The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-08-26

70 the Philadelphia
Nas9/ TINES ,TSa ,.n j.. nna.r
the custodlanshlp
OF George $. Knapp. who has had II In
charge every hour since he accepted
the trust on September II. 1893. On
that date Mr. William o. Mcdowell,
gho collected the historic metal Of
which the emblem Of liberty Is COM
posed. requested Mr. Knapp to assume
It's Official management. both at the
fair. and during It's trip around the
world. ~ a salary OF $50 per week
which on the journey was to be in
creased to 500 per month. This prop
Osition was accepted by Mr. Knapp
with the proviso that his wife and son
should accompany him. which request
was readily granted.
This salary has never been paid In
/ ull. and the deficit. together with
monoy advanced at ya-ilus times. now
amounts TO over 5000 so the famous
lell Is now practically in pawn at Mr.
inapp's home here. The Columbian
/ bell Is the only article OF It's character
ever given the freedom OF a city. In
Mr. Knapps possession is a handsome
/ 'y-framed document. OF which the fol-
lowing Is copy:
United States Of America. Executive
Department Of Illinois. City OF Chi
cago.
80 all whoa these presents shall como.
Greeting:
De Il known that tho freedom Of the
/ tity Of Chicago Is hereby extended 20
he Columbian Liberty ang Peace ncll
n the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
held in Chicago In 1898. was devoted
TO the cause Of Peace aud Liberty. This
tell now starts on It's journey around
he world. carrying with Il the best
wishes OF the people Of Chicago. who
Commend those In charge OF II TO the
tindly consideration OF all nations and
people.
In witness thereof. I, George II.
swift. mayor OF Chicago. set my name
nd cause the corporate seal Of said
tity to be attached. this twcnty-ninth
lay Of May. eighteen hundred and nine
/ y-hve. and Of the independence OF the
United States OF America the ono hun
dred and nineteenth year.
George H. Swift. Mayor.
J. Il. u. Van Clcayc City Clerk.
II waa the intention OF the orlgIna-
ors TO take the bell around the world.
md on September 10. 1895. huge
takc weighing seven pounds. with an
mgraved copper head. was ts-e-
non.uusly driven into tho ground q
he City Hall IN Chicago to commem-
irate the beginning OF i,s Journey.
fhis stake "a now at the mayor's Office.
Thirteen horses 10 represent the thir-
cen original states. drew this bell.
Ehich weighs thirtcca thousand
POUNDS. 10 the special car built by the
illinois Central Railway for lts trans.
forlaiion 10 Atlanta. which was the
.rst objective point. Al the dopo, In
'hlcago the hell was attached Ia make
rood a claim for $500 by the nrm which
luilt the truck. the members Of which
GA not feel them elves sufl len ~ ccm.
fensaicd by the terms Of the conirac,
IN which they agreed to make II for
1890 5000 Of which was to be a Gift
rom them and the remainder to be
pald IN cash.
To avoid delay Mr.. Knapp paid this
lain and started Tor Atlanta with Just
rs in his pocket Unable TO get any
money from Mr. Mcdowell and unwlll.
ng to burden tho bell with debt. Mr..
Knapp and his son iouratycd to and
rom Atlanta. and Tor four months
lived In box car On the exposition
grounds. For n month they slept on
the floor OF the car with single blan.
ket under them and the stars AMI
stripes over them. which sounds poetic
but r. scarcely conducive 10 health or
comfort
Finally they secured sufficient excel
sior to make a rough bed. which was
afterward replaced by cheap cots. They
were reduced 20 one meal a day and
often driven to the extremity Of resolv-
ing themselves into a tasting CONSIST
tee 81 the various booths. When Mr..
Knapp came to Chicago In 1869. his
check was good for 100000. but he
aeyer recovered from his losses caused
by the Chicago FIRE. which left him
with exactly $3.50 as his total posses
sionA In consequence he was forced
TO live like a paupor at Atlanta. while
the money due him Tor services was
being squandorod by Mcdowell on Wall
street. as has just been proven. The
trip was 80 well managed By Knapp
however. that the Atlanta officials dld
not dream Of his dilemma. The rail
roads carried the bell free OF charge
but the special Illinois Central car was
. found a foot too high to pass through
the tunnels. and the Nashville Chat
tanooga and St Louis railroad built 2
special ear on which the bell completed
the Journey and returned to Chicago
There was a tripod set up in front of
Mr.. Knapp's residence on July bear
ing this invitations
THE Columbian Bell will ring on the
Fourth OF July at Y m. Historic flags
will be raised The Columbian Peace
Plow can be seen aud the lnternation-
oil Rope, You and your friends are cor
iially invited"
The bell Is 5 feet Z inches high aud
feet inches In diameter, and bears
these inscriptions: GLORY TO God In
the Highest. and on Earth. Peace Good
win Toward Men," "a New Command
ment Give You. That We Love One
Another" Proclaim Liberty Through
out An the Land. Unto An the lnhab.
ltants Thereof
Two hundred and fifty thousand pen
niles from the children OF the country
enter into Us composition One day
A the Wnrl1ta Hair n ufflo rrirl uanflg