Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-22

The alarm bell in the tower of the |
building owned by the Phoenix Fire |
Co., at Twelfth and King streets, is
not, as many suppose, the property Of
the fire company. On the contrary, it
is the property of the city of Whining
ton and was loaned to the company for
an indefinite period in 1878. 1t can be
reclaimed by City Council at any time,
but there is no likelihood of its ever
being used for anything else than the
purpose to which it is now applied as
long as a volunteer fire department
exists in Wilmington.
In 1898 the present City Hall was
erected and the bell, which is now in
the tower of the Phoenix engine house,
was presented to the city by Joseph
Tatnall, Esq. About score of years
ago the bell was deemed inadequate
and larger one was purchased by the
city. In 1878 the Phoenix Fire Co.
petitioned City Council, and on June 3D.
Of that yearsit was decided by Council
to allow the company to have the use
for the bell fire alarm purposes. The
bell was loaned and an agreement be-
tween the company and Council was
drawn up and signed by John S.
Walker, president of the company, and
William G. Whitley, mayor of the
city.
The stipulations were that the bell
should be used as fire alarm bell and
be returned to Council whenever that
body should demand it, and that the
company must give timely notice
through the chairman of the committee
on fire companies whenever the property
of the company is in danger Of chang
ing hands, or in case any legal process
shall be issued against the company, or
judgment recovered against il, where
by the said bell may be taken upon
execution or attachment process, or
the right of the company to have said
bell shall be in anywise questioned or
interfered with, and in case said bell
shall be taken or destroyed through
to the failure or neglect of the company
give such timely notice or to return said
bell the company agrees to become
liable in damages in such sum as shall
be fixed by three substantial free
holders of the city of Wilmington to
be selected by City Council.
The agreement goes on to say cit
is the intent and meaning of these
presents that the said bell is merely
loaned to the company, to be returned
when demanded, and the right of
property in and possession to said bell
shall at all times be and remain in said
City Council. -
So it will be seen that the bell is
the property of the city, and as it was
gift from one Of the most prominent
citizens of the latter part OF the last
century and the early part of the present
century, it is hardly likely that the
municipality will ever give up the
ownership. On the bell is the follow
ing inscription in raised letters Pre-
scented to this corporation by Joseph
Tatnall, ESQ. Webster Cthe maker),
fecit, 1900. :"
The old bell occupies prominent
place in the history of Wilmington. Ii
the "reminiscences of Wilmington, =
by Elizabeth Montgomery, page pa
she says;
In 1898, the Town Hall was erected
and thought a very handsome building
beautifully situated. Peter Bauduy
Esq, drew the plan. From the cupalC
there is most extensive view. 4
good bell was presented by JOSEPH
Iatnall, Esq The yard is bounded b,
King street, and graced by noble elms
The cells underneath superseded tn
old smoke house, and lagre clock il
front, with the clear toned bell, give
hbhil9 waning vi ttBullillE llLlts
The old smoke house mentione
above is referred to in another pag
t236l without giving its location, i
the following language;
I'VE are often reminded Of the de
pravity Of the present age, and contras
it with the purity of days gone by
and love to dwell on the virtues of a
ancestor and the filial obedience of OF
childhood, till we almost persuade ou
selves crime was unknown in the pa
generation,
but sudden fash of memoi
brings out the little old smoke hous
the place for the temporary confinemel
of offenders it presents its gable er
and grated windows, and gloomy do,
and big lock. Then we rememb
Jenny Blaney and Kate Magill, an
others, passed into oblivion, who had
spend many dark, lonely night
this dreary prison.
I. II their crime proved worthy of
trip to New Castle, the culprit W
conveyed to the county Jail. som
times favored to ride in a cart, b
mostly it was a pedestrian excursion.