Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-04-03
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D. c.
BY u s. Press Association.
Bond Bldg. Washington. ID. G.
TIE LIBERTy HE'LL.

mined to give the bell light tap with
the hammer, and it is declared that
this in the first time in seventy years
that the bell has emitted sound.
The last time Liberty Bell was tolled
was February %, 1843, the anniVer-
sary of Washington's birth. 1t was
cracked then and the sound it gave
could hardly be described as ringing =.
The last time the bell pealed out in
the ringing tones that announced the
birth of the new republic was July a,
1885.
On that day it was proclaiming the
nations grief over the death of Chief
Justice John Marshall, who body was
being taken from Philadelphia to its
final resting place in Virginia. Sud
denly the tone of the bell changed, be
cause muffled as with grief. The bell
ringer hurried TO the tower of the
Stateh0use He found great crack
in the side OF the bell.
In the circumstance many pr0fessed
to see fitting climax to one of the
most important epochs in the nation 3
history. Fifty-nine years before the
bell had rung out the tidings that the
Declaration of Independence had been
signed and adopted this day its tongue
forever became silent during the
funeral services of Chief Justice Mar
shall the last of the sgners of the De
claration and the last of George Wash
ingt0n's associates.
Once before the bell had cracked
Made in England at the order and
expense of the colony of Pennsylvania,
it was brought to Philadelphia in
1853, where it was given it's first test
for tone. The first blow of the clap
per made a wide crack in the bell. a
Philadelphia firm offered to recast 1t.
and rather than wait for its return
from England the colOnists turned it
over to the firm The foundry-meu
thought to increase the sweetness of
its tone by increasing the proportion
of the cooper. but they deadened the
the tone so that it could hardly be
heard Again the bell was recast,
and its proving successful this time it
was hung in the statehouse steeple
where for the following 81 years its
tongue heralded important national
events.
To-day Liberty Bell lies in the State
House in Philadelphia, where it's first
clarion peal of liberty rang out. 1t is
one of the nations most ievered relics
and every year thousands of pilgrims
from all parts of the country visit this
shrine. Before il was placed in it's
present glass case one might often see
distinguished men, women and
children put ont their hands to touch
the sacred reHc
six times has the venerable bell
been carried to distant cities to take
in anniversaries exhibitions. Ninety
thousand school children successfully
appealed 10 the Governor of Pennsyl-
yania to have it sent to the ST Louis
Exposition. Daring the anniversary
of the battle of Bunker Hill il was es-
corted through the streets of Boston
by the Ancient and honorable Artll.
cry Company, itself "A relic of the Re
yoluttOnary times. Ii was adorned
with wreaths. and the spectators.
many of them being women. kissed its
braZen sides with reverence. 1t has
jOurneyed into the South three times.
so New Orleans. Atlantic and Charlie
ston. Two months ago it was reported
that the crack in the bell is gradually
becoming larger. and special precau-
tions have been taken to preserve
the bell for the future generations.
COUNTIES IN AMERICA
An interesting story is told concern
ing the features of counties through
out the United States. There is very
little uniformity in the size or other
characteristics Of theAmeriean county
1t means something entirely differ
ent from the English county which
will average l.O00 square miles and q
population of 100000. The smallest
county in the United States is Bristol
County. Rhode Island, which covers
20 square miles. The largest is Custer
County, Montana, which en- braces
20, 400 square miles. The smallest in
population is. or was 10 years ago,
Brown County, Texas, which had
four inhabitants. The largest is New
York County which contains between
two and three millions Before New.
ada was made a ttate it was Nevada
count Of the Utah Territory, covering
over l0,0oQ square miles.