The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-12
CAPTURED BY BONAPARTE.

- H'eii Aak0n In the Alps Campaign Now
in Paterson, N. y.
When Napoleon L., in behalf of Franco,
carried war to Switzerland he found in one
OF the cantons there an ancient convent,
says the Paterson. IN. J.) Call. During
the course of the war this convent was de-
stroyed, and the bell that hung in its tower
was carried off as a trophy by the conquer
or. The bell at that time was reputed to
be several hundred years old. 1t was cast
of copper and silver. The silver, according
to the custom of the times. was contributed
by the peasants of the canton, who believed
that their prayers and prospects concerning
worldly and heavenly affairs would be i'm
proved in accordance with their casrifces.
Napoleon carried the bell with him to
France, and retained it as a priced curios-
lty until his downfall nj Punishment to
st. Helena. when he gave it to his brother,
Joseph Bonaparte, who, likewise being pan
ished, brought the old relic to America and
hung it IN a belfry at his home in Borden
town.
There it remained, serving as a dinner
Doll on the farm, Its history remaining I'M
known until Joseph's recall from exile.
Then it was lost of and for years forgotten
until one day some curiosity seekers rum
magln2 about in one of the subterranean
passages that honeycombed the place came
across it in some rubbish. People came
from all sections to visit the so-called cata-
combs and see the historic bell. At tina
lime the Camden d Ambov railroad had
Just boon built and the old bell was sold to
the company, who placed it in their depot
at Bordentown to tell the arrival and de
parture of trains. 1t hung there for years,
but finally, through some channel or other,
it fell into the hands of the Paterson a
Hudson River Railroad mpan and was
dnSf1naI tn nAOfhar rnrSol ne oH.4,%- A.
that time the company operated its road by
horses, and the old bell was hung in the
Jersey City station at the foot of Bergen
hill. to answer the same purpose that it did
at Rordentown.
When the great railroad revolution took
place, and steam cars We're substituted for
the old horse cars, the bell was brought to
this city. In those days the terminus of the
road was where st. Johns church now
stands. Two trains were run each wav
daily. A small branch, manipulated by
morse power, however. ran from the main
depot into Market street, at its conjunction
with Main street. Here tho old bell was
for half an hour before the departure OF
each train. Passengers could board the
horse cars without extra expense and
ride to the main depot, whence they could
take the train for New York. As time vent
on, however. improvements developed in
Viz railway SerSlCes LIE Market street mt
was then Congress street, branch was aban-
doned and the old post on which the bell
rotted and fell down.
But Paterson was beginning to make
great strides forward. Then the only edu-
catlonal facilities were private institutions
and subscription schools. The public
spirited townsmen finally concluded to
erect a public school, and selected the site.
Here a building was constructed, and the
bell was placed in it's tower. In wears
gone by some of our older citizens remem-
Der the peals of that bell. Then the pupils
grew in numbers and the old school grew
too small. Another and more improved
and the ancient bell whose mellow
peals echoing from the dizzy Alps seven
ago called the humbble peasant
to worship, now startles the youths of Pat
from their morning beds. Napoleon's
voice may have made the world tremble,
out the voice of the little Swiss bell rings
now than his.