TOWN CRIER LIKENS SELF TO A REPORTER; MAN ENJOYS ROLE AT FORT MASSAC, ILL.

FORT MASSAC, Ill. - Don Geaschel says his portrayal of a 1750s American Colonial town crier is not unlike that of today's national and local news reporters.

"I guess you could say I'm the 1700s version of Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw or Peter Jennings, whichever one is the best looking," Geaschel quipped during an interview Saturday at the 19th annual Fort Massac Encampment at Metropolis.

The two-day encampment that recreates French, English and American Colonial life in the 1700s in the Illinois territory continues until 5 p.m. today at the fort.

"The town crier was your newspaper back then," he said. "Not everyone at that time was able to read, so the town crier went around making public announcements, read public notices, even gave the time of day or night," said Geaschel, 57, of Percy, Ill., formerly of Waterloo.

"Just about any public event that occurred in a Colonial town involved the town crier. He announced it in advance, and reported the news to the people after it was over."

Geaschel said the town crier had to be able to read, so he was educated and knowledgeable. Most of the people could not read since public education for the masses was still many years away.

Because he was educated, the town crier was considered a middle- to upper-class citizen in the community, said Geaschel. Of course, another prerequisite for the town crier was a voice that projected well and could be understood by all.

While history books frequently mention the town crier, Geaschel said very little has been written in detail about them.

"I've tried to research the history of the town crier, but there isn't much in the books on it," he said. "There is a lot of information on military and other civilian occupations of the colonial period, but very little about the town crier, other than the fact he played a role in the everyday life of the town. It's been a real problem for me because I've pretty well had to guess what the daily routine of the town crier might have been."

In France the town crier was known as the crier public. The town crier goes back as far as the 13th and 14th centuries, perhaps even beyond that, but no one really knows, said Geaschel.

But that hasn't prevented Geaschel from his main objective at re-enactments: visiting and talking with re-enactment visitors and participants and talking about the historical significance of the period. He also makes announcements, hands out program schedules, and, perhaps most importantly, helps missing parents locate children who have wandered off.

"It's real easy for a little one to become separated from his or her parents at something like this, and in this day and age every minute a youngster is missing can seem like a lifetime to a frantic mom or dad," Geaschel explained.

With his loud, baritone voice and clanging handbell to attract attention, it isn't long before the missing parent and child have been re-united. Fort Massac State Park Superintendent Terry Johnson said since Geaschel became town crier at the annual October encampment, their problems with lost children have almost diminished.

Geaschel also rings his bell and clears the way for the military formations and fife and drum corps units as they march to the morning flag-raising ceremony and the 5 p.m. retreat.

Geaschel was literally drafted for the role of town crier in 1982 by his French re-enactment club. Prior to that he portrayed a French Colonial fur trapper at the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous, near Prairie du Rocher.

"I was attending one of our re-enactment club meetings and sitting there talking to someone in the room and not paying a lot of attention to what was going on," Geaschel said. "Next thing I knew they had taken a vote and the gavel came down, and I was informed that I was going to be the Fort de Chartres town crier that summer. I told them I'd do it one time and no more. That was nine years ago."

After walking through the first three campsites at the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous, Geaschel admitted he was hooked. "That was it. I've been doing the town crier role ever since."

When he's not re-enacting his role as town crier, Geaschel is a heavy equipment operator.

Geaschel said being a participant at historical re-enactments is a lot like attending a family get-together. "We get to know each other real well, so we're like one big extended family during the encampments," he said.

As if to prove his point, the interview was interrupted several times as re-enactors and longtime encampment visitors stopped a moment to shake hands or give a big hug to Geaschel, who obviously relished his role.

"I like people. I like to be around people. I like to help them," he said. "I guess that's why I enjoy this particular role so well."

Portraying the role of town crier, however, is not without its sacrifices. Geaschel said it does get tiring toward the end of the day because he's been on his feet most of the day walking around the grounds. Also, Geaschel cannot spend as much time as he would like with his wife and several of his grown children, who also attend the encampments. But, when possible, Geaschel likes to walk around the fort with his young grandson, David, as he plays his role of town crier.

Two years ago Geaschel was bitten on the leg by a spider. Last year the leg became infected and nearly had to be amputated. As a result, it causes some discomfort after he's been walking for a while, so Geaschel tries to take more breaks during the day to get off his feet for a while. But Geaschel said he intends to continue his role as long as his legs and health permit.

If you're at Fort Massac today or next October, or at the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous next June, be sure to stop for a moment and meet Geaschel, the town crier. He won't be hard to miss, with his forceful voice and handbell. He'll be glad to meet you.