Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-12-14
The LIBERTY BELL.
A True story Of its First jour
ncy.- Cracked the First
Time il was Rung.

the Liberty Bell when it rests in its
place Of honor among the worlds
sights. almost venerated by the multi
tudes. it comes fittingly to rehearse u
romance Of its earlier time.
The Liberty Bell. originally cast in
London on the order Of the Colonial
Assembly, arrived in Philadelphia.
August, 1752. Il was put in place
and the very first stroke Of the clap
per cracked it, greatly 10 the mortiii-
cation Of those who had brought it
over they were about to send il back,
when two ingenious workmen Of Phil
adelphia named Pease and Stowe,
offered to re-cast ii, and did . sue
cessiully; but when they came to
sound it, it was found to contain too
much copper and they again re-cast it,
and that Is The Bell a. il Is to-day.
By direction of the Assembly there
had been cast ON the shoulder Of the
Bell, the prophetic inscription, PRO
claim Liberty through all the Land,
to all the inhabitants thereof" Lev:
XIV, 10. When completed it was
swung in the open belfry sometime in
1888 there, for twenty-three years
prior to the breaking out Of the
Revolutionary War, it rang curtew
and call and greeting TO Colonial
Philadelphia there upon the 4th Of
July, 1916, Of hallowed remembrance,
upon the stiffness OF the summer air,
and the attentive ears of waiting.
solemn people, its pealing tones sped
first and far and wide the announce
ment that tie Declaration of Inde-
pendence was an accomplished matter,
and that as .'free and Independent
states they are absolved from all alle-
glance to the British crown" En-
shrined in the affections Of the people
by its prophetic motto and earliest
message of liberty, its safety became
the solicitude and its keeping the
treasure-trove of the people For as
the war swelled, southwark from Lex
ington to White Plains, and from
White Plains towards Princeton, and
the patriots get tidings Of the advanc-
ing British columns, they hasted to
put their loved Liberty Bell in safer
quarters. Under the direction of
Congress, after the battle Of Brandy
wine, while the British were approach
ing the city ii was lowered from its
stanchions, placed on wagon and
hurried away among endless baggage
trains Of patriotic people fleeing
under the September skies before the
invaders of their homes.
Out the Old York Road (or pike
to Trenton they pushed on and thence
under the escort Of Nirginian and
North Carolinian troops, both horse
and foot, over the hills and through
the almost wilderness roads they bore
ii to the peaceful Moravian Village Of
Bethlehem-even then ovcrtlowing
with our sick and wounded soldiers.
On its way through the City OF Beth
lehem, the truck on which it was con-
veyed, broke with it il had TO be
picked up and carried on it sustain
ed slight injury there. 1t is this
scene of the cavalcade, picturesque
with its colors 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 ut the battle Of
Monmouth, in August, ITS, when it
was brought back TO Philadelphia and
replaced in its position. ltannounced
the proclamation Of the war in 1872;
it announced the proclamation of
peace in 1915: it rang for the recep-
ton Of Lafayette in 1924 :; il was
rung, for the last time and was crack
ell tolling for the death OF Chief
Justice John Marshall on July s,
1885. 1t were needless story to re-
late in these DAYS how the Bell was
brought back 10 iis old eyrie with
pageant and joy, with breeze-hying
flags Of red, white and blue and
huzzas and arches OF flowers and
parade, and how the people kept les
tival upon its return. Sixth and
Chestnut swayed and swung with its
multitudes Of patriotic 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, suerdon Of
their Commonwealth, and looked on
the soldiers, who we're to fight and
win. through Punishment and tatters,
from open enemies and traitors, the
land of their birth and toll and
establish ii among the nations-"A
heritage Of liberty forever
II the Baby Is Cutting Teeth