The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-07-14
Wildcat Banking.
From the Expressman's Monthly.

From the Expressmans Monthly
Adams & Co. and tho Adams Express COM
pany did very profitable business in receiy
ing from brokers and others notes Of the sew
eral banks Of tho country, and presenting them
for redemption. At that time there was q class
of banks in Indiana known as free banks. Any
person who could purchase 500, 900 worth OF
bonds could deposit them with the auditor Of
state and receive that amount OF bank notes
ready for circulation when signed by the banks
president aud cashier, and those notes we're re-
deomabie only ut tho counter Of the bank IL
was an object, therefore, to the bankers 10
place the bank whore IL would be difficult to
got at, and then loan out its notes and let them
circulate az money Under instructions
kept three or four mon ready to start on
moments notice to hunt up these banks and
present their notes. Many Of them were locat-
on paper, and were difficult to find At ono
time when oil my men were away. except one
who was sick, i received package containing
81 900 on tho Bank OF Morocco. This bank,
learned from the state auditor was located on
tho Grand Prairie, about fifty miles west Of
Lafayette, and l25 miles from indianapolis.
The Lafayette 4 Indianapolis railroad was then
running about thirty miles Of that distance,
and the rest OF the way had to DO travelled on
horseback and by coach. Procuring horse at
Lafayette, l started west through the prairie
with scarcely track to guide me, with 81 600
in my pocket, and did not find q person who
had ever heard Of Morocco, until reached the
little town Of Rensselaer,, where I finally got
some information.
Pushing on until nearly night saw before
me two log buildings, and, riding up TO- one
which proved 10 DO o blacksmith shop, in
quired where the bank was located He in
formed me that he kept thu bank I'm his house.
aud asked what wanted told him. 1t was
then dark and had no alternative but TO stay
with him all night, though he told me that his
accommodations for travellers were very poor
He turned my horse out on the prairie to
Craze. and i got very good supper at his
house. II WAS very warm, and he made bed
on the prairie where We both slept ] was O
little uneasy about sleeping out on the prairie
with : 900 in my pocket, and he offered to
put ii in the bank and did 80. In the morning,
after very good breakfast, We proceeded to
the business for which ! came. He went TO
one corner Of tho log cabin and commenced
ing out bushel or more, produced my pack
age, and sat down at the table and counted IL
Satisfied he was right. ha went to the same
potato barrel and soon produced bag Of gold,
which was marked $4,000. and counted ont
rfsy y2U gold pieces and handed them 10 me,
and put the notes and his bag of gold back into
the barrel and covered ii with the potatoes.
After receiving my money asked him for his
bill for meals, lodging and horse feed; but he
refused 10 take anything, and remarked: "You
are the first person who ever found the Bank
OF Morocco aud if you will keep it's location to
yourself I am satisfied" lpromised to do 60,
and left for home. Mr.. Dunn, auditor Of the
state, told me afterward that eeversl persons
had tried TO find the Bank Of Morocco, but he
thought was the only one who had succeeded