The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-07-21
Miscellaneous.
ROBBING THE BANK.

kOBDING IHE DANh.
A few weeks ago, while staying at
Atlantic City, / met at my hotel fine
grey-haired old gentleman, whose con-
versatlon greatly interested me. He
had evidently seen great deal of the
world, and was especially conversant
with everything connected with the
banking business.
In Il few days we became quite com.
panions, and Mr.. James Archer (for
such was the name of my new friend)
informed me that he had been engaged
in the banking business all his life, hav-
ing at various times filled the different
offices of cashier, teller and president.
81 should suppose" / observed,
that the banking business offers fewer
dramatic episodes than other profess
siou.r
:" don't agree with you there" re-
turned Mr.. Archer. Judging from
my own experience, should say that
there are but few professions which
offer more dramatic scenes"
"You have been actor in some scenes
of this character 2" / asked.
81 have indeed Let Us sit down
here on the porch, and / will tell you
what happened to me once out West
So saying, we fixed ourselves com
iortably, and Mr.. Archer related to me
the following exciting episode of his
life.
Some twenty years ago was cashier
in Il bank situated in the city of Mil
waukee, in the State of Wisconsin
Although Il large place now, milwaukee,
at the time | refer to was long, strag
Cling town, with very rough class o
inhabitants.
Like all places on the extreme verge
dead letter. Horse thieves, robbers
and murderers were there in such mum.
bers that they struck terror in law abid
ing citizens, and no jury could be found
to convict the most heinous offender
If it CHANGED to leak out that any o
the twelve jurors We're in favor o.
bringing in a verdict of guilty, his o
their lives We're sure to pay the forfei
of their sense of Justice.
As natural consequence Of living il
such a state Of society, every man walk
ed abroad with his life in his hand, anC
without Il single exception every one
| I L.
men to be shot down like dogs for
word or even look.
There were hundreds of men VIII,
made it their especially business to tr.
to pick up quarrels with the bette
class, that they might have an oppor
tunity of killing and robbing them.
You will readily understand that car
rying on bank under these circum
stances was most arduous task. Ever.
one Of the employees was heavily arm
ed, and the vaults built for the speci
and valuableS of the bank were of tn,
most massive character. In fact, s.
much was this the C ase, that they be
came kind of a show place for strang
ers; and every one who happened t.
be detained in the city was sure to visi
the vault of the Citizens Bank.
Our president was a strong, powerful
energetic man. who had more thai
once proved his courage in melee
consequently the ruffians of the plac
kept him at a distance, and for tw
years after the bank was started no on
offered to molest us. We had receive
orders from him to shoot down the frs
man who showed the slightest dispos
ton to be aggressive.
Mr.. Braintree, for such was our pre-,
ident's name, was accustomed to mingl
+ n great deal with the rougher porto
!; of the community, thinking by th
). means he might learn if there was an
scheme on foot to attack the bank. {
course these inquiries We're alway
,; made in disguise, and indeed, NJ
. Braintree possessed the art of so alte
u ing his features that he could decei,
his own family and particular frlenC
i when assisted by change of dress.
n He had carried out his plan for abol
/, two years without anything occurriu
'' to prove its necessity or usefulneS
when one hot July morning he enterC
the bank about an hour earlier Thu
was usual with him.
"Good morning, Mr.. Archer" sa
he to me, as he took Off his fine bla
:" coat, and put on an easy-fitting blous
W "Good morning, Mr.. Braintree. "
=. are early this morning."
as a Yes-I have something particul
ed to tell you, and i thought it better
Is. lose no time. You must know, in t
IS first place, that | visited the 'Thr
a Swans last night"
ID The "Three Swans I" was one of /
e lowest taverns in the place, and I
#. rendezvous for all the desperate char
tiers in the town and neighborhot
There was scarcely night passed Il
RI some one was not killed there.
nd "You visited in disguise, suppose
all | | rama RI pl