Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-22
OLD BELL. OF THE CI.ER MONT.
(Trom the Albany Argus.l

(fTOm tne Albany ArBuS.)
The old bell which sounded the signals
on Robert Fulton's Clermont in 1907 Is
now to he seen on board the steamer
Robert Fulton Of the Day Line. where Il
rests in a conspicuous position amid
ships,
One day while lunching at the Rensse-
laer Inn In Troy, w 3. Elmendorf OF
this city saw the bell standing or the
counter OF the hotel office, the heirs Of
the late Edgar X Retts OF Troy having
loaned It to the proprietor for exhibition
purposes Mr.. Elrnendorf Immediately
made inquiries as to It's ownership, not
having had previous knowledge Of its ex-
istence. On calling the attention Of the
officials OF the Hudson River Day lAns
to the historic BELTS modest position at
Troy they Immediately decided to pur-
chase It II tho 'Retts estate were willing
TO part with 81.
The kindly way in which the Belts es-
tate ngreed to dispose Of the bell WINS
commented on and appreciated ny tho
officials Of tho Day Line tho estate
realizing how practical would become the
exhibition Of the historic prize were II
placed on the great now vessel named
for the Father OF Steam Navigation.
When the steamboat Clcrmont was
broken UP. after having scen number
Of years service during which It was
heightened and renamed the North river,
the bell was soved. In 1865 the bon WIS
bought AT auction In Newburg by Geo.
Merrill On the death OF Mr Merrill
II went into the possession OF Mary West
Of Holbrook. Mass. and was passed by
her to her son. On the removal 81 the
latter to Philadelphia the old boil wns
sold with household goods NJ Rctts
finally purchased 1t IN Boston ard. bring
Ing II to Troy had II remountcd on a
wooden base and prepared suitably for
exhibition purposes.
The old bell Il shown IN tho old en-
cravings Of the nrst steamboat mounted
! about m'dsh,p~ IN the deck Of the CIcr-
mont and lust forward Of the smoke
stack. The steam whistle had never
Weakened the echoes nlong The mountain
orr shores Of tho Hudson In those DAYS:
the siren and the foghorn were yet IN the
future And so II was thst n cnst-iron
bcll-not large nor very clear Of tone
performed tho double duty OF sIg,1aijz'n.
aboard and announcing its appro, en- to
the various towns and hamlcts along the
river; that Is. II more warning were need
ed thnn that given by tho snorting little
engine and the cloud Of smoke and wood
fire sparks emitted from the tall stack
The mere appearance OF that strange
craft was too startling to the natives.
who eagerly and curiously watched its
toilsome progress to need any further
announcements to attract attention 10 IT,
self
1t is recounted that: THE crews Of
! many sailing vessels. shrunk beneath
their decks at the terrific sight. while
others FRUSTRATED themselves and b.
sought Providence 70 protect them from
tho approach OF the horrible munster
which was marching on tho tide and
lighting Its path ny the Are that II vum-
tied" II Il snid that one native who
witnessed this strange apparition on tho
river for the first time hurried homo ana
assured his family that he had seen ths
devil going up the river In a sawmill"
The bell flares wide At the bottom ana
is about fifteen inches across II hangs
from curved axle between cast-iron
standards and a handle AZ one eide /.
us" dior ringing H. with its bnse II
stands up about two feet IN height
This old bell remains as link between
the genius Fulton and his patron, Chan
collor Robert Y. Livingston, and the
builders. nav'gators and river Transport
tation magnates Of to-day.