Cannonball

Part of the USA Today Network

Boy Scouts playing at the veterans encampment during the 50th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg (Library of Congress)

Boys will be boys!

Here’s an interesting human-interest story from the summer of 1864 concerning a Yorker. The article is from the York Gazette of August 2, 1864.

“Yorker Arrested — The Columbia Spy of Saturday last has the following item:

“Jacob Johnson, of York, was arrested for permitting two wagons loaded with gunpowder, to remain in Bank Alley for several hours, to the great danger to life and limb. — The case seems to be an aggravated one; a number of boys obtained some loose powder and placed it in the cracks of some timber to blow it up. The Chief Burgess was sent for, who  made [a] complaint for violating a Borough Ordinance. We refrain from making any further comment upon the case, as it is yet undecided, the Justice having reserved his decision until to-day.”

Neither the Spy or the Gazette followed up to inform their respective readers of the verdict against Jacob Johnson.