Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-08-20
WILDCAT BANKING.
A Little story of Early Days in the
West.

West.
An express messenger, in his remini
scenes of early days in the West, says
Adams & Co. and the Adams express
company did very profitable business
in receiving from brokers and others
notes of the several banks of the coun-
try and presenting them for redemp-
ton. charging double rates for this
business. At that time there was a
class of banks in Indiana known as free
banks. Any person who could purchase
$50, 900 worth of bonds could deposit
them with the auditor of the State, and
receive that amount in bank notes ready
for circulation when signed by the
banks president and cashier, and these
notes were redeemable only at the coun-
ter of the bank. It was an object,
therefore, to the bankers to place the
bank where il would be difficult to get
at, and then loan out its notes and let
them circulate as money. Under in
structions / kept three or four men
ready to start on moments notice to
hunt up these banks, and present their
notes. Many of them were located in
towns which had no existence. except
on paper, and were very difficult to
find. AT one time, when all my men
were away, except one, who was sick,
received package containing 81, 900 ON
the Bank of Morocco. This bank, ]
learned from the state auditor, was To-
Gated on the Grand Prairie, about fifty
miles west of Lafayette, and one hun
dred and twenty-five miles from Indian
apolis. The Lafayette and Indianapolis
railroad was then running about thirty
miles of that distance, and the rest of
the way had to be travelled on horseback
and coach. Procuring a horse at La
fayette, I started west through the
prairie with scarcely track to guide
me, with 81 900 in my pocket, and I
did not find a person who had ever
heard of Morocco until / reached the
Rensselaer,, where I finally got some
information.
Pushing on until nearly night I saw
before two log buildings, and riding up
to one, which proved to be a black
smiths shop, inquired the way to
Morocco. The smith told me I was
already in the town, and I inquired
where the bank was located. He in
formed me that he kept the bank in his
house, and asked what I wanted.
told him. 1t was then dark, and had
no alternative but to stay with him all
night, though he told me his accommo-
dations for travellers were very poor.
He turned my horse out on the prairie
to Craze, and l got very good supper
In his house. 1t was very warm, and
he made bed on the prairie where we
both slept. l was little uneasy about
sleeping out on the prairie with 81 900
in my pocket, and he offered to put it in
the bank, and did so. In the morning,
after a very good breakfast, we pro
ceeded to the business for which came.
He went to one corner of the log cabin,
and commenced taking potatoes out of
a barrel, and after taking out bushel
or more, produced my package, and sat
down at the table and counted it. Salts
fed he was right, he went to the same
potato barrel, and soon produced bag
of gold which was marked $4,000, and
counted out fifty 800 gold pieces, and
handed them to me and put the notes
and bag of gold back into the barrel
and covered with potatoes. After re-
ceiving my money / asked him for his
bill for meals, lodging and horse feed,
but he refused to take anything, and
remarked, "You are the first person
who ever found the Bank of Morocco,
and if You keep its location to yourself,
l am satisfied" / promised to do so,
and left for home. Mr.. Dunn. audior
of state, told me afterward that several
persons had tried to find the Bank of
Morocco, but he thought 1 was the
only one who had succeeded