M.U. BELL RUNG
BY GOAT IN 1880

Prexy Routed from Res-
cue by Lighted Train
of Gunpowder

Whenever the old bell in Switzler
Hall tolls out the hours, the old
timers like to nudge one another,
snicker a bit, and ask, “Remember
the time Dr. Read tried to save the 
bell?”  (Resulting loud laughter.)

If one shows the slightest inclina-
tion to stick out one’s ears a bit,
This story will be immediately forth-
coming.

Student depredations were at their
heighth one cold winter.  The center
Of amusement focused in the near
Vicinity of the bell in Switzler Hall
tower.  Doctor Read, then president
Of the University, made bold to
Announce that he would stop such
childish prattle and pranks.  It was 
Getting to be too much of a custom
For the bell to be found clapperless 
In the chill light at 8 o’clock of the
morning.

One morning the president became
conscious of a continual jangling
and banging of the bell.  The presi-
dent was annoyed.  The jangling 
continued.  In righteous wrath the
worthy doctor rushed out the front
door to see an innocent and unob-
trusive goat wandering about the 
campus with the end of a long cord
around his neck.  The other end of
The cord was attached to the bell
high in the tower.

The goat became the object of the
president’s attention at once.  Down
the walk he went in long strides.
Then almost at the end of the walk
Dr. Read was startled and consider-
ably astonished to see a hissing
blaze running up the walk toward him.

He stepped back a pace in be-
wilderment.  The blaze leaped two 
steps at him.  With a rush it almost
reached his feet and discretion be-
came the better part of valor for 
the president, for keeping just a
speedy lap ahead of the burning 
powder train he beat it to his front
door by just a foot.

Just as the president had walked
down the walk a student had set
off the trail of gun powder and Dr.
Read was forced to “right-abut” in
inglorious retreat.

This happened long ago before
college students were considered
human beings, but if proof is 
wanted read the Police Gazeete
sometime in the winter of 1880.
There, with complete illustrations of 
the hastily retreating doctor, one
may find the story.