Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-04-12
Attemnted Bank Robbery.
A GREAT EXPLOSION.

| Danh Nv Nortn Bennington, ON Inurs
day morning of last week, in which tn,
burglars nearly effected their purpose
but were probably frightened away BY
an overcharge Of powder and the conse
quent magnitude of the ex plosion. TIL,
particulars as We gather from the Rut
land Herald are as follows;
The bank has a large vault secured
by two of Lilies fire proof doors, anC
inside of the vault was large" Her
ring safe" with two burglar proof doors
and it was upon these that the attack
finally failed.
Having effected an entrance into the
building, they burst open the outer doors
OF the vault with wedges and by explod
ing powder, in holes bored for that pur.
pose. They then, having obtained ac'
cess to the vault. commenced operations
on the outer door of the safe, within the
vault In this door holes were drilled
and loaded with powder, and the charges
fired. The explosion must have been
terrific as the large plate glass, over the
outer door of the building, was complete
ly shattered, other windows broken, and
even the glass and sash Of one window
destroyed. The inhabitants of the vii
lage were awakened by the rafting of
broken glass and the rumbling sound,
but believing it to be caused by the ex-
plosion of powder mill, of which there
are number in the vicinity. and hav-
ing become somewhat familiarized with
such explosions, they turned themselves
to slumber again.
The explosion seems also to have had
a terrifying effect upon the burglars
themselves, as they made hasty exit,
leaving behind them a complete set of
tools, consisting of a Jimmy" sledge,
powder, fuse, curtains, etc. A light
burning in house opposite the bank
probably added to the speed of their de-
parture.
From the bank they went to the de-
pot of the Harlem Extension Railroad,
broke into building, and leaving, a
bottle of oil behind them, took a hand
car started in the direction of Troy,
leaving their car at Jacksonville, where
it was found in the morning. Here it is
supposed they took the night express
train, from Rutland, over the Rutland
& Washington Railroad, arriving in
Troy at $40 A. NJ.
There was dance in the bank build
ing, Wednesday night, terminating at
II o'clock and at about the same hour,
Hon. E. G. Houghton, Vice-President OF
the bank, entered the banking office and
extinguished lamp which had been
burning, as was usual, during the even
ing. 1t is therefore known that the at
tempt was not made until after that hour.
In the morning, when the attempted
burglary was first made known, it was
discovered that the clock had stopped at
thirty minutes past two, and from
this fact, it is believed that it was at this
hour that the last explosion occurred
and the burglars made their escape.
1t is stated that earlier in the evening
man applied at Loren's livery stable
in East Bennington for carriage, but
being stranger and having told the at
tendant falsehood in regard to having
seen Loren, his application was denied,
and he was told that he was probably a
thief.
The officers of the bank after consid-
cradle trouble, got the safe open and
found everything well kept, but an hour
more of work by the burglars and they
would have secured the whole.