societies made from pot metal and can't be fired.
No big deal. Someone wisely dropped a couple of balls down the barrel and rammed them home, plugging things up past the vent hole for the flashpan or percussion cap- a circa 1836 rifle that remained in service afterward could be arranged for either type ignition- or maybe just a cloth wad dipped in grease or even mud, leaving the old tool quite safe in the hands of young 'uns, hopefully descendants, yet capable of being restored for use with fifteen minutes work with a ramroad and patch-puller worm, a coarse-threaded screw at worst. That leaves it suitable for public display, yet the knowledge that it could serve its owner and his cause still remains.
What? An "assault rifle" in our schools?
Heaven forbid! What will Sarah Brady say?
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