Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-09-15

ent occurrence.
On the following morning I saw Mr..
Warton depart for the city. He had seen
Lane, and requested, or rather ordered
him to arrest Degrand.
At nine o'clock, the Deputy Sheriff was
IN my office. We conversed few min
utes, and then went out, and called upon
Mr.. Warton's servants. His wife had
gone with him. We told them that we
had business there, and, as they knew us
/ they were very anxious 10 accommodate.
Zane called for lantern, and we then
asked to be shown the cellar, at the same
time requesting the hostler to accompany
us.
We descended to an excellent cellar.
the bottom of which was cemented. and
the walls laid up with neatly split stone,
and thoroughly pointed with mortar.
Is there door aLywere about here 2
| asked, pointing to the wall next to the
bank
Why-no, sir, returned the groom,
gazing into my face, as though he would
assure himself that | was sane.
And must say that | began to doubt
the evidence of my sight on that cold
Winters night. | could not see anything
that looked like place of passage. The
wall was, TO all appearance, firm and
solid
Who built this wall 2 / asked.
Master lid most of it himself said
the servant. He used to be mason,
and he said he could save d good sum by
doing his own work, and have it done to
suit him too.
felt assured again I took a stout
chlsel from Lane, and commenced to
thump on the stones of the wall. The
lrst three sounded solid and sharp; but
the fourth one had a different sound. II
was dull and hollow. Iapplied the chisel
TO the mortar that projected from the
seam, and found that could move, it. |
moved the chisel to the end of the seam,
and very easily drew the mortar out but
instead OF breaking off short and crisp. as
mortar generally does, 1t not only chung
| together, but the whole line, from one end
OF the rock TO the other came easily out.
L examined IL, and found ii to be a neatly
! fashioned strip of wood, with the outer
edge thoroughly coated with lime mortar
/ Here was clue. Lane thulnped away,
and soon found another strip like mine,
about two feet above 1t. We next tried
/ the perpendicular strips upon he ends of
/ the rock, and they were like those already
taken out. This left large stone, two
/ feet high by about three feet long, free
from mortar. We worked upon it a while
/ but could not move it. | went up into
the street, and stood as near to where |
! had stood when | saw Warton pass through
] n | pn1iA IL.
the window, and the stone against which
Lane held tbs lantern was surely just
where | had seen the open way.
! | went back aud told my companion
that must be the place. We tried again,
and presently the stone moved. 1t pushed
IN, and seemed to swing on regular hing
es. 1t was quite thin, and when we had
got II open, we found it hung upon stout
iron plnlles. They were drilled in and
wedged with lead. The serving-man
/ opened his eyes and as soon as he could
command his speech, he said he began to
see where all them plaguy noises used
/ 10 come from
We passed through and found ourselves
IN close, narrow place, not over three
feet square, the walls of which were
/ broken stone laid in cement. A small
ladder formed by two pieces of ioist with
strips of board nailed across for the steps,
stood against one side.
This must be the foundation Of the
Bank Vault said Lane.
1 saw 1t as soon as he spoke.
But one of US could go up at time, and
/ | babe my companion to make the first
/ h,t IL l.. 4
| He found the work above him 10 broad
flags of fine, hard, blue granite laid upon
transverse sleepers of wrought iron.
Isn't that lever. up there III the cor
ner E he asked me.
| | looked, and saw a stout spruce stick.
just pass it up here, he said.
reached up one end of it, and when
he had placed it against the inner edge
of one of the flags. ne babe me lift. |
laid hold upon it and lifted with all my
might, and as l lifted the flag gave way.
/ Up, up, up II went, until at length it stood
on edge. 1t balanced itself there mo-
ment, and then fell over upon some bags !;
and at the same moment heard a quick
| cry from overhead.
Lane went up, and I quickly followed
Liiil, dIu III q iIlOlc we DOlu SlOOu
within the vault OF The haah The door
was open and the cashier and his subord-
mates gazed upon US with astonishment
Fortunately the bank was not open for
business, to no one save the employees of
the institution.
Good morning gentlemen said l.,
bowing very coolly as | stepped from the
vault TO the space behind the long counter.
In mercys name g gasped the cashier,
| what does this mean2'
1t means, sir, that we have a clue to
the man who has been robbing the bank,
| replied.
He opened his eyes wonderfully He
gazed first upon me, and then upon the
upturned flag.
Where does that lead from g he fin
ally asked.
From the private celler of Mark War
ton Esquire, President of the Valley
Bank | returned.
- l