“The South shall rise again,” shout the threatening Rebel voices across the river to their rival McCallum.

Meanwhile, the north is equally determined to make sure that the rehash of the Civil War comes out as originally rehearsed.

And so the feud rages as spirits in both McCallum and Travis rise to a fever pitch today in preparation for tonight’s annual gridiron clash. An inquiring observer soon discovers that in the midst of all the rucus there is the little matter of a bell.

But this bell is not an ordinary ding-dong by any means. It is the symbol of the friendly but intense rivalry and good sportsmanship between the high schools of north and south Austin. It is the victory bell.

This coveted token of triumph came into being three years ago as the inspiration of Mr. Leedell Horton, former McCallum journalism sponsor. At the first McCallum-Travis game, the bell (then an old Navy bell) was presented to the student bodies by the publications departments of both schools.

The Search

Afterwards, the search for the official victory bell was on. Th path of pursuit led to publications workers to the roundhouse of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Houston, where Engine Bell 988 was spending her days of retirement. The hard-earned pennies of the McCallum and Travis newspaper and annual staffs brought her to a place of honor in Austin.

At Austin Electric-Planting Company, the old bell was given a dress of nickel plate and engraved with the score of the first game — McCallum 21, Travis 20. The one-point margin gave McCallum possession of the bell, for tradition provides that the winning school will keep her.

The Tradition

A lopsided score of 33 to 7 in the second game gave McCallum the victory bell again. Again, something new was added. This time, it was a standard for the bell to be decorated with the colors of the two schools. It was built by Mr. Dick Matthews, McCallum supporter and father of former Shield managing editor Colleen Matthews.

Tradition rules that the bell’s golden or brazen notes (depending on whether the listener has won or lost) ring out but once a year—the night of the game. The victorious school reserves that right but only after the last second on the time clock has ticked away.

Last year, when the game time was all used up, the Rebel had the privilege of ringing the bell. (The score was 26 to 13.) Since that time, McCallum had not seen the victory bell until the morning at the pep rally. Then McCallumites made known their intentions for tonight—to keep it here.

This article was originally published on September 8, 1956.