Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-05
Notice to lIal subscrIbers.
p8-A DAnSo ArrEnrr 10 Ron TIM

B6p n A<AhlHd ~ EAub THE
GoyERSMENr SAER AT THE Cusrox House..
-BuReLARs FoILGD.-A most daring at
tempt was make during Wednesday night
and yesterday morning to rob the Gov. rn
ment vault at the Custom House, which
contained at the time one mllioE ttso hun
dred and Jijty nousand doIlars. The vault is
built of bricks, cementand iron. The walls
ofthe Custom House form TWO sides of the
vault which stands in a corner of the room
occupied by tue Collector of Customs The
vault is strongly constructed. The walls
are about fourteen inches thick and be-
tween every layer of bricks there is also a
layer of crossed and riyited iron firmly i'm
beddsd in the cement. The vault contain
ed all the money belonging to the Pay De-
partment as we'll as a large sum to be des-
bursed by Major Hill who is acting as mus
tering officer here. The.burglars, though
amply provided with tools, could not
open the heavy iron door of the
vault so they set to work with crow-bsr
and chisel to dig hole through the only
exposed side. They succeeded in digging
out the bricks and making large aperture
in the wall, but the iron still remained and
could not be removed. The portion of the
money not contained in small iron safes,
bat in packages and bags, was located at a
point some four or five feet from the nper-
ture, in the vault. Not being able TO get
into the vault, the burglars improVised a
hook with which they attempted to drag
the bags up to the aperture, but again the
iron bars interFered. They could see and
feel the money, but could not get att. The
work accomplished by the rascals must
have occupied several hours, and it is
thought that the early. dawn must have
caught them in the state of progress we have
described, and thus they were compelled
to abandon their work without taking away
a single red cent. The rascals passed
through from the Collectors room into the
Adjutant Generals office, through the office
of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and
into the Auditors office. Here they raised
window, tied rope with which they
were provided, to the fire crate and let
themselves down into the back yard, a dis
lance of about thirty feet, and thus es-
capped. In the passage from the Collectors
to the Auditors Office they must have pass
ed through three or four doors, all of
which, it is supposed, were unlocked by
keys made for that especial purpose. A
dark lantern, rudely and apparently, hastily
constructed, was left behind. Also a crow
bar, three chisels, handkerchief, anda bot
tie containing about one good drink of
whisky. The latter was left in Auditor
Cranes Office. a guard was stationed
about the Custom House as usual, but none
of the soldiers heard anything or saw any
thing.
From certain evidences discovered in the
attic of the building, there is no doubt but
that the burglars secreted themselves
in the building in the early part of the
evening, and did not commence their work
until all the heavy doors had been securely
locked and the occupants of the different
Offices had gone away.
The burglars worked like beavers, or like
desperate scamps as the are, who could
undertake an enterprise attended by so
much danger. One hour more time would
have enabled them to carry gilmore money
than they wanted. Ono thing is apparent
TO all who have witnessed the work accom-
plished aud the evidences left behind, The
enterprise was conducted by men per-
fectly familiar with the whole building and
perfectly cognizant of the location of the
money and the means by which to getit.
oue of the guards:ou duty during the
night reports having seen man come out
of the Custom House yard about four
O'Clock in the morning.
p~TuE JENKINS RAlp.-Lt. Col. Frost,
for whose opinions we have great respect'
thinks that Jenkins brought with him into