Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-04-05
The Leisure Hour.
ROHHI.yG THE H.g.v'K.


A few years ago, while staying at Allan
tic City, l met at my hotel fine gray
haired old gentleman, whose conversation
| greatly interested me; he had evidently
| seen great deal of the world and was es-
| pecially conversant with anything connect
| ed with the banking business.
In few days we became quite COM
panions, and Mr.. James Archer (for such
was the name of my new frieud) informed
me that he had been in the banking busi-
ness all his life, having at various times
| filled the different offices of CASHIER teller
and president.
az should suppose" l observed, THAT
the banking business offers fewer dramat-
ic episodes than any other profession"
al don't agree with you there" returned
Mr.. Archer, Judging from my own expe-
rience, should say that there are but few
professions which offer more dramatic
scenes"
:You have been an actor in some scenes
| of this character? ?'' | inquired.
81 have indeed. Let us sit down here on
the porch, and will tell you what happen
| ed to me once out West"
SO saying we fixed ourselves comforta-
| bly,, and Mr.. Archer related to me the fol-
| lowing exciting episode of his life.
Some years ago / was cashier in a bank
| situated in the city of Milwaukee, in the
| State of Wisconsin. Although large
place now, Milwaukee at the time refer
L.,
rough class OF inhabitants.
Like all places on the extreme verge of
civilization, the law was almost a dead let
Ter. Horse thieves, robbers and murder
ers were there in such numbers that they
struck terror in the lawabiding citizens,
and no jury could be found to convict the
most henious offender. If it CHANGED to
leak out that any of the twelve jurors were
in favor of bringing in verdict of guilty,
his or their lives were sure to pay the for
felt of their sense of justice.
As natural consequence of living in
such state of society, every man walked
abroad with his life in his hand, and with
out single exception every one went
armed to the teeth. l have known men TO
be shot down like dogs for a word or even
look.
There were hundreds of men who made
il their especial business to try TO pick
uuarrels with the better class, that they
might have chance of robbng and kill
ing them.
You will readily understand that carry
ing on bank under these circumstances
was a most arduous task. Every one of
the employees was heavily armed, and the
vaults built for the specie and valuables of
| the bank were of the most massive charac-
ter. In fact, so much was the case, that
| they became n kind of show place for
strangers; and every one who happened
| to be detained in the city was sure to visit
| the vault Of the Citizens Bank.
Our president was strong, powerful, ell
| ergetic man, who had more than once
| proved his courage in melee; consequent
| ly the ruilians of the place kept him at a
| distance, and for two years after the bank
was started no one offered to molest us.
| We had orders from him to shoot down the
| first man that showed the slightest dispo-
siton to be aggressive.
| Mr.. Braintree, for such was our presi-
/
| great deal with the rougher portion of the
| community, thinking by this means he
| might learn if there was any scheme on
| foot to attack the bank. OF course these
| inquiries were always made in dsguises,
and, indeed, Mr.. Braintreo possessed the
4 art of so altering his features that he could
| deceive even his own family and particular
| friends, when assisted by the aid of dress.
He had carried out this plan for about
two years without anything occurring to
prove its necessity or usefulness, when one
July morning he entered the bank about
an hour earlier than was usual with him.
"Good morning, Mr.. Archer" said he to
| me, as he took off his fine black coat and
| put on an easy fitting blouse.
"Good morning, Mr.. Braintree. You are
| early this morning"
"Yes-I have something particular to
| tell you, and thought II better to lose no
| time. You must know in the first place,
| that | visited the Three Swans last night"
The "Threc Swans" was one Of the low
est tayerns in the place, and the rendez
vOus for all the desperate characters in the
| town or neighborhood. There was scarce
| ly night passed that some one was not
| killed there.
"You visited in disguise, supposeP" l
remarked.
"Cerlainly. was disguised as a drover,
| and had the extreme pleasure Of being taxi
| en- for horse thief by all the scoundrels
| present.
"That isat least a mpliment to your sue
cess in Disgusting yourself / returned.
| "Yes-thats true. l learned something
at the "Threo Swans" last night, Mr.. Arch
or, which nearly concerns u.s."
"Indeed," l returned, pricking up my
ears.
"You have heard Of "Whito Headed
Bobby2" said Mr.. Braintree.
"Do you mean the great balk robber ?"
| asked.
"Yes, he himself He has robbed more
banks than any ten men in the United
States. He has never failed in one instance.