Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-03

mat hrst testing inaugurated the
series of accidents which have followed
1t to the present day Early in Septem-
ber while still on the trusses, stroke
>f the clapper caused it to crack.
10 John Pass and Charles Stow, Jr.,
OF Philadelphia, was given the contract
of recasting the Bell, and the relic which
stands today in Independence Hall is
their handiwork. Recommended as 'in-
genious workmen" they were authorized
to take any steps necessary to produce
bell which would fill the needs of the
Assembly. To make the metal less
brittle, they added an ounce and a half
OF copper to one pound of the old bell
metal. After the recasting however,
other defects developed, the Bell had
lost its tone, and the recasting' had to
be done over
The. third and present Liberty Bell
was the result. Like the original, it was
lettered IN line encircling its crown
Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all
the LAND unto all the Inhabitants
thereof Lev. XIV, V, X.
Immediately under this sentence, also
in line encircling its crown:
"By Order of the Assembly of the
Province of Pennsylvania for the State
House IN Philadelphia.
Pass and Stow.
Philada.
MDC LIII."
Placed In Steeple In 1853
The Bell was then tested and raised
into the steeple of independence Hall
during the week of June l. 1853, where
remained until 1881, when the steeple
was taken down. After that it was
suspended in the State House tower, un-
til 1916, and then removed to another
part of the Hall
At the time Pass and Stow were en-
gagged in recasting the Bell, the Assembly
of the Province, believing that the task
of the Philadelphia bell makers was
hopeless, ordered another Bell, an exact
replica of the original Liberty Bell. This
locally made bell was hoisted to place.
What happened to the English made
bell, which was retained and paid for
by the Province, is unknown
The Liberty Bell is twelve feet in cir
cumference around the lip and seven
feet six inches around the crown; it is
three feet following the line of the bell
from the lip to the crown. and two feet
three inches over the crown. It is
near the lip, and one and quarter inches
in the thinnest part toward the crown.
The length of the clapper is three feet
two inches, and the whole contrivance
weighs 20S0 pounds
The model was one cast by order of
Henry III in the early part of the thir-
teenth century in memory of Edward the
Confessor, which was hung in the clock
tower of Westminster and was named
st. Edward, but generally known as the
great Tom of Westminster.
Calls Assembly Together
On August %, 1853, the bell called
the Assembly together in the State House
for the first time, and thereby inauRu-
rated its more than eighty years of serv-
ice Public occasions, the announcements
of proclamations of war and treaties OF
peace, welcomes to notables, proclama.
tions of accessions of the English royal
family and host of other events were
marked by the tolling of the great bell
Its chief use in the early part of its
history, however, was to call the mem
bers of the Assembly together and to an
nounce the opening of the courts.
declared "they would not make laws bv
direction" the Liberty Bell rang ont
announcing to the residents of the citv
that the Assembly had taken important
action. Tt sounded again when the pro
vince sent "Mr. Franklin" Home ia
England" to solicit redress for their
grievances on February 3, 1857.
Franklin, on October 26. 1854, was bid.
den "Bon voyage" BY the bell when he
was sent 20 Great Britain" to transact
| the affairs Of the province.