The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-06-22

car backed slowly under the station
sned until it reached a point about
a car s length from the station en-
trance. Here was stationed the
Journal Newsboy band which played
a medley OF patriotic airs as the car
approached, but the effort was en-
tirely lost in the deafening cheers Of
the multitude.
The car on which the bell rode
was fat car belonging to the Penn
sylvania railroad company, and
built expressly for the purpose. 1t
was equipped with timber springs
and was easier to ride on than
sleeper. The bell was supported
by frame of oak, and the bottom
portion was about eight feet abo'
tie ground. The clapper, which is
a little more than three feet long,
was tied to the frame so that it
could not move. The color of the
bell was almost black, and the ire
gular, perpendicular crack could be
plainly seen a block away. A we'll
polished iron railing enclosed the
bell, and inside the railiug were two
Philadelphia policemen. There
were four policemen in charge, two
of whom alternated with the other
two. No one Of these police officers
was less than six feet, four inches
high. At each corner of the car
huttered small silk flag, and the
oaken frame was profusely decorat-
ed with the choicest varieties of cut
flowers. The flowers and flags are
changed as fast as they become fad
ed or tattered, the former being do
mated by the citizens of the places
visited. Souvenirs of the occasion
in the form of little pamphlets were
given away which give, among 9TH
er things, the following history of
the bell:
THE Liberty Bell was primarily
intended only as bell to call the
members of the assembly Of Phila
delphia, but the part it played in
history has made it known as some
thing more than a huge call bell.
The bell was cast in London in 1851
a. the order of the assembly, the
only specification being that it
should weigh about 1000 pounds
and bear the inscription, Proclaim
Liberty Throughout All the Land,
Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof. !"
1t is doubtful if any person at that
time guessed the appropriateness of
the inscription.
In 1852 the bell was installed in
Philadelphia. but soon met with an
accident and it was recast by a local
concern. 1t was necessary to re-
cast the bell once more year later,
at which time satisfactory results
were obtained.
From that time until 1885 the
bell was in continuous use and
tolled many important events. Be-
ginning with the battle of Licking
ton in April, 1775, the bell began
its important part in revolutionary
events. On July s, 1776, at noon,
the bell was rung for the Proclama-
ton of Independence. In Septem-
Der, I776, it called the last assem-
bly, together, and in April, 1888, it
rang the proclamation OF peace.
IN July, 1885, after tolling MANY
noticeable events, the bell tolled it's
last note as the body of John Mar
shall, chief justice of the supreme
court, was being conveyed to Vir-
ginia for burial. During the ring
ing at that time the bell cracked and
has since been silent.
"Since it began its eventful career
the bell has been out of state house,
the Cradle of Liberty but six
times, the first being inSeptember,
l777, when it was removed to Al
lentown, Pa, to prevent it falling
into the hands of the British. There
it remained until the British army
evacuated Philadelphia. All of its