The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-08-20
THE NEW LIBERTY BELL IN PAWN
Its Custodian is Holding II for Salary Due
Him.

OOlulnDldll iJiDSlly DGu is III OllCdSO,
housed in a modest little building on
Sheridan road.
The bell is under the custodianship
of George S. Knapp, who has had it
in charge every hour since he accept.
ed the trust on September II, 1893.
On that date Mr.. William O. Nc
Dowell, who collected the historic
metal of which the emblem of liberty
is composed, requested Mr.. Knapp TO
assume its official management, both
at the Fair and during its trip around
the world, at salary Of $40 per week,
which on the journey was to be in
creased to $Ioo per month. This
proposition was accepted by Mr..
Knapp with the proyiso that his wife
and son should accompany him, which
request was readily granted.
This salary has never been paidsin
full, and the deficit, together with
money advanced at various times, now
amounts to over $1,000, SO the
famous bell is now practically in pawn
at Mr.. Knapp's home here. The
Columbian Bell is the only article Of
its character ever given the freedom
of city. In Mr.. Knapps possession
is handsomely framed document, of
which the following is copy:
United States of America. Executive
Department of Illinois, City of Chicago
To all whom these presents shall
come, Greeting.
Be it known that the freedom of
the city of Chicago is hereby extend.
ed to the Columbian Liberty and
Peace Bell of the Worlds Columbian
Exposition, held in Chicago in 1898,
was devoted to the cause of Peace
and Liberty. This bell now starts on
its journey around the world carrying
with it the best wishes of the people
of Chicago, who commend those IN
charge of it to the kindly considera-
ton of all nations and people.
In witness thereof l, George B.
Swift, Mayor of Chicago, set my name
and cause the corporate seal of said
city to be attached, this twenty-ninth
day of May, eighteen hundred and
ninety-five, and of the independence
of the United States of America the
one hundred and nineteenth year.
GEORGE B. SWIFT, Mayor.
J. R. B. NAN CLEAvE, City Clerk.
1t was the intention Of the origina-
tors to take the bell around the world,
and on September IS, 1895, huge
stake, weighing seven pounds, with
an engraved copper head, was cere-
moniously driven into the ground at
Chicago, to commemorate the begin
ming of this journey. This stake is
now at the Mayors Office Thirteen
horses, to represent the thirteen
original States, drew this bell, which
weight thirteen thousand pounds, to
the special car built by the Illinois
Central Railway for its transportation
to Atlanta. which was the first objec-
tive point. At the depot in Chicago
the bell was attached to make good a
claim for 5000 by the firm which built
the truck, the members of which did
not feel themselves sufficiently COM
pensated by the terms of the contract
in which they agree to make it for
$I,2oo-$6oo of which was to be a
gift from them and the remainder to
be paid in cash.
To avoid delay MIR. Knapp paid
this claim and started for Atlanta with
just SIS in his pocket. Unable to
get any money from Mr.. Mcdowell
and unwilling to burden the bell with
debt, Mr. Knapp and his son journey
ed to and from Atlanta, and for four
months lived in box car on the
Exposition grounds. For a month
they slept on the floor of the car with
single blanket under them and the
stars and stripes over them, which
sounds poetic but is scarcely con-
ducive to health and comfort.
Finally they secured sufficient excel
sior to make rough bed, which was
afterwards replaced by cheap cots.
They were reduced to one meal a day
and often driven to the extremity of
resolving themselves into a tasting
committee at the various booths.
When Mr.. Knapp came to Chicago,
in 1869, his check was good for
100000, but he never recovered
from his losses caused by the Chicago
fire, which left him with exactly $3.50
as his total possessions. In conse-
quence he was forced to live like a
pauper at Atlanta, while the money
due him for services was being
squandered by Mcdowell on Wall
street, as has just been proven. The
trip was so well managed by Knapp,
however, that the Atlanta officials did
not dream of his dilemma. The