Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-16

into position. ar. Parker took his
place on the top OF the tower beside an
/ impromptu crane that had been erected,
with its projecting arm reaching out
I beyond the wall, and holding suspended
= rope that was to draw up the bell All
was made ready. One end Of the rope
was securely fastened to the bell, while
I the other end, which had been run over
pulley on the crane above. vas SO
cured to a windlass on the ground.
/ Eight men seized the arms OF the wind
/ lass, and walked slowly around it. The
I bell began 20 rise and soon was swing
l ing clear and Their began to ascend.
/ Higher and higher 1t went while Mr..
/ Parker allowed the rope to pass through
/ his hands, and gave directions to the
men below.
Mr.. Giles stood speeches., shading
his eyes, and watching this monster Of
bell suspended BY the neck and swing
ing between sky and earth, and the
thought came into his mind that such
should have been the fate Of old Hum
phrey.
The bell reached the top Of the tower,
and, slowly rising, was soon above it
Mr.. Parker took firm hold of the rope,
and called for help to swing it over the
parapet, that it might be lowered
through the tower roof TO the bearings
prepared for it. He looked down at the
motionless Mr.. Giles, and waved his
hand exultantly. Was it only magma
tion that caused Mr. Giles to think that
the crane was vibrating, or was it actu-
ally moving? He though he saw it
leaning toward the church, and Mr..
Parker appeared to be using all his
strength to stay it 1t was not magma
ton. The crane was topping and being
dragged by the weight of the bell.
What was Mr.. Parker's strength as COM
pared with the gravity of that mass of
brass? Nothing, The fastenings once
loosened, hundred men could not have
held it. IL must go. Mr.. Giles saw this,
and cried out with alarm. The men below
jumped from under, and the ponderous
bell and rope and crane swung partly
around, with Mr. 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
ground, butonto and through the church
roof.
The men rushed inside of the church,
and the cry Of fire. was raised. They
hurried for water. The bell had struck
the stove. crushing it to the ground,
and scattered its Goals, which had
lighted the surrounding wood and soon
filed the church with fame and smoke.
Water came too late. The church was
doomed, and the men 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
Il told you so; told you So" said
Mr.. 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 | knew could never bring
aught but evil"
When the fire subsidized Mr. 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 man was found who
would touch it, and there it was left
amid the ruins of ST Agnes, and there
it lies to this day on the ground that it
cursed, and which it has made 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
News