| Show bell presented to illinois church by king of france towed up river by hand closely associated with the early i history of illinois is an old church bell cast in the year 1741 it was presented to the congregation of the catholic church at kaskaskia by the king of france it required two years time for the bell to make the journey from france to illinois it was shipped to new orleans and from there it was towed up the mississippi river by manpower the men walking along the river bank and pulling by ropes the raft containing the bell the historic bell whose mellow tones were the first ol of the kind to be heard in the upper mississippi valley weighs pounds and is 22 inches high one side is ornamented with the royal lilies of france in relief the other side bears a cross and pedestal the top and arms of the cross terminating in grouped fleur de Us the bell also carries the following inscription in french to the people of illinois country tor for their adoration since its arrival at kaskaskia nearly two centuries ago writes an ava ill correspondent in the st louis globe democrat the bell has served under the flags of france I 1 england and the united states doubtless one of the most dramatic events associated with it occurred on the night of july 4 1778 when kaskaskia was captured from the british by col george rogers dark clark because ot of his small force dark clark was compelled to terrorize the citizens of kaskaskia and they were made to believe that a horrible fate awaited them on the following morning a mournful farewell meeting was held in the church after which several prominent members member of the congregation called on dark clark and wormed informed him they were ready to meet their doom the officer then undeceived them by disclosing his true intentions he also assured them they had bad nothing to fear it if they would support the american cause in his memoirs dark clark states that this announcement turned sorrow into great joy and an elaborate celebration was held on this occasion the bell pealed forth long and loud |
