The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-01

Robbery of the National Bank of Port Jervis
Fifty Thousand Dollars In Money and Bonds
Stolen-Wedging, Sledging, and Blasting
Safe Bursters Outrivalllng the safe Builders
Full Details of the Anuir-Five Thousand
Dollars Reward offered.
From the Port Jerrts EUening Gazette, Nop. 80.
One Of the most astounding bold, and successful
bank robberies was perpetrated this morning the
National Bank of Port Jervis by which about $4,000
the bank and individuals who had placed
their bonds in the bank for safekeeping
was stolen, the burglars having successfully
made their escape. The robbery was first dscov-
cred about I o'clock, by Andrew Thompson, the
and Peter Il. Farnum. The news soon became
noised abroad, and all the morning the bank has
been tnronSen WIN people plea ANXIOUS M to learn the par
the extent of the loss, stating the amount TO
be 100000 and others still larger-all of which
Incorrect. The total loss to the bank is between
twenty nve and thirty thousand dollars about one
half their surplus fund This loss docs not Affect
responsibility OF the bank in the least.
The bank building is one OF the most solid and
substantial structures In town. being constructed of
and boled in the most secure manner, rendering It
impossible for any but an expert burglar TO obtain
an entrance without considerable effort, which
nifty. The vault OF the bank was constructed OF
stone with foundation of the same material the
entrance to which was secured by an immense iron
door, weighing about $500 pounds and an inner Dor
OF solid wrought iron, about three-quarters of an
inch thick. The locks used on both the outer and
inner doors were "Llles combination Burglar
Proof"
Inside OF the vault were TWO 0re ana burglar
proof safes, the largest OF which was made by Her
ring and the smallest one by Lille. The Herring
safe contained the money and papers OF value De-
longing TO the bank, also Government securities
bonds ETC., which had been placed in the bank for
safe-keeping. This safe was secured by Yae's COM
binatiOn lock. The Lille safe also contained small
amount of bonds and valuable papers.
The next operation of the burglars was to open the
vault. BY driving steel wedges into the side and
derneath the door they made an opening OF about
half an inch in which they placed a quantity OF
powder, which was ignited by fuse. The door and
frame were blown completely OF, and fell over par
TALLY against desk, which was crushed and brought
30 the floor. The inner door was pried open by
means of a bar and wedges and the hinges cut OF,
which gave access TO the interior OF the vault.
The Herring safe, one OF the best made by them,
was next wedged and blown open. The bar on the
inside, which held the bolts was blown OF. This
safe, as stated above, contained the money belong
and $4,000, which the robbers secured. In addi-
ton to the property of the bank there large
amount OF Government securities bonds, ETC. which
had been placed by parties for safe Keeping else
where noted, which was deposited In this safe, and
| which was also taken, the amount of which cannot
/ OF the bank to be about $4,000.
No clue to the burglars has as vet been found,
although the officers of the bank are putting forth
every eXerton to ferret them out and secure their
capture. The telegraph has been freely used, and
reward OF $4,000 Is offered for the detection OF the
thieves and recovery of the property.
1t is reported that two men got on board the first
night line at Jersey City last night who were pointed
out to the conductors by detectives ''safe blow
ers." Early this morning four suspicious looking
| individuals with carpet-bags were seen near the
| freight depot. Two men also got on the way train
| going east this morning. who were suspicioned One
Of them got Off at Middletown, and the other is re-
ported TO have been arrested at Jersey City.