The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-17

ried on with a poteness that indicated he was
well-bred robber who knew his manners and
knew also when to display them. Mrs Van
Hovenberg asked him what he and his confed-
object; we're after money" said he with an air
of nonchalance "Can do anything to make
you more comfortabe?' he queried, and then,
without waiting for an answer, he proceeded
he asked, and a liberal supply of quilts from
the other beds was furnished. Then this polite
rascal made tour of the room, inspecting the
pictures and helping himself to a purse of
money This is nice watch you have here,
but don't be alarmed, won't take it, nor will
l touch your jewelry; but want your dia-
monds; where are they?' he inquired. 81 have
no diamonds" replied Mrs. Van Hovenberg.-
:'Oh, you're not poor, urged the fellow with
smile Yes we are poo" replied the lady
mus an hour, 1T seemed an age to the terrified
mother and her children, passed away.
- IN THE BANK.
Cashier Van Hovenberg was led into the
bank room, where his captors stopped in front
of the vault door With horrible oaths and i'm
precautions upon his head if he dsobeyed orders,
he was commanded to unlock the vault door,
With his arms secured he commenced to work
lie pretended to have forgotten the combna-
tion and made scores of other excuses, but they
would not harken to him. BY various pretexts
he secured delay, in the vain hope that assist
ance wonld come before he was compelled to
oAPooc w elc tuleVeS Cne valuable contents or
the vault. Slowly the dial of the clock before
him moved; an age of time seemed to elapse
while he was alone with the marauders. In
every way that occurred to him he sought de-
lay, but at last the patience of the robbers gave
out. Some of them whispered so loud, howev-
er, that his quiekened hearing drank in every
| word. Kill the - if he don't open it right
away" All this time his arms were secured
| behind him, and three men-two armed with
revolvers and one with dagger and rolling
nj n in iS acfop olo I
| Still anxious to secure delay he turned to the
men and said: 81 can't unlock the door with
| my hands behind me-" The handouts were
| slipped from his wrists and he was again COM
manded to proceed with his work. After con-
| Stunning more time by his delays one of the
burglars, losing all patience, proposed to take
| his life If the cashier persisted in his 'dodges"
| Abandoning all hope of relief Mr. Van Hoven-
berg, to whose arms the shackles were restor-
| ed, then opened the outer and inner vault
| doors, and with two revolvers pointed at his
head was compelled to stand by and witness
the thieves while they ransacked the contents
| thereof.
| THE PROPERTY TAKEN.
Eight thousand five hundred dollars in cur
rency belonging to the bank was first slowed
ing bonds and stocks belonging to private par
ties were carried out of the vault and placed
upon the floor of the counting room. All of
these boxes were broken open and their con-
tents placed in heap. Several cast-iron boxes
resisted successfully their violence, and these,
| with the bonds and stocks taken from the 9TH
er boxes, We're, when the thieves were ready to
depart, carried out doors and placed in wagon
which was waiting for them. Only last week
the bank vault contained 900 in currency,
and this morning remittance of $4,000 was re-
ceived. Before any of the plumber was remoy-
ed from the bank, Mr.. Van Hovenberg, after
he had obeyed command to unlock the front
door, was ordered to proceed up stairs, He was
taken INTO an apartment adjoining that which
his VIE and children occupied, and bound and
| gagged i'll the most secure manner
BRAVE SARAH Won HovRNBERc.
The polite individual then left his companion
| TO take care of the ladies while he proceeded to
the basement. He soon returned accompanied
| by the servant Then without any ado he COM
menced to tear up the sheets of the bed which
the ladies occupied. Look here, what are YOU
tearing up my mothers nice sheets for?" asked
Sarah, and then without waiting for an answer.
she continued ''lf you want old rags can get
| You some. We usually help ourselves to
what we want" was the reply. With the strips
made OF the torn sheets the work of caeging
Mrs. Won Hovenberg, her daughters and the
servant was commenced. In the mean time
the little boy was lifted out of bed What
are you tying us up for, and what do you in
tend TO do with my son?' inquired Mrs Won
Hovenberg of the Chesterieldian burglar, 'we
are aolng what Is necessary for our own pro-
4
| ging process had been completed the room was
deserted by the robbers, who took the little boy
with them. 1t seems that Mrs. Won Hoyen-
berg was not perfectly gagged but was able to
| speak. Apprehendiug danger to her husband
| of whose whereabouts she was in ignorance
and not knowing where her son was she re-
mained quiet. IL afterwards turned out that
| the boy had been returned to the closet which
he had once before occupied. Quietly and
noiselessly the burglars proceeded 10 the count
ing room, gathered up their plumber and drove
away from the scene of the outrage. The in
mates did not hear their departure, and all re-
manned quiet for some time-all but Sarah,who
struggled until she removed the tarred ropes
| with which she had been bound Then She
leaped from the bed and searched the different
| rooms until she found her father who was
| ted TO bed. She released him, and he Sc
| curing revolver, proceeded to the street door
| discharged several barrels of the weapon with
his wrists still confined in the handouts. The
noise of the shooting alarmed DIR. p T. Heartt
and George Stewart, who reside in close prox-
imity to the bank, and they instantly proceeded
thitherward.