The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-02
A MYSTERIOUS BELL.
Disappearance of q Relic Of
Seattle's Early Days
THE OLD VOLUNTEER FlRemEN.
The Men Who Ran with the oMa.
chins'' In 1888 Want Is Cast
Into Souvenirs.

Ths board OF pubic works. es q body.
members Of the council. police and frs
departments and string OF citizens in
private life. as Individuals, have for the
past four or Eve days been IN subdued
state OF excitement over an old alarm bell
that. IN the early dAH OF Seattle. used
TO scatter terror and noise and drag the
peacefully slurnberfng citizen out OF his
bed with the announcement that there
was trouble OF some sort in the air, prin-
cfpally fire troable and night air. although
the changing o. the hoarse Old bell has
more than once soIied out the life OF male
factors who were not being hanged by the
sheriff, and welcomed in the good Christ
mas day OF the early inhahitsnt along thu
east shore of Elliott bay. where what
there was of SeaTtls then stood.
And then when the Fourth OF Jufy carns
around and the milestonss OF the years
were set up, the iron tongue beat a well
come against the shell, and the citizens,
old arat young. yelled and yelled and paid
homage TO the bell and the occasion, as
was the custom In those DAYS.
The history OF the bell. around which
cluster so many recorections. is brief
With II ara what has stirred up an almost
forgotten interest. especially I'm that ele-
nent among the old fellows OF Seattle who
used 10 run with the machine
Back in 1883 before the paid fire depart
ment was organized in this city. at q
meeting or the city fathers an approprl-
alton OF something like $3.50 was voted for
the purchase OF fire bell as part OF the
equipment Of the volunteer fire DEPART
ment Throughout the existence OF that
part OF the city's early economy the bell
rang whenever It was necessary and a
great many times when It was unneces-
sary. When the paid department was or
Kanized the old machine" the bell, the
cumbersome hose-cart and the rest OF the
crude equipment were pushed into the
background and newer and more modern
fakements substituted AT this time the
Western NIL COMPANY. at Lake Union.
had organized for It's protection a FIRE de-
partment within the personnel OF its en-
loyes. and the old trans including the
bell. were loaned TO the Washington mill
people. for their use. providing that they
would agree TO turn out for the city's pro-
lection when necessary. This was agreed
to- and shed was built for the machine"
and hose cart. and a tower for the bell.
The machine disappeared some time
ago, the hose cart is still at the Washing
ton Mil Company. and last Friday night
the bell itself was taken down and se-
cretly moved away.
This knowledge was brought 90 the at
tention Of the board OF public works and
an investigation was set on foot 10 dis
cover its whereabouts Detective Phil
brick, who was at one time a member of
the volunteer department, was put on the
scent, and Monday reported that the belt,
in cracked condition, had been Sifscoy-
cred IN barn belonging to a man named
Scheuster, on the mud flats. Chief Kellogg
was notified, and fun OF the sentiment of
an old volunteer fireman and armed with
instructions from the board of public
NkTaN
Having no higher authority than an order
from the board. and being refused the
bell, the men and team returned 10 the
department and reported. That is as near
as the city has come to securing the relic
Another feature OF the bells history Is
the claim set up by the members of the
old volunteer department that the bell
belonged TO them. and that II was their
intention to break II up and cast IL into
souvenirs OF the early days
When the Washington Mill Company's
property was sold by the United States
master OF chancery, the bell and hose cart
were disposed of along with the rest OF
the chattels TO the Third Street and Sub
urban road. w. j. Grambs. who Is man
ager OF the road, disavows knowledge
OF the bells removal. although he says
that he knows now where It is, and has
learned recently that IT was removed at
night and that 1t is down on the mud
fats.
Before the city or any OF the officials
can move ii they must prove their owner
ship" said Mr.. Grambs. "All that Is nee
essary Is for the city to show that II Is
public property and then there will DO no
further controversy. / viii help the city
TO recover IT I do not care to discuss
the ownership of the bell or OF the hose
cart. nor do care to talk OF its removal"
At the board OF public works IL was
said yesterday that Ed Lindsay and Har-
ny Bel,ingham, old members of the vol
unteer department. could give information
concerning the bells transit from Lake
Union to the other side of the city.