Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-12-25
LEGENDS OF THE BELLS.
The Warnings and Messages They are Said
to Ring Out.

One of the most interesting legends is
that relating to the Silent Tower of Bot
treaux. In days long ago the inhabitants
OF the parish of Forrabury determined to
have peal of bells which should rival
those of the neighboring church of
Tint0gel which are said to have rung mer-
rily ct the marriage and tolled solemnly at
the dea- h of Arthur. The bells were cast:
they were blest and shipped for Forrabury.
All went well. The voyage was favorable,
the ship glided with fair wind along the
northern shores Of Cornwall, and waited
for the tide to carry her safely into The
harbor of B0ttreaux. The vesper bells
rang out at Tintogel. and when the pilot
heard them he lent his knee, and thanked
God for the safe and quick voyage that
that they had made. The captain laughed
him 10 scorn, saying that they had only
themselves to thank for their speedy voy-
age, and with his arm in the helm, and
his judgment to guide them, they would
soon have happy landing. The pilot
checked his profane speich, but the
lmplous captain swore more profanely
still that all was due to himself. May
God forgive you, was the pilots reply.
While yet the captain oath was heard,
while yet the inhabitants On the cliffs ex-
pecting to see the vessel charged with
their bells safe in their harbor, onward
came in all the terror of It's po9e and
mightiness, one of those huge waves
which are not unknown ON the northern
shores of Cornwall. The ship rose not
upon the waters as it camp onward. She
was overwhelmed, and sank in an instant
close to the land. LAS the vessel sank the
bells were heard tolling with a muffied
sound, as if ringing the death knell of the
ship and sailors, of whom the good pilot
alone escaped with life. When storms
are coming-and only then-the bells of
Forrabury, with the duIl-muffled sound,
are heard from beneath the sea, warning
to the wicked; but the tower has remained
to this day silent.
Many superstitions were attached to a
bell belonging to the chapel of St FiIlan;
they were made known by the minister of
KILN parish, Perthshire, in 1878, at
which time it appears the ideas mention
ed had not wholly died away. The bell
was usually laid on a grave stone in the
church yard. Insane people were brought
to it to be cured. They were first dipped,
with certain ceremonies into the saint
Pool The bell was placed in the chapel,
where it remained, bound with ropes, ali
night. Next day it was placed upon the
heads of the lunatlcs with great solemnity,
but with what results is not made known.
1t was the popular opinion that, if stolen
| this bell would extricate itself from the
| hands of the thief and return home, ring
ing all the way.
Most learned writers on bell lore tell
the story of the Raleigh bells, or rather OF
those in village near Raleigh, which
many years ago was swallowed up by an
earthquake. AS lately as the year 1872
it was the custom of the people to assem-.
BILE Christmas day in the Valley caused by
the earthquake, where they declared that
by placing the ear to the ground an6
listening attentively, they could hear the
ringing of the buried bells. The villagers
really heard the ringing of the bells of {
neighboring church.
With the sound of bells and peals o.
bells a likeness to certain words anC
phrases has fallen ON the ear. The fol
lowing are examples of tie fancy: There
is a saying that the Burton bells used t,
call across the Trent to Lincolnshire
WHO rings best? Who rings best?" t.
which Luddington replied, 1--WE two. VIZ
two!" The bells of North Thoresby ant
Of another adjacent village with three
bells each are supposed to ask each other
Who rings best? Who rings best?' tt
which the bells of another place reply
1--WE do, we do" And we are all more o
less familiar with the old rhymes begin
ming: