Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-22
Imprisoned in a Bank vauit.

The Detroit Press gives the following
account of curious accident which re-
Gently befel bank clerk in that city, by
which he nearly lost his life;
1t appears that the gentleman had oc-
casion to enter the inner chamber OF the
vault about fifteen minutes before the
hour for closing the bank, when an as
sistant in the cash department, who has
charge of the keys, came along and care.
lessiy slammed the inner door and
locked it. Unconsciously he had i'm
prisoned human being. He forced the
massive outer door of the vault into po-
stion, turned the key, and, depositing it
in his posket, took his customary station
at the desk.
In the business routine Of this estab-
lishment the day books are regularly
posted before closing, in order that no
interruption may occur on reopening for
the afternoons transactions, and the
involuntary prisoner, who superintends
this department not being present to
give the usual orders, an inquiry was
raised as to what had become of him.
After few moments patient waiting a
messenger boy was dispatched to hunt
him up. The boy soon returned with
out result. AS the mans hat and coat
we're hanging ON the rack, it was appa-
rent that he could not have gone far,
and it was decided to wait for him until
twelve o'clock before closing the books.
The City Hall bell soon tolled that hour,
and the gentlemen engaged in the bank
prepared to go to dinner, leaving one of
their number at the door in charge of
missing mans clothing.
In going out, the teller remarked in a
Joking manner that their colleague had
been imprisoned in the vault This
caused the gentleman who closed it so
much uneasiness that he at once decided,
Notwithstanding the burst of laughter
which his undertaking might create, to
swing both doors of the vault and walk
in. This was Immediately done, when,
TO the horror of those outside, he uttered
shrek and called for assistance. To
rush into the vault and light the gas,
which had become extingnished, was but
the work of an instant, when the pros
trate form of the poor fellow was dis
covered in a position which revealed his
suflerings, and showed how hard he had
struggled to regain his liberty.
The apparently lifeless body was CAR
ried out of the vault and placed on a
sofa in the directors parlor. Several
physicians were Immediately summoned,
who, aided by the bank employees, made
every possible effort to resuscltate him.
After a nalf hours assiduops labor, du-
ring Vhich time proper resteH9tiges were
appIied, they were rewarded by ,peF-
ceiving unuistakable symptoms OF the
return of aniG;atioH. Under advice OF
the attending physicians hs vas placed
in carriage and conveyed 10 his home,
where he shortly afterward returned TO
consciousness.
He SAYS that when the doors were
locked on him, he cried at the top OF his
voice. with but faint hope of being
heard outside. He shook the inner door
until it ratified on its hinges, but all in
vain, and after having resorted to every
means in his power to liberate himself
from his tomb, exhausted by exertion
and stihed by the closer air OF the vault
he fell helplessly to the stone floor to
meet his seemingly inevitable doom. he
soon alter became insensible, and put Tor
the timely discovery of his whereabouts,
the escape Of gas and the fetid atmos-
phere OF his Theoretically sealed iron
coffin would soon have consummated
their deadly work