The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-01
RUINED nY PIGEONS.
Town Clock stopped when 1t Ground
to Dtts One Of Its Tenants.

Town Clock stopped when 1t Ground
to BITS One of Its Tenants.
New London Special to New York World
A quaint, moon-faced steeple clock, high
Gent First Church, of New London. had
Kept time for the old whale town for half
az century 3t and I'd, had been ABOUT as faithful
wondrously slow in New London, as a rule,
ana II was not such great chore, after
time the town really wanted. The clock
was of old-fashioned, liberal architecture,
heavily timbered with wood enough in IL
Tor whaieboat. and the movements OF its
ponderous wheels and its cordage we're
measured, dignified and laborious. When IL
the mariners in the city. and on a still day
the chucking of its pendulum was audible
pleading tones were particularly agreeable
to the retired old sea captains, especially
in a New London fog: They reminded them
said. But the old clock began to behave
very queerly recently. 1t skipped stitches
MhsIed s catteped and gruntea and ons
afternoon, in the midst of a fog, It suddenly
stopped with long b-r-r-r! s-h-h! IL had
long career; hence everybody wondered
what was up with It. Afterward it was
IS the tnat ru Sme in ma New london when In
doubt to send man aloft; that IS to say,
II there's such a. thing as an aloft belong
an agile sailor for 81 quickly Skinned up
the tapering steeple, and disappeared into
the wooden recesses of the timepiece, while
a watchful crowd in the street below held
its breath with concern as to his safety.
What If the old clock should suddenly
minutes or secondsl But the trusty time
piece did nothing OF the sort. The bold
ty on the part of the crowd, reappeared
on the outer wall of the steeple and slipped
tree toad az He reported the sum total of his
experiences to his employers. !,
cts all OWN to the burned pigeons: "
he explained. AS near as he could calculate
a oostns "o f the clock ana
hull gang he ADDED, Specially since some
Ing on the internal small wheels and cogs,
sorter ridin' round on 'em In a new kind
of merry go-round. Finally, continued
got himself mixed up with the gearing of
the hour hand, an was sliced. into pigeon
clock checked and gasped and stopped
There haint no use tryin' to FIX her up.
continued the nautical examiner, FUR she's
clock-a- block, an there ami no more 80 In
Nevertheless the New London town gov
sideration at special meeting rueful,y. but
with affectionate unanirnity. dispatched a
IS i1 true up the steepe. and after an hour or
two, when everybody believed he was lost,
he also came back with a verdict verifying
On the strength of the experts decision,
but with pathetic reluctance, the town gov
eminent has rendered judgment that the
town must have a new clock. The vital
questions now before the citizens OF New
London are: What sort Of timepiece
shall the new one. be? When shall II be
erected? How much shall 1t cost? Shall it,
can 1t be equipped with voice that Will
be audible in fog six miles across the
harbor and Fishers island sand in the
sheepfolds of Mr.. Ferguson's insular re-
treat? The question is being discussed in
the local press, in mart and shop, along the
river side, even in 'Barry's sail loft" be-
fore the celebrated "Jibboom Club and in
other marine retreats. Yesterday one local
newspaper had this EDITORIAL: Parts Of the
old clock have worn out Pigeons made q
roosting place in its works until the belfry
windows were screened, and all conditions
have operated to put the clock beyond re-
pair. When a change is made 1t ought to
bring with IL an Illuminated dial that he
who runs at night may know the time. as
well as he who walks by day. The public
property committee. from whom the infor-
nation comes that the clock is worn out,
should not be as slow as the clock, but get
a move on and have the new timepiece in
Mace without delay.'s