The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1895-02-01
A FIREMAN's STORY.
An Ancient Bell and Why 1t
Doesn't Hang in No. rs Tower.


As was passing down Second street
few days ago l noticed very large bel
standing among the stones scattered arount
Frank Woods marble works, and its siz'
attracted my attention and awakened m,
curiosity. Whose was itp Where did il
come from2 Who brought it to Albany
and for what purpose2 These questions
crowded in upon me yer fast, and although
| might be c.assed as an old settler. could
not ut once recall its history, but after max
ing few inquiries, ! finally took up the
right thread, and Immediately there flashes
before me vision of the past that cleared
the whole matter up. As it may be Of some
interest to your readers, particularly to fire.
men, will tell you something about it.
"0nce upon time" shortly after the or.
ganizat:on of Albany Engine Co. No. /,
Bill Gird presented the company with a
small fire bell, which was mounted on a
pole and served for quite awhile to ring
out alarms and call the iire laddies together.
After several years the village spread out
considerably and although tho old bell had
a remarkably clear, piercing tone, it could
not be heard very we'll in all parts of the
town. so the company decided to sell it. A
committee, headed by II Stewart, was ap-
pointed to sell it and buy new one
About this time, land il | remember right
it was the Centennial year, the ilremen of
Scio concluded they wanted n bell, and SO
Stewart had very little trouble in negotiat-
ing the sale of the old bell TO them for 800.
The purchase was made on the part of the
Scio tiremen by ID p Mason, who at that
time wore the regalia OF "bell wether of
Scio," it having descended to him short
time before from the shoulders OF ''old Pap
Stroud" After this sale was made, the
committee contracted with Frank Wood,
who was selling agricultural implements
here then, for large steel amalgam FIRE
bell. Mr. Wood Immediately ordered the
bell from the firm of Treadwell & Co., of
San Francisco, and ii was brought up by
water to Portland, and then to Albany by
rail. Ii so happened thati' arrived here on
the afternoon of Jan 4, 1877. and il also
happened that Mr. Stewart was to be mar
med that same evening, and as be was con-
sequently somewhat preocupied, he knew
nothing of its arrival But il vas differ
ent with the FIRE boys; some of them met il
at the depot, and while looking at il
bright idea struck them. Along about 3
o'clock that night they routed out Geo
Burkhart, and taking his truck team to the
depot. they induced the agent to let them
have the bell. Ii was then mounted on
truSses on the truck and the procession
started for the residence of Rev DIR Irvine,
where the wedding was 10 take place. Ar
riying there they fastened txo ropes TO the
ciapper, and old ice Webber. standing on
one side, and Geo BurshArt opposite to him
on the other, a. given signal commenced
to work the ropes. The bell. worked By
the old chief. !" ably seconded With other
instruments in the hands Of the
select crowd present from the rank and sle
Of the company opened up such a din as ha.
never been heard in this meek of woods be
fore nor since. Talk about that racket up
town the other night that caused 0fticer
Lee to declare marshal" law in relation to
charivaris; il didn't amount TO anything in
But thai isn't the point, and
do not know that ought TO tell the lest
IS il will reveal state secret" that very
Few nov know anything about; but as i.
occurred eighteen years ago guess might
Is well tell the rest. Ali nj once, in the
The midst Of the racket, the clear, ear-pierc-
ing tones Of the fire bell changed 10 4
sound that you could not expect 10 get out
II anything but an old cracked iron pot
The COW bells ceased their rattle. The oil
eans and horse fddles were laid down. and
the boys, slipping up through the darkness
10 the truck. anxiousiy enQuired Of old jos,
what is the naatters" Ihesold man was
for a moment, but finally he
found his tongue and in hoarSe whisper.
''the id things busted, and yoa fellows
must keep your mouths shut about il. So.
after swearing all the boys 10 secrecy they
silently stole away to the depot and returned
the bell TO the agent in good u order.
Next day Mr. Wood. who knew nothing
Of the charivari, sent cut and brongh. tie
bell down, Stewart got the committee to-
gether. and the bell was examined 10 see IL
it Was what had been ordered Measure
ments and weight proved all right, and
finally Il was mounted 10 test the tcne.
A large crowd of iremsn we're there, bat
they all kept mum, and finally il was fot nd
that the ball had been cracked either be-
fore 1t left San Francisco or while In tran
sit, and Stewart refuscd to receive it. Mr.
Wood then wrote his house about il: they
tackled the transportation company and
the railroad. and Just when the war was al
its hottest Treadwell i Co failed in busi-
ness.
Their assignee wrote SIR Wood and the
fire company q few letters and then
dropped the whole matter. and that is
all know about the old fire bell that
stands In Frank WOODS marble ward.
Az EXEMPT.