The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-01-21

An express superintendent tells IN
the ~ T. SIN how the express compa-
MES protect tho money entrusted TO
their care:
at would not pay robbers to make q
raid on one of II parcel wagons. The
aggregate value Of all they could secure
would not be enough for the risk. With
respect 10 the wagons for money de-
livery, however, the case Il very differ
ent There the driver and his assistant
have In charge sometimes hundreds Of
thousands OF dollars-a rich haul for
thieves II they could get ut Il. But that
Is what they cannot do. In the first
place, the region whore these money
wagons are generally used is in the most
crowded part Of tho c%ity-the down
town part where there are thousands
about all the time, and IL would be inn
possible for thieyesto make any attempt
on our drivers without such a struggle
and row rs would call attention, and
not only Illustrate the purposes OF the
robbers, but in oil probability insure
their arrest. There ARE always two men
In those wagons when they are out on
duty, and care Is taken IN their selection
that they shall he young, vigorous, quick
witted and courageous fellows. They
are armed with royolvcrs, and they
know how 10 use them, but my instruc-
tions are they shall put more confidence
In their voices than their pistols. A
pistol. cve the best. might snap. but u
yell Is bound TO 20 on. SO. II attacked.
they are expected to make all the up
roar they can. Anybody with any
knowledge Of New York street crowds
can imagine what would be the consc-
quencc.
'Besidcs, u wagons are arranged so
rs to put tho greatest obstacles in the
way Of unwarranted intrusion compati.
bic with convenience. Look at this one
for illustration. II Is n onc-horso vehi-
Gle with only two wheels, and the only
way Of getting into Il Is ovcr the seat In
front, where the driver or his partner,
OF both, will be on guard. Externally
II Is n solid surface OF vanished wood
on sides and back. except where that
small window Of thick glass, high up In
the rear, admits light. Internally Il Is
lined with heavy wire netting. Inside,
filling the space behind the seat, aud
fastened there, Is n heavy wooden box,
with u safety lock. That box l. never
opened. except when the driver Is tax.
out a money package. When ho leave.
the wagon TO deliver . package he lock.
tho box and carries the key with him.
Ills partner. who Is left In the wagon,
has no mean Of opening the box. and
II would tako thieves. even with axe.
and a clear field u action, several min.
utcs 10 get its contents. When III,
driver takes u package ont for delivery
he Is instructed 10 either carry IL hidden
or in n bag slung to his left wrist, while
his right hand Is free 10 use his pistol
Where wo have occasion 10 send none,
up town, where there are comparatiycl,
few pcrsonsi in the streets, a wagon isscn'
with a single package. or perhaps two
and the men are cautioned 10 cNtraor
binary vigilance. The system Is th,
same In NIL the companies. Whereve
an Improvement for greater sccuritl
can bc devised by one Il is Immediate
ly communicated TO and adopted BY nj
the others. rs all are equally intcrcstc'
In keeping up tho common reputation
for absolute safety. Then another fac
may have some influence In onr favor
Tho thieves know that our companic
are vrry rich corporations, and that W
win prosecute tO the utmost anybod
who makes an attack on the goods an
der our care, regardless Of cost an
trouble. A prosecution by. an exprcs
company would not no the ~pcrfnnctor
service 81 an ordinary prosecuting Al
torncy."