The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-07
The First Journey Of the Liberty Bel!

AN - o. J'utuSy W tuC LlDCIty Dell.
We have received from Wanamaker &
Brown, Sixth and Market street, Phiadel-
phia. large Photograph of painting in oil.
10 feet by feet, representing THE First
Journey of the Liberty Bell" 1t has been
painted expressly for them and will bc uI-
yelled for public view in IL few days. Their
purpose is to place it on the Sixth street
front of their building and present to all who
apply by letter or in person an exc .llent half
tone copy Of the picture with historical PAM
phIct The story of the journey is as follows:
The Liberty Bell. originally cast in Lon
don on til" order of the Colonial Assembly.
arrived in Philadelphia August 1852 1t
WIS put in place and the very first stroke Of
IN" r!app"r cracked it, greatly to the mortn-
cation Of those who had brought it over: they
were about 70 send it back. when two
Ingenious workmen Of Philadelphia, named
P"asc and Stowe. offered to re-cast it, and
lid 50 successfully: but when they ,amc to
sound 1t. il was found to contain too much
copper and they again re-cast it, and that is
the bell ~ il is to-day
BY direction Of the Assembly there had
been cast on the shoulder of the bell. the
prophetic inscription, "Proclaim Liberty
through all the Land, to all the inhabitants
thereof Lev: XIV. 10. When completed it
was swung in the open belfry sometime in
1853; there. for twenty-thrce years prior to
the breaking out of the Revolutionary War.
it rang curfew and call and greeting to Col.
onial Philadelphia; there upon the 4th of
July, 177G, of hallowed remembrance. upon
the stiffness of the summer air. and the atten-
tive ears OF waiting, solemn people. its
pealing tones sped first and far and wide the
announcement that the Declaration of indie
pendence was an accomplished matter. ard
that as free and Independent states they are
absolved from allegiance to the British
CROWN Enshrined in the affections of the
people by its prophetic motto and earliest
message of liberty, its safety became the solicit
tudc and its keeping the treasure-trove of the
people. Foras the war swelled southwark from
Lexington to White Plains and from White
Plains towards Princeton, and the patriots got
tiding OF the advancing British columns, they
hasted to put their loved Liberty Bell in safer
quarters. Underline direction of Congress, after
the battle ofBrandywine, while the British were
approaching the city it was lowered from its
stanchions, placed on wagon and hurried
away among endless baggage trains OF a
patriot people. fleeing under the September
skies before the invaders of their homes.
Out the Old York Ro id Cor pike to Tren-
ton they pushed on and thence under the
escort Virginia and North Caroinian troops,
both horse and foot over the hills and
through the almost wilderness roads thew
bore ii to the peaceful Moravian Village OF
Bethlehem even then OVERLOOKING with our
sick and wounded soldiers. On its way
through the City OF Bethlehem, the truck on
which it was conveyed, broke with it; it had
to be picked up and carried on; it sustained a
slight injury there. 1t is this scene of the
cavalcade, picturesque with its coors of the
sere year, and its tales of exile, that is
depicted in the painting: the stirring incident
in the history Of the Liberty Bell that illus
trates that the love of our people for it is no
new thing. The Bell was afterwards taken
to Allentown and hid in cellar until after
General Washington's victory at the battle of
Monmouth, in August. ITS, when it was
brought back to Philadelphia and replaced in
its position. 1t announced the proclamation
OF the war Of 1912; it announced the proclaim
alton OF peace in 1885, it rang for the recep
ton of Lafayette in 1924; it was rung, for the
last time and was cracked tolling for the
death OF Chief Justice John Marshall on july
9, 1885. 1t were needless story to relate in
these days how the bell was brought back to
its old eyrie with pageant and joy. with
breeze flying flags of red, white and blue and
huzzas and arches of flowers and parade and
how the people kept festival upon its return.
Sixth and Chestnut swayed and swung with
Its multitudes Of patriot men and women.
girls and boys, the roofs and windows adding
to the joyous throng, fearful in their gayety.
as they welcomed back the Liberty Bell.
guerdon Of their Commonwealth, and looked
on the soldiers, who were to fight and win,
through Punishment and tatters, from open
enemies and traitors, the land of their birth
and toll and establish it among the nations
"A heritage of liberty forever