The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-28
THE OLD UNION MiRKEr TowER.
One More OF the Old Volunteer Flremen's
AuNIliarIes Disa ppenrlnR.

The old Union Mirket bell tower at
Houston street and Avenue was sold at noon
yesterday by auction In the Comptrollsrs once.
Thomas Il. rrper bought 1t, exclusive Of the
bell, for 800. The tower s ninety-scven feet
high. and was built in 1865. Tnrongs OF children
surrounded the old tower yesterday, and gazel
at a few men who climbed its rickety stairs and
ventured upon its overnangng balcony to get
last view from the lofty top. The Waterman
In the little green, iron-aoored room on top
stuck to his place until the last, and when he
began to gather up the musty records That his
predecessors had kept for years, ana handed the
well-worn KEY to the purchaser OF the tower, he
looked very sober. WE'LL" said ne, =" Im vi al,
alter II, that the old tower il goint. You see
IT'S got very rickey. and IT'S not safe any more to
stay ~ u. On windy night when everything Is
bowling up mere, the tower rocks 50 that m IN
might - well he In u cradle. We are afraid OF
It then, and would like to 20 down, but W. can't
leave our post, but must stay, with every timber
creakng"
The record books Of the tower in which the
bell ringers keep account " the fire alarms date
pack ior many years and are full OF quaint
things. ny OF these books have been carried
aw ~. and others have been torn up by the
watchers m the tower to make lighters for their
pipes. Some of those that remain are weather.
stained and torn, and full OF rlnped and qIecr
vii ing. CROOKED "a though the swnSing Of the
tower III tine wind hal tripped the wrl er's pen.
he watchmcn who have sucressvcly indited
these books seem to have been Interested In
more things tnan the blaze OF distant nres. lhey
NfIt q TtlWl MS hilul@ tI Tue NNn = Oh III W
day. Ever, H. leaf ,hey filed with the dates of
memorable events, and their rem Arks uuon
them. Ono of the books lntes the hour and
minute uf he 1rIng upon Fort sumter, followed
bN the comment. lhs WAS the beginning OF
tie Hgnting." The dates Of the Astor place riot,
of the completion OF tho CrOtOn Aqteduct; q
the graft ftots, great iiies, aud other similar
ev.nts, are carefully preserved IN these books.
some OF the old watchnen made notes in
their books OF the events OF the uig fires that
they Discovered, and the spirit Of exultint
riV rv II visible IN the repeated phr So, " first
800 III fFaNftI H. Ina N In
specimen OF the bell ringers reporting, ia tho
100 book.
IRE broke ont at No. 10 Baxter street at 1924
n. W.. At winch tnrcC women one child. aud one uAu
say.
In 1867 the bell in the Union Market tower was
cracked. ana the bell lrum the Fiffy-tourih
man IN that year recorded the taxing down ofs
the old bell as follows.
The Uni Mirkct bell was taken down AZ s O'Clock
The inca mdic meats for lowering me bell, md
ttcv hai On the mirsct floor az l2l5 \. W. az stt.
tceItHpu dc.pAich came Tor one Il the Nv tue
nHuie Ui John tvuviy, aud WIS received uy hs Honor
Juhu Mcbride. and delivered TO his man.
John Mcbride was the Waterman.
The decease of Bremen u recor ed IN the
books, anu clippings from newspapers are
pas ed he e and there In them. The following
new spaper ciipping. yellow with age, evidcutly
ears. adorned "A iy 10 I In the book for $780,
A KATTLESNAKE CAPTURED IL WEST BROAD
"A way. after XII ng Two chi ar by ca ptrkcs
Al VIM McL'agn.i. me1snrias nine itet ~ ionsth.
MI hm siin eiabs by tue moo cO!cc.ed. To De sccn
at Gothic Han,
The old Union tower has been for many years
under chdTse Of EHglne comp IL.