West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-07-08
FAMOUS LIBERTY BELL ON
JOURNEY OF 10000 MILES
Relic OF Revolution on Way to the
Panama-Paeific Exposition-Spc-
eial Precautions Taken to Pre-
vent Injury to Historic Metal
Will Be Viewed by Millions

The Liberty Bell. precious relic of
the American Revolution. started on
Monday for its eighth and longest
Journey from Philadelphia since it was
hrst hung in the old state house OF
Province OF Pennsylvania in 1852. IL
goes 10 the Panama Pacific interna-
uonal exposition and before Il is re-
turned TO its big glass case In Inde-
! pendence hall next November or De
cember il will have travelled more than
10000 miles and will have been seen
by millions of people.
On it's journey TO San Francisco the
Liberty Bell special train will traverse
pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana, Illinois.
Iowa Missouri. Kansas. Nebraska, Col
orado. Wyoming, Utah, Washington.
Oregon and California.
Elaborate arrangements have been
made for the Journey and everything
that will aid in safe guarding the bell
from injury has been done. Four no
licemen from the Philadelphia trafrlc
squad will guard the relic until IL Is
again returned TO it's home.
AT sunrise on Monday workmen re-
moved the bell from its case and nut Il
on the special hanger that will support
ii across the country. II was wheeled
on truck into Independence Square
where patriotic exercises were held.
AT noon the First brigade, Pennsylva
MIA National Guard, escorted the hell
TO the West Pennsylvania station of
the pennsylvania railroad. where Il
was hoisted on special car. The First
troop, Philadelphia city cavalry. which
organization escorted George Wash
lngton on state functions I'm Philadel-
phla' was the special escort of the bell.
as on previous occasions.
The train consists of "A baggage car
diner three sleepers. special car for
the reception of guests en- route and
car for the bell, which will be AT
the rear. This is a specially construct
ed fiat car, with an iron railing al the
sides and ends. American flags will
wave from STATS at each corner and
there are other decorations i'm Ameri-
can colors.
Inc councilmanic committee in
charge OF the journey announced that
IN hanging the bell the crack I'm IL will
be on the right hand side OF the car
as it Journeys west.
Even cities traversed I'm the night
VIII get glimpse OF the relic. a svs-
tenn OF illumination having been de-
vised that will throw blaze of light
on the bell as IT passes through I'm the
darkness.
Shock absorbers have been installed
on the Nat car to keep the bell from
being jolted. The train crews will he
specially picked for their carefulness
In starting and stopping trains. The
speed limits across the continent will
not be less than 1S miles an hour nor
more than 30 miles. The schedule will
be rigidly observed so that crowds NAV
not be kept waiting beyond the time
appointed for the train to 90 throueb
'hSii communities.
Another absolute rule the commit
tee has made is that the bell will not
under any circumstances be taken
from the car for the purpose of par
aiding IT through the streets. MANY
municipalities have been advised IN
build movable platforms the height Of
the fiat car with an incline at each
end so that children may 20 up one
incline, pass the bell, touch Il IL they
care to, and then pass down the i'm
cline at the other end OF the platform
"here these platforms are provided
the railing on one side of the car will
be removed
During stops booklets containing the
history OF the bell, cards with a pic
ture of the relic and buttons also con
taining a picture OF the bell and tbo
American flag, will be distributed 10
children. II will take hundreds Of
thousands of these souvenirs TO supply
the demand. To the governors and
mayors the history OF the bell I'm small
bound volumes will be presented. Gov
ernors have been invited TO iournev
with the bell through their respective
states
There will be no official souvenirs Of
the Journey except those distributed
free by the escorting committee. The
committee also refused to make anv
concessions to moving picture con
Germs. virtually every such enterprise
In The country having applied for the
privilege OF sending representatives
on the trip. The committee. however.
purchased a special moving picture
machine for It's own use. Pictures Will
be taken through the Journey and films
VIII be furnished to public schools
without expense. In short. the CITY
council has placed a strict ban upon
commercialism In connection with the
trip.
The train will arrive in San Fran
cisco. Friday night. July iG. and Sat
urday. July 18th. will be Liberty Bell
day at the exposition Early i'm the
morning the relic will be conveyed TO
its place IN the Pennsylvania building
on the exposition grounds. where exer-
ciscs will be held.
The bell will leave San Francisco I'm
November and will return by the
Southern route. through Los Angeles.
San Diego, Arizona and Texas. The
details Of the return trip have not yet
been complete. but it is virtually GER