Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-01
ALADDIN'S CAVE.
WHERE THE TREASURES OF THE
WEALTHY ARE STORED.
A ya-tt Which no Burglar Can DemOliah-
A Structure Against Which the Mob
May Rage in vain-Ths
Inside.
New York Eun.l

4Ho NhSb Ii SCOCkS 6uQ DOnOS o.
the millionaires Of the city are not stored in
the brown-stone dwellings of the avenue
The thin walls, black walnut doors, and
easily picked locks of those houses would
offer little resistance against the violence of
a mob or the ingenuity of a burglar. The
days when skillful cracksmen could capture
large quantities Of valuable property in rich
mems homes have almost passed away
Taught by experience, or admonished by
example, persons with portable valuables
have been forced to seek places of storage
and security. Within nearly the last dozen
of years there have sprung up In answer to
that demand buildings Of massive structure
and exceptional strength All that invent
i've genius could disoova, or money COM
mand has been employed to render thsss
places fire and burglar proof There are
many OF them scattered through the city
from Wall street to Harlem, all agreeing
in their main features of massive strength
and inspiring solidity. These are known as
safe deposit vaults They usually occupy
the ground floor of some stanch, fre-proof
structure, and the mass Of locks, barn, bolts,
combinations and burglar-rssistinS con-
trivances is really wonderful
A description Of one uptown near the
center Of the city will answer for the rest
Entering from the street YOU pass up 10 q
wall Of solid steel bars, every bar as thick
as q mans wrist and twelve or fifte>n feet
high. These are firmly fastened TO sash
other and into the stone floor. and across
them Is placed a stout wire screen, Two
keen eyes sharply survey you from the In
terstices Of the screen. IL their owner q
impressed favorabIy there is a clicking of
locks. a rattling of bolts. and SLOWLY thu
pondsrous iron gate swings back Next YOU
fall into the hands of the superintendsnt
who gives YOU another keen survey. and
then, unlocking an iron wicket. ushe,s Won
into the vaults Two massive doors. each
nearly eight inches thick, stand a1ar. Each
of the three entrances is double doored and
every door is secured by time and combina-
ton locks and six large bolts of steel Law
ing the daylight with the outside world and
passing into the interior. the brightly turu.
ing gas Jets reveal a low-ceilsd, SQUARE
apartment The floor Is stone, iron, and
cement; the ceiling Is iron, and four iron
walls are concealed behind four rows Of iron
safes. This is the treasure houss of Wander.
bilt. Human skill could not build il stroner:
mortal genius has not welded steel and stons
into a frmer combination.
When ones eyes become accustomed 70
the light Of this iron chamber one perceivs
that the surface Of the walls is divided into
little squares of various sizss. The depositor
inserts thin key Of curious make in ono Of
the squares. He begins to haul on ths
square, and it lengthens out into an obloua
iron box nearly three feet long and divided
into Compartments These boxes are nova
BILE, and may be taken out and brought inN
a private room, where in the strictest pri
vacy the contents of the box may be exam
ined Other safes are firmly fastened inta
the WALL and have changeabls combinatios
locks The locks Of the outside doors Of the
vaults are both time and combination loehs
and the time locks are so arranged that tha
doors, oncs closed, cannot be opened until
o'clock In the morning. Outside and inside
at least dozen persons are within earshot
and could easily hear the slightest unusual
noise 1t Is calculated that II by any acct
dent the locks should all get out of order, II
would require more than four days Of con
slant labor to effect an entrance.
These vaults contain almost every variety
Of valuable property-gold and silver coin
greenbacks, diamonds and other precious
stones, bonds, deeds and valuable papers Of
every description Families breaking Ut