Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-08

Into position. Mr. Parker took his place on the top of the tower beside an tmpromptu crane that had been erected, with it's projecting arm reaching out beyond the wall, and holding suspended a rope that was to draw up the bell All was made ready. One end of the rope was securely fastened to the boil, while the other end, which had been run over . pulley on the crane above, was SC cured to a windlass on the ground. Eight men seized the arms of the wind lass, and walked slowly around It. The bell began to rise and soon was swing ing clear and then began to ascend. Higher and higher 1t went while Mir Parker allowed the rope to pass through his hands, and gave directions to the men below.
 Mir. Giles stood speeches., shading his eyes, and watching this monster of a bell suspended by the neck and swing ing between sky and earth, and the thought came into his mind that such 1 should have been the fate of old Hum- phrey.
 The bell reached the top of the tower. l and, slowly rising, was soon above it. MT. Parker took a firm hold of the rope, and called for help to swing it over the parapet, that it might be lowered l through the tower roof to the bearings prepared for it. He looked down at the l motionless Mir. Giles, and waved his hand exultantly. Was it only imagina- i tion that caused Mir. Giles to think that the crane was vibrating, or was it actu- ally moving? He thought he saw it l leaning toward the church, and MT. Parker appeared to be using all his strength to stay it. It was not imagina- tion. The crane was toppling and being dragged by the weight of the bell. What was MT. Parker's strength as com pared with the gravity of that mass of ! brass? Nothing. The fastenings once Ioosened, hundred men could not have held it. It must go. MT. Giles-saw this, \ and cried out with alarm. The men below jumped from under. and the ponderous l bell and rope and crane swung partly \ around, with Mir. Parker still clinging ! on. He loosened his hold, but too late He had been dragged beyond his bal ance, and conscious man went down with senseless metal. Not onto the l ground, but onto and through the church roof.
 The men rushed inside of the church, and the cry of "f1re' was raised. They hurried for water. The bell had struck the stove, crushing it to the ground
 and scattered its coals, which had lighted the surrounding wood and soon filled the church with flame and smoke.
 Water came too late. The church was doomed, and the mon could do nothing
 but stand by and watch the devouring
 flames destroy their house of worship
 and leave nothing standing save few
 jagged pieces of wall
 ''I told you so; l told you so," said
 MT. Giles. "Poor Parker, he wouldn't
 believe me, and now where is he? Deadl
 His life is sacrificed, and the church is destroyed, all on account of that accursed
 bell, which I knew could never bring
 aught but evil"
 When the fire subsided Mir Parker's
 burned bones were found beside the
 bell, which was cracked from rim to
 top, and lay on its side deeply sunk into
 the ground. Not a man was found who
 would touch it, and there it was left
 amid the ruins of St Agnes, and there
 1t lies to this day on the ground that it
 cursed, and which it has made a place
 to be avoided, especially after night
 fall, excepting by the ghost of old Hum
 phrey, which is said to haunt the spot.
 Harry c. Fulton, in Chicago Daily