Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-27
Extraordinary Interest in
Coming of the Liberty Bell

The famous revolutionary relic, the
old Liberty bell which on its tour of
peace to the Louisiana Purchase ex-
lpOsition, Will be in Rock Island at
noon Tuesday, June Z, will come on n
specially constructed fiat car On which
ii is carried. 1t will be attached to the
end of the train. and if the time and
facilities permit, the public will be
allowed TO board the car and pass
around the bell.
a specially prepared history Of the
Liberty bell, including the historical
sketch of the Independence hall. will
be distributed by the committee in
charge of the relic. These souvenir
histories were prepared by the com
mittee for this journey and give in
considerable detail the important part
the bell bore in the early history of
the country. from the time of the Con-
tinental congress to the date on which
the bell cracked, destroying its useful
ness.
At many of the stopping places
along the route of the bell to St Louis.
the authorities are making lavish pre-
parations 10 accord il a proper recep-
ton and every indication at this time
points to enthusiastic and patriotic
| demonstrations greeting il. The
larger cities, notably st. Paul and
Minneapolis are preparing big recep-
tionS which will probably excel in
patriotism any accorded it on the pre-
vious tours through the country.
Many of the smaller towns. through
their municipal authorities. have mott
fled the committee Of their intentions
to give the old relic fitting welcome.
Several of the programs already de-
cided upon include the presence of
military and the firing of salutes,
while many others Prvide for patriotic
demonstrations made by the children
of the public schools who are to be
given holiday 10 see the bell.
On the day of the departure of the
bell from Philadelphia, the city au-
thorities have planned big demon
Stration. From Independence hall to
the station where the bell will be load |
ed on its car. a distance of miles, |
the bell will be carried through the |
streets on a decorated truck with a
special military and police escort. The |
military escort will consist of the 1st /
troop. Philadelphia city cavalry, Capt. |
John c. Broome. commanding, one of
the Oldest military organization in the
country. its organization dating from
revolutionary times; Troop \. Ma
tional Guard of Pennsylvania. Capt. |
Barclay II. Warburton, commanding. |
all veterans of the Porto Rican cam |
paign of the Spanish-American war; |
the LIST regiment infantry. Col. Wen |
dali p. Bowman commanding, and |
Troop y. of the Philadelphia police de-
partnlent.'
Notwithstanding the fact that the
itinerary of the bells trip has been
finally decided upon. requests from
almost every city and town of the
middle west states and as far west as
Omaha. are being received daily by |
the committee, praying that the bell |
may be taken through their cities. |
Never before has so much interest |
been shown i'm the Liberty bell and it |
is probable that the receptions and |
welcomes given it will rival in patriot
ism and enthusiasm even those given
on the memorable tour to Boston last
year. when it figured prominently in
the anniversary ceremonies of the
Battle of Bunker Hill. No man ever
lived who received such OvatiOns as
has been accorded this old relic and
as this coming tour may be the last
time il will be taken from Indepen-
dence hall, the "Cradle of American
Liberty" millions of people who can