The Red Cloud chief., 1896-08-21

. NV vi - ~ '''
posed. requested Mr.. Knapp tn assume
its official management. both at the
fair. and during its trip around the
world. at a salary of $40 per week,
which on the journey was to he In
creased TO 800 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
full. and the deficit. together with
money advanced at various times, now
amounts TO over $4,000. 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 n city. In
Mr.. Knapp's possession is a handsome
Unframed document. OF which the fol-
lowing is a copy:
United States of America. Executive
Department of Illinois, City of Chi
ago.
To all whom these presents shall come,
Greeting:
BE 1t known that the freedom Of the
city of Chicago is hereby extended TO
the Columbian Liberty and Peace Bell
of the Worlds Columbian Exposition,
held In Chicago in 1893, was devoted
to the cause of Peace and Liberty. This
bell now starts on its journey around
the world, carrying with II the best
wishes of the people of Chicago. who
commend those in charge of IL to the
kindly consideration of all nations and
people.
In witness thereof. |, George b.
Swift. mayor of Chicago, set my name
and cause the corporate seal OF said
city 10 be attached. this twenty-ninth
day Of May. eighteen hundred and nine
ty-five, and of the independence Of the
United States Of America the one hun
dred and nineteenth year.
George b. Swift, Mayor.
j. II. b. Van Cleave. City Clerk.
1t was the intention of the origina-
tors to take the bell around the world.
and on September IL, 1895, a huge
stake, weighing seven pounds. with an
engraved copper head, was cere-
moniously driven into the ground at
the City Hall in Chicago to
crate the beginning of its journey.
This stake is now at the mayors Office.
Thirteen horses. to represent the thir-
teen original states, drew this bell,
which weighs thirteen thousand
pounds, to the special ear built by the
Illinois Central Railway for its trans
portation to Atlanta, which was the
first objective point. At the depot in
Chicago the bell was attached to make
good a claim for $500 by the firm which
built the truck, the members of which
Gid not feel themselves sufficiently com.
pensated by the terms of the contract
in which they agreed to make 1t for
$1,2OO-$600 of which was to be a gift
from them and the remainder to be
paid In cash.
To avoid delay Mr.. Knapp paid this
claim and started for Atlanta with lust
SIS in his pocket. Unable to get any
money from Mr.. Mcdowell and unwill-
ing to burden the bell with debt. Mr..
Knapp and his son journeyed 10 and
from Atlanta, and for four months
lived in a box car on the exposition
grounds. For a month they slept on
the floor OF the car with a single blan-
ket under them and the stars and
stripes over them, which sounds poetic
but is scarcely conducive to health or
comfort.
Finally they secured sufficient excel
sior to make a rough bed, which was
afterward replaced by cheap cots. They
were reduced to one meal a day and
often driven to the extremity OF ~resolv-
ing themselves into a tasting commit
tee at the various booths. When Mr..
Knapp came to Chicago in 1869. his
check was good for 800 900, but he
never recovered from his losses caused
by the Chicago fire, which left him
with exactly $3.50 as his total posses-
sions. In consequence he was forced
to live like n 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 rail-
roads carried the bell free OF charge.
but the special Illinois Central car was
round a foot too high to pass through
tae tunnels, and the Nashville, Chat
tanooga and st. Louis railroad built 2
special car 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 4 bear
Ing this invitation:
THE Columbian Bell will ring on the
Fourth of July at ~ m. Historic flags
Will be raised. The Columbian Peace
Plow can be seen and the Internation-
al Rope. You and your friends are cor
daily invited"
The bell Is 8 feet 7 inches high and
7 feet 2 inches in diameter, and bears
these inscriptions: GLORY to God in
the Highest, and on Earth, Peace, Good
VIII Toward Mem" "A New Command
ment | Give You. That Ye Love One |