"Hell's bells" is a very old Naval exclamation; exclamation of impatience, anger, emphasis, etc. The exact source is not known, but it was first recorded in 1910-15 .
As per Theopenscroll.com, Hell's bells is actually the shortended term for "Hell's bells and buckets of blood!". It may be that the expression derived from encounters where another ship's bells could be heard during conditions of low visibility.
If a ship that could not be identified by sight came very near, the situation at hand was potentially deadly. If you were aboard a merchant or passenger ship and pirates patrolled the waters, sudden fury could be unleashed at any moment!
Check out these 88 hilarious slang terms from the 20th century to sprinkle through your writing like you're putting on the Ritz shared by Bustle.com.