Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-04
SSournal altO Gourisr.
Monday Morning. July 4. 1881.
ReminIscences of Wild Cat Banking
Eo. Woodward. in the E1pressman's MOnthly.l

TO. Woodward, in the ExpEessmans MontnIyJ
 Adams & Co., and the Adams Express com pany 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, charging double rates for this business. At that time there were 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 State, and receive that amount in bank notes ready for circulation when signed by the banks president and cashier, and tkese notes were redeemable only at the counter of the bank. It was an object, there fore to the bankers to place the bank where it would be difficult to get at and then loan out it's notes and let them circulate as money.
 Under instructions I 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 existence except on paper, and were
 very difficult to find. At one time when all
 my men were away, except one who was sick,
 I received 8 package containing $1 ,OOO on
 the Bank of Morocco. This bank, learned from the State auditor, was located on the
 Grand Prairie, about fifty miles west of La- fayette, and 125 miles from Indianapolis The Lafayette and Indianapolis railroad was then running about fifty miles of that distance, and the rest of the way had to be travelled on horseback and coach. Procuring horse at
 
 with scarcely track to guide me, with $1, ,OO0 l in my pocket, and did not find person who had ever heard of Morocco, until reach cd the little town of Rensselaer,, where final ly got some information.
 Pushing on until nearly night saw before me two log buildings, and riding up to one, which proved to be a blacksnith's shop l 1 inquired the way to Morocco. The smith told me was already in the town, and in quired where the bank was located. He ln- formed me that he kept the bank in his house. and asked what wanted. told him. It was then dark, and I had no alternative | but to stay with him all night, though he told ne his accomodations for travellers were very poor. He turned my horse out on the prai- | rie to graze, and got very good supper at his house. It was very warm, and he made a | bed on the prairie, where we both slept. I
 was little uneasy about sleeping out on the prairie with $1 ,0OO in my pocket, and he offered to put it in the bank and did so. In l the morning after very comfortable break | fast we proceeded to the business for which I came. He went to one corner of the log cabin and commenced taking potatoes out of barrel and after taking out bushel or more, produced my package, and sat down at the table and counted it. Satisfied he was right, | he went to the same potato barrel and soon produced bag of gold, which was marked l $5,O00, and counted out fifty $2o gold pieces, | and handed them to me, and put the notes | and his bag of gold back into the barrel, and | covered with potatoes. After receiving my l money I asked him for his bill for meals, lodging and horse feed, but he refused to take l anything, and remarked ''You are the first 1 person who ever found the Bank of Moroc- co, and if you will keep it's location to your, | self I am satisfied" I promised to do so, ano
 left for home. Mir. Dunn, auditor of State | told me afterward that several persons had | tried to ftd the Bank of Morocco, but he l thought was the only one who had succeeded