During what event did the Liberty Bell crack in 1835?

NathaNsc

It was rung by a few boys in honor of Washington's birthday. A myth: the last time the bell was rung in perfect condition was during an honor to Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, who had died in July 1835. Ellis Joseph said that "the gods seemed to regret his passing." There is widespread disagreement about when the first crack appeared on the Bell. However, it is agreed that the final expansion of the crack which rendered the Bell unringable was on Washington's Birthday in 1846. http://www.ushistory.org/libertybell/ 1835 - In an interview in the Sunday New York Times of July 16, 1911, one Emmanuel Rauch claims that when he was a boy of 10, he was walking through the State House Square on Washington's Birthday when the steeple-keeper, Major Jack Downing, called him over. Rauch, along with several other boys were asked whether they wanted to ring the Bell in honor of Washington's Birthday. The boys started the ringing, and after the clapper had struck about a dozen times, both the lads and Major Downing noticed a change in the Bell's tone. Upon examining the Bell, they discovered a hairline crack, over a foot long. Major Downing sent the boys on their way. July 8, 1835 - Long believed to have cracked while tolling for John Marshall, who had died while in Philadelphia. However, this is historically questionable. http://www.ushistory.org/libertybell/timeline.html [Edited to add supporting reference - McG] May 16 04, 9:07 PM