The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-01
AN ANCIENT AND CLASSIC BUILDING
REDEEMED.

| The Recorder of Mortgages and Registrar
oil Tonveyanoes have moved into tho old Banl
Of Louisiana, which has been for some tin,
occupied by tho Superior Criminal Court.
Here ID another change OF this classic build
ing, 90 long ndso honorably associated will
important events tn the history of our city. II
Ii again remitted to civil pursuits, and IL nc
longer decorated by the presence aud trial d
felons. Its lofty ceiling will no longer echo
the eloquent appeals Of ingenious lawyers
engaged Id the defense of criminals or the
terrifying counts OF indictments, or the Inn
pressive charges Of the judge. Heneeforth the
quiet and silent business Of examining the
records OF mortgages, Of writing certificates
OF the recordation or release OF liens and reg
istries Of sales and privileges will be con.
Quoted within these antique walls, which were
once the witnesses OF Rreat operations In
commerce and finance, and which for period
Of nearly half century tnclosed the larKest
amount Of treasure and trust funds that were
ever collected within one building In this city
for the sarne period. This building WIS
erected more than fifty years ago. 1t was,
when built, regarded u paragon of architect
ural beauty tn the old Doric st, lie.
A stout merchant named Benjamin Story,
Georgian by birth, who had accumulated
large means In the com mission business, was
the founder and father OF the bank. He wes
Its president from Its foundation to his death,
which occurred about the year 1s49. and while
he was president there was no more substan-
tlal and solid bank In the United States. IT
weathered all the financial storms which
have periodically swept over this country.
Its paper was par with gold everywhere in
the United States and In Europe. It gathered
into It's vaults all the trust funds, the de-
posits Of courts and insolvent estates. I'M
bounded confidence was felt by everybody In
the stability of the institution and the safety
of all funds eonflded to 1t. Its ancient and
scarcely legible old notes were cherished as
infallihle tokens and representatives OF the
value expressed on their face. Wild catism,
loose discounting, specializing or kite-flying to
move crops, or set up people In trade who had
ncSsolid securities to offer, were regarded by
the managers OF this Institution as deadly
sins. The presidents Of this bank during It's
whole career, were veterans Of the war OF
1872. Two Of them had served under jackson
In the defense Of New Orleans.
Benjamin Story, the founder and first pres
ident OF the bank, was one OF Beales Rifles In
the memorable battle OF the twenty third OF
December 1914.
In that. bloody hand-te-hand encounter
with the famous Nlnety-sixth British Rifles,
this company was divided In two sec
tions, one Of which escaped to Jaekson's
lines and the other was badly cut up, sew
eral killed and wounded. and the re-
mainder of them captured. Among the
wounded and captured were Zen Story and
William Flowers, who were both badly wound
ed and we're sent to the British fleet, where
they were detained until exchanged. Story
vas shot through the thigh. Il Ia an inter-
esting historical fact that the section Of the
Rifles which escaped, captured an equal num-
Der Of the British Rifles. Their appearances