The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12
THE OLD BELL
Whose Tones Have Been Music
for Years.
Washington People Mourning Over an Old
Relic Which is Being Set Aside for
Something More Modern.
From the Washington. Ca, Chronicle.

FROM the Washington, a., Chronicle.
DR.. Francis I. Willis, while on visit to
w ashington some time since, noticed that the
bell on the courthouse had cracked sound,
which was more apparent than on his last
visit With that love of his native town
which has characterized his whole life and
2ermeated his very existence he at once set
about to remedy this evil After consultation
with the proper authorities he ordered from
che MeShane bell foundry of Baltimore large
and sweet-toned bell and had it shipped to
Washington. The bell is very large one and
without the mountings weighs 1,040 pounds
with the mountings, 800 pounds Across the
larger part it has diameter of thirty-six
inches. On one side of the bell is the simple
inscription: "GIvEN TO HIS NATIVE TOWN BY
FRANCIS I. WILLIs-1SS8." Arrangements
are ow being made tie place the bell in posi-
&ion.
Washington has great cause to be proud Of
her native son, in whose generous heart is i'm
planted so much love, modesty and patriotism.
DR.. Willis moved from Washington fifty-four
years ago, but he has evidenced his love for
her and her people by over forty annual visits.
He has kept thoroughly posted with erneeds,
and has been her greatest benefactor.
It'll not out of place here to give some Incl
dents in connection with the history of the old
bell, which are taken from letter from Dr.
Willis to Mayor Irwin. lie says:
"There is an interesting but almost forgot
ten history connected with the cracking of the
old bell that 1t may be worth while to relate.
1t occurred, though, when | was so young,
that may not relate it with strict accuracy.
Indeed, am not sure upon which of two oc-
Gasons 1t occurred, the election of George M.
Troup, Governor of Georgia, in 1928, or the
election of John Quincy Adams, president of
the United States in 1924.
CAT that time the election of governor was
think. by the legislature on joint ballot, and
though was but a little boy, the excitement
throughout the state was too intense to be for
gotten. Troup had been defeated two terms
by Governor Clark by close vote, but in 1923
he was elected over Matthew Talbot, the IAN
didate of the Clark party. can just remem-
Der the excitement in Wilkes the night of the
election for members of the legislature and, in
my later life, there has been nothing to equal
1t that can remember. The elected candi-
dates were taken up by the crowd and borne
upon their shoulders around the public square
with shouts and huzzahs that was CALLING to
che defeated party.
81 think that it was on this occasion that the
Clark party determined that the bell should
got add to the rejoicing, went up into the GU
palo and stole the clapper. The Troup men,
determined that the bell should ring went
into the cupalo with hammers, and with an
bver heavy one cracked the bell. This is, L
think, correct account of the crack, but as
was very young it may be that it was cracked
Suo year lOllOWlhS' LII 1oIt3 ILo eAClJSmSDC
@as still at fever heat. jackson, Crawford,
Clay and John Quincy Adams were the candi-
dates for the presidency. There being no cleo
ston by the people, Adams was elected by the
house of representatives with no soothing eff
feet upon the excitement which ragged from
one extreme of the country to the other. Now
1t is impossible that it was upon this occasion
that the bell was cracked, but I think that it
was the year preceding. may mention an
occurrence that took place on the election of
Mr.. Adams. There were very few Adams
men in Wilkes, but there was one by the name
of David Mayo.
"He was an ardent Adams man and as the
key of tho cupalo was refused, he climbed the
lightning rod and to the top of the cupalo and
raised flag in honor of the election of Mr..
Adams. He did this at night, and to the sur
prise of everybody the flag was floating there
the next morning. Even with the key to the
cupalo there was no one bold enough to climb
from it to the top of the dome to cut down the
flag But during the day it occurred to some
one that the flag staff might be cut in two by
rifle ball. 1t was forthwith put into execution
and the flag brought down."