Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-02-26
EXTRAORDINARY BANK ROBBERY.

One of the Boldest and Most Successful
Robberfes Oh Record-The First Nation
al Bank of Quincy, ILL.,. Relieved Of
S300,OOO-A Wagon Load of Plumber
Carried OF.
The usually quiet city of Quincy, H., was
startled as 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 o'clock in
the morning, as was his wont. WAS struck with
CONSERVATION at what his eyes beheld. The
ceiling and walls of the building near the vaul.
were in broken and shattered condition, and
the bricks shaken from their position. He
at once notified the officials, when an investi-
CATION was made, revealing robbery which.
in its conception and execution. eclipses any
of the daring schemes for plumber that figure
i'll 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
sorry, and plate of boiler iron two feet
square cut from the lining of the vault with
chilled chisels This done access was obtained
to the interior of the vault, where were two
safes, one containing the money and special
deposits of the bank, and the other Govern
ment bonds and valuable papers. The money
safe was found with the doors blown off their
hinges and depleted of all its contents save &
bag of gold. There were in it 800, 600 in cur
rency belonging to the bank, 5000, 600 in Adams
county bonds, worth par, and special deposits
of greenbacks and Government bonds. bring
ing the sum total up to $500, 900. The other
safe, containing valuable papers and bonds,
was also charged with powder and blasted, but
die not yield and its contents, although show
ing 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
the stupendous robbery, and the length of
time required to execute it. The explosion
was made at 2 o'clock in tie 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
hinges of each safe, and held fast by the free
use of putty. A connecting fuse was then ad-
justed 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 so arranged that
when it was discharged it set off the fuse.
This pistol was fired by means of cord which
led from the vault to the street. and thus the
burglars set off the explosion, when the vici-
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 re-
spectable wagon load. To get away with the
spoils it was necessaryto let one of their num-
Der down into the vault by rope several
times and raise him up with the booty, and
yet this was done and these experts neither
disturbed the neighborhood, which is in the
heart of the city and within a square of the
police headquarters, nor were they seen by
anyone. The bank publishes a statement that
it will not be seriously affected by the robbery
will continue its business, and pay all depos-
its. 1t is one of the strongest institutions in
the West. The bank offers $780, for the
recovery of the stolen property.