The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-22
In q Steel Dungeon.
rom ~. ph;,oda,nh;. INQUIRER.

From the Philadelphia inquirer.
The most uncomfortable bed In
Philadelphia one night was that oc-
cupied by Joseph Cannon, a young
bartender, employed at Peter Nc
Gillian's saloon. Cannon slept in
the new vault that is being put in
the keystone National Bank build
ing at Chestnut and Juniper Streets.
Cannon, who is % years old, was
roaming through the building with
young Peter MCCLELLAN late in the
afternoon when they came upon the
immense vault that is being built in
the banking room. The vault is be-
made of steel and is about sixteen
feet wide by eight deep and
eight high. Its walls are
OF plates and fully a foot thick.
1t had not been quite finished, the
lock had not been put on nor had all
the delicate machinery for moving
the door been adjusted. Cannon step
ped inside and was looking at the
heavy steel finishing of the interior
when suddenly the door swung to and
hefound himselfin darkness. Outside
he could hear his companion, young
MCCLELLAN, laughing mischievously
at his joke, but Cannon was a tritie
scared. He pushed with all his
strength against the heavy door, but
his weight hat no effect whatever
upon the ton of steal before him.
He cried out in alarm. MCCLELLAN be-
came frightened too, and pulled
while his friend pushed; but they
could not bulge the door by a hairs
breadth. Then the Waterman was
called in, and his strength was added
to the exertion of the other two, but
with no more success.
BY this time everybody was pretty
thoroughly scared. The policeman
on the corner was notified and he
summoned two or three of his COM
rades. Several men who heard OF
Cannon's peculiar situation came up
with crowbars. 1t happened that
the door did not shut tightly, and
there was room to insert the end OF n
crowbar between the door and the
side of the vault.
Two men pushed on each crowbar
and the door yielded little. Finally
it was opened far enough to allow a
rope to be passed into Cannon, who
was more dead than alive, and he
fastened the end to a bolt on the in
side of the door. A dozen strong
men pulled on the rope, two men Ia
bored at each crowbar and Cannon
pushed from the inside. The door
Welded more. All thought it was
about to fly open. But when one
inch of daylight shone in the heavy
door came to a stop.
For two hours the men worked at
it, but not the fraction of an inch
could they move it further. 1t seems
there is continuance on the hinges
which, if properly adjusted, will make
the door as easy to open as a gate.
No one understood the patent ar.
rangement. Cannon's hopes fell
again. Some one suggested sending
for the workman who was putting in
the vault. He lives in Tioga. A mes
senger went out there, and when the
workman learned that Cannon was
in no danger of suffocation, and that
he was not likely to suffer for food OF
drink he decided to make him pay for
his curiosity, and declined to come
down until this morning.
Meanwhile arrangements had been
made to make Cannon as comfort.
able as possible. Candles were handed
in to the imprisoned man and q
couple of blankets were stuffed
through the crack. A small rubber
tube was introduced, and throug
this Canon sucked some tea. I'm
made frugal supper of crackers
sandwiches and water, and at IL
o'clock spread out his blankets ane
declared he was ready to go to sleep
At midnight he was tossing about
on his hard, steel bed. He was re
leased in the morning.