OLD SPANISH BELL. 237 



that during the Revolution a cannon-ball was fired from 

 a British cruiser in the sound, which went completely 

 through the mill, passing within a foot of the miller's 

 head; and still another, that some years since, a little 

 girl while at play grasped one of the vanes as it com- 

 menced to move, and keeping her hold too long, was 

 carried entirely "around the circle" without injury. 

 Of course the reader will take these stories for what 

 they are worth. On the stone doorstep of this old mill 

 will be found cut into it the date of its erection, 1746. 

 The building now occupied by the custom-house and 

 Captains' Club is a very old one, having once been the 

 warehouse of the celebrated William Rotch. The 

 building with brick ends to the street which leads to 

 the " Old South Wharf" was Rotch' s candle factory 

 and oil works, but the date of erection of either is 

 unknowu. 



" Old Spanish " Bell. 



This bell, which hangs in the tower of the Unitarian 

 Church on Orange Street, is neither Spanish, nor is it 

 very old. 



A story was in circulation for many years to the 

 effect that it had been stolen, as the inscription upon 

 it showed it was originally one of a chime of six that 

 had been cast for some sanctuary; and as the Roman 

 Catholic religion forbids the selling of bells after 

 having been consecrated, considerable credence was 

 given the story. The true stor}' of the bell, as told 

 by Hon. Wm. R. Easton, —than whom is no better 

 authority on anything that relates to Nantucket, — is 

 as follows: — 



