The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-09-14
The Monderful Bank Of MOROCCO.


u. Woodman gives this reminiscence
in the Erpressman's Monthly: Adams &
90. and the Adams express company |
did a very profitable business in receiv-
ing from brokers and others notes OF |
the several banks of the country and |
presenting them for redemption, charg-
ing double rates for this business. At
that time there were class of banks in
Indiana known as free banks. Any per
son who could purchase $4,000 worth
of bonds could deposit them with the
auditor of state and receive that amount
in bank notes ready for circulation
when signed by the banks president
and cashier, and these notes were re-
deemable only at the counter OF the
bank. It was an object, therefore, to
the bankers to place the bank where it
would be difficult to get at, and then
| loan out its notes and let them circulate
as money. Under instructions / kept
three or four men ready to start on a
moments notice to hunt up these banks
and present their notes. Many of them
were located in towns which had no ex-
istence except on paper, and were very
| difficult to find. At one time when all
my men were away, except one who was
sick, received a package containing
81, 900 on the bank of Morocco. This
bank, learned from the state auditor,
was located on the Grand Prairie, about
| fifty miles west of Lafayette and one
hundred and twenty-five miles from
Indianapolis. The Lafayette and Indi-
annapolis railroad was then running
about fifty miles of that distance, and
tho rest of the way had to be travelled on
horseback and coach. Procuring a
horse at Lafayette, 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 little town of Rensselaer,, where l
finally got some information.
Pushing on until nearly night saw
before me two log buildings, and riding
up to one, which proved to be black
smith shop, 1 inquired the way to Nor
occo. The smith told me I was already
in the town, and 1 inquired where the
bank was located. He informed me
that he kept the bank in his house, and
asked what I wanted. I told him. 1t
was then dark, and I had no alternative
but to stay with him all night, though
he told me his accommodations for
travellers were very poor. He turned
my horse out on the prairie to Craze,
and I got a very good supper at his
house. 1t was very warm, and he made
a bed on the prairie, where we botf
slept. 1 wss little uneasy about sleep
ing out on the open plain with money
in my pocket, and he offered to put it il
the bank and did so. In the morning
after very comfortable breakfast. we
proceeded to the business for which
came. He went to one corner of the
log cabin and commenced taking pota
toes out of barrel, and after taking
out bushel or more, produced bag o
, gold which was marked $4,000 anC
counted out fifty $40 gold pieces, ant
handed them to me and put the notes
and his bag of gold back into the barre
3 and covered with the potatoes. Afte1
receiving my money 1 asked him for hi
I bill for meals, lodging and horse feed
| but he refused to take anything and re
marked: 'You are the first person VIII
, ever found the Bank of Morocco. and
you will keep its location to yourself
: am satisfied" 1 promised to do so ant
r left for home. Mr.. Dunn c-ditor @
D state, told me afterward that severa
4 persons had tried to find the Bank O
a Morocco, but he thought was the onl
/ one who had succeeded.