Notre Dame's bust of Rockne in the Rockne Memorial has a similar history, famous for his worldwide perambulations. He is fastened securely to a marble pedestal now. A picture of it is on my site here; the tradition around it now is to rub his nose for good luck.

http://www.colossusblog.com/mt/archives/2006/09/play_like_a_cha.html

In my unpublished coming-of-age novel -- which is so dreadful a thing that it might be opened by an angel at the Apocalypse -- a character of mine manages to steal it.

As usual, some guy with tenure has made a complete hash of the facts. To the best of my recollection, I do not recollect those particular particulars.

What I CAN say is that Wesleyan pretty much guaranteed the cannon's immediate liberation back in 1989: the school said that it couldn't be done; that the new construct made theft 'virtually impossible'. Why not just come out and double-dog-dare the student body?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGZQno6p1Bc

Final result: the previous record for shortest time on campus was 30 days. In 1989, it lasted 29 days.

It's most bizarre exploit during its subsequent travels, or so I am told, was when it was confiscated by Venezuelan military authorities after a bird-watching trip. Timely intervention by the Japanese mission to the UN (don't ask) and an inebrietated Venezuelan diplomat led to Doug's repatriation.