The herald., 1921-12-15
The Old BeIfry. Bell A
History Of Interest
BY Edward Cicero kohn.

Many of us have read Of the famous
bells that have been interviewer with
stirring historical events that effected
the whole world, and of others with
fame not so far reaching, but just as
closely connected with the history
of localities whose daily life has been
controlled by the vibrations sent out
in ever widening circles from its
| tower.
The congregation of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South has just
acquired such a bell to be used for
their new church on Opelousas Ave
nue..
1t seems that the far off Free City
of Bremen on the shores of the great
body of water north of Europe would
have no connection with a bell that
formerly rested in its tower which
stood at the foot of Verret Street in
Algiers, and now to be used by the
church, but in gathering information
concerning this particular bell it was
necessary to interview one of the old,
old timers who knows its history. so
let Mr.. John ID. Wiedman whist
] ling Dick as he was known to his
cronies and associates here in AL
giers, tell us something of the history
of the Bell Frame and of our bell.
Mr.. Wiedman informs us that he
was born in Bremen in 1889 and
landed in Algiers in 1857, and remem-
bered the first case of yellow fever
that broke out near the French Mar
ket in 1853, and just about that time
he left on the Indian. a vessel under
American register bound for London.
loaded with tobacco, returning in one
month. He became second mate in
addition to being the ships carpen
ter, and followed shipping for while
and settled in Algiers.
In 1859 there was a DELL frame at
the foot of Verret Street, but just
the bare frame that was built in the
late SOS. and the bell then used was
paid for by subscriptions OF the me-
chanics along the river front. The
bell used at that time was cracked
by William (BilD Benzick calling the
volunteers to a fire that occurred
next to Philharmonic Hall, which is
now Schabel's cafe on Patterson
Street, Algiers. 1t was the custom in
years a little later for the young men
and QirIo IN ha Ill
Christmas and New Years to ring out
the year, and this further cracked the
bell. 1t was then that the City of
New Orleans gave the bell. now be-
longing to the Methodist Church, to
the Ship Carpenters and Caulkers
Union. in lieu of the right to use the
bell for fire alarm purposes.
This new bell was cast in Cincin-
natl, Ohio, and donated by the city.
the city agreeing to keep frame in re-
pair. in return for the use as a fire
alarm station, and as the old bell was
Of no further use to the associations
1t was donated to the colored church
which was located Just opposite the
Belleville school and of which Eder
Jim Craig. one of the old patriarchs
OF the old regime, was minister.
Captain Tim Daily, chief of the fire
department in Algiers, informs us
that there was another and smaller
bell used before the one which was
cracked, and that three bells were
used in the bellfry to his knowledge.
but he does not know Just how or
when 1t was acquired.
Let us endeavor to associate some |
OF the history of Algiers with the
bellfry and Immediately connected
Herewith.
According to Chief DAILY, there was
an association of shoemakers, tailors.
carpenters and other master crafts.
men who first built a frame and in.
stalled bell. but later an associa-
ton was formed of the ship carpen-
ters and caulkers. Wooden vessels
came to this port for repairs and in
cidental caulking Of the seams with
the heathful smelling oakum.
The first official bell ringer was a