The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-02-20
EXTRAORDINARY BANK ROBBERY.

One OF the Boldest and Most Successful
Kobberies on RecOrd-The First Nation
al Bank OF Quincy, ILL.,, Relieved of
S5OO,OOO-A Wagon Load OF Plumber
Carried on.
The usually quiet city of Quincy, ILL.,, was
startled az it was never startled before on the
morning of Friday the 18th of February. The
porter of the First National Bank, on opening
the portals Of that institution at s o'clock in
the morning, az was his wont, was struck with
CONSERVATION at what his eyes beheld. The
ceiling and walls of the building near the
vault were in a broken and shattered condi-
ton, and the bricks shaken from their position.
He at once notified the officials, when an in
vestigation was made, revealing a robbery
which, in its conception and execution, eclipses
any of the daring schemes for plumber that
| figure in the annals of recent American crime.
1t being impossible to unlock the vault door,
an exploration was made in the second story
where an opening was found in the hall floor,
through which the burglars had descended on
the top Of the vault Further examination
showed that hole over three feet square had
been drilled through three feet of solid ma
sonry and plate of boiler iron two feet
square cut from the lining OF the vault with
chilled chisels. This DONE access was OBJ
tanned to the interior of the vault, where were
two safes, one containing the money and
special deposits of the bank, and the other
Government bonds and valuable papers. The
money safe was found with the doors blown of
their hinges and depleted Of all its contents
save bag of gold. There were in it 800, 900
in currency belonging to the bank 5000, 900 in
Adams county bonds, worth par, and special
deposits of greenbacks and Government bonds,
bringing the sum total up to $500, 900. The
other safe containing valuable papers and
bonds, was also charged with powder and
blasted, but did not yield and its contents al
though showing the marks of powder, are safe.
In the vault were found the tools employed by
the burglars. The kit was elaborate and of
the most modern invention
Theories differ as to the time of organizing
this stupendors robbery, and the length of
time required to execute it, The explosion
was made at 2 o'clock in the morning. The
manner OF working after reaching the interior
of the vault was as follows Powder was
filed into the cracks around and between the
uluBtS VI odCA sdlc, duu ny Iuo lIco
use of putty. A connecting fuse was then
adjusted to set both blasts off at once, and
then passed through rubber hose to the top
Of the highest safe, where small pistol was
screwed on an old ledger, and 80 arranged
that when it was discharged it set off the fuse.
The pistol was fired by means of a cord which
led from the vault to the street, and thus the
burglars set of the explosion, when the vic
nifty of the bank was cleared of people. Sew
eral persons in adjacent buildings heard the
sound and felt the conclusion, but thought it
nothing serious.
The currency and special deposits taken
from the bank, it is stated, would make
respectable wagon load. To get away with
the spoils it was necessary to let one of their
number down into the vault by a rope several
times and raise him up with the booty, and
yet this was done and these experts neither
disturbed the neighborh hood, which is in the
very heart of the city, and within a square Of
the police headquarters, nor were they seen
by anyone. The bank publishes statement
that it will not be seriously affected by the
robbery, will continue its business, and pay
all deposits. 1t is one of the strongest insti-
tutions in the West. The bank offers $40, 900
for the recovery of the stolen property.