Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-10
All About the Liberty Bel
- By Rosebud Park

Philadelphia to San Francisco, starting
July 5. 1t passed through Iowa
July 7, stopping at Davenport, iowa
City. Marengo and Des Moines.
The bell which hung originally in
Independence hall, Philadelphia, where
1t first pealed fourth the news of the
signing of the Declaration of indie
pendence. The bell rang over two
hours with the firing of cannon and
the beating of drums. 1t was cast in
England in 1852 and bears the inscrip
ton: Proclaim liberty throughout al
the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof.
ringing and was recast in 1853 and
again cracked while tolling on the
funeral of John Marshall July 8, 1885
1t was in 1777 the British under Gen
eral Howe were coming to occupy
Philadelphia, and the American army
was forced to leave. Knowing that
the British would like nothing better
than to get hold of this bell party OF
American soldiers took it from the
state house tower and placed it upon
cart and took it to Allentown, guard
ed day and night by two hundred
North Carolina and Virginia soldiers
The cart broke down on the way un
der the weight of the bell of two thou
sand pounds and the bell had mar.
row escape from accident. 1t was put
on another stronger cart and was safe.
ly taken to Zion church, Allentown
where it rested safe from capture and
British bullets. June, ITS. it was
again returned to independence hall in
time to ring for victory at the sur
render of CORVALLIS.
The second trip of the Liberty Bell
was to New Orleans in January, 1885
To Chicago in 1892 and later to Allan.
ia, Charleston and St. Louis. The
trip to the Panama-Pacif1c exposition
and the return to Philadelphia will be
six thousand miles, the longest journey
the bell has ever taken.
Rosebud Park,
1916 N. Elm St., Ottumwa, Iowa
Here is poem Rosebud sent in with
her story:
There was a tumult in the city 49,.
In the quaint old Quaker town,
And the streets were rife with people
Pacing restless up and down
People gathering at the corners,
Where they whispered each to each,
And the sweat stood on their temples
With the earnestness of speech.
AS the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the wild Newfoundland shore,
So they beat against the state house,
So they surged against the door;
And the mingling of their voices
Made harmony profound,
Till the quiet street of Chestnut
Was all turbulent with sound.
"Will they do it," Dare they do it,"
who is speaking?" What's the
news?"
What of Adams?" What of Sher-
man"
ooh, God grant they won't refuse!'
Make some way there!" Let me
nearer!"
81 am stifling!'' Sitting, then!
When nations life's a hazard,
We've no time to think of men,"
So they surged against the state house,
While all solemnly inside
Sat the continental Congress-"
Truth and reason for their guide.
Der a simple scroll debating,
Which, though simple it might be,
Yet should shake the cliffs of England
With the thunders of the free
Far aloft in that high steeple,
Sat the bellman, old and gray;
He was weary Of the tyrant
And hjc iron.ccoptorod ouov
So he sat, with one hand ready
On the clapper of the bell,
When his eye could catch the signal,
The long-expected news, to tell.
See! See! The dense crowd quivers
Through all it's lengthy line,
AS the boy beside the portal
Hastens forth to give the sign!
With his little hands, uplifted,
Breezes dallying with his hair,
Hark with deep, clear intonation,
Breaks his young voice on the air.
flushed the peoples swelling murmur,
Whilst the boy cries joyously:
Ring" he shouts, Ring! grandpa.
Ring! oh, ring for hberty!"
Quickly at the given signal
The old bellman lifts his hand,
Forth he sends the good news, making
Iron music through the land.
How they shouted! What rejoicing!
How the old bell shook the air,
Till the clang of freedom ruffled
The calmly gliding Delaware!
How the bonfires and the torches
Lighted up the nights repose,
And from the flames, like tabled
Phoenix,
Our glorious liberty arose!
That old state house bell is silent,
flushed is now its clamorous tongue
But the spirit it awakened
Still is hving-ever young;
And when we greet the smiling sun
light
On the fourth of each July,
We will ne'er forget the bellman
Who, betwixt the earth and sky,
Rung out, loudly, independence;
Which, please God, shall never die!
-sI- lIcEEIn kEEn1