The Portland daily press., 1888-10-04
A STEEL BEDROOM.
Where Joe Cannon spent Friday
Night.
philadelphia Inquirer


The most uncomfortable bed in Philadel-
phia last night was that occupied by Joseph
Cannon, young bartender employed at
Peter McGillians saloon. Cannon slept in
the new vault that is being put in the Key
stone National bank building, at Chestnut
and Juniper streets. 1t was not from choice
that he spent the night there, but because he
could not get out.
Cannon, who is % years old, was roaming
through the building with young Peter Nc
Gillian late in the afternoon when they came
upon the immense vault that is being built in
the banking room. The vault is made of
steel and is about sixteen feet wide by eight
feet deep and eight high. 1t walls are of
plates and are fully foot thick. 1t has not
been quite finished, the lock has not been put
on nor has all the delicate machinery for
moving the door, been. adjusted. Cannon
stepped inside and was looking at the heavy
steel finishing of the interior when suddenly
tne door swung to and he found himself In
darkness.
Outside he could hear his companion, young
McGillian, laughing mischievously at his joke
Dut cannon was trifle scared He pushed
Win an MS strength against the heavy door,
but his weight had no effect whatever upon
the ton of steel before him. He cried out in
alarm. MCCLELLAN became frightened, too,
and pulled while his friend pushed; but they
could not bulge the door by. hairs breadth.
Then the Waterman was called in, and his
strength was added to the exertions OF the
other two, but with no more success.
By this time everybody was pretty thor
oughly scared. The policeman on the corner
was notified and he summoned two or three
of his comrades. 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 in
sert the end Of a 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 rope to be passed in to
Cannon, who was more dead than alive, and
he fastened the end to bolt on the inside OF
the door. A dozen strong men pulled on the
rope. two men iabored at each crowbar and
Cannon pushed from the inside. The door
yielded more. All thought it was about to
fly open. But when one inch Of daylight
shone in. the heavy door came to stop.
For two hours the men worked at 1t, but
not the fraction of an inch could they move
IL further. IL seems there is a continuance
on the hinges which, If properly adjusted,
Will make the door as easy to open as gate.
No one understood the patent arrangement
Cannon's hopes fell again. Some one sug-
gested sending for the workman who was
putting in the vault He lives in Tioga. A
messenger went out there, and when the
workman learned that Cannon was in nc
danger of suffocation, and that he was moi
likely to suffer for food and drink, he decided
to make him pay for his curiosity, and de
clined to come down until this morning.
Meanwhile arrangements had been made IL
make Cannon as comfortable as possible
Candles were handed in to the imprisoned
man and a couple of blankets were stuffed
through the crack. A small rubber tube was
introduced, and through this Cannon sucked
up some tea. He made frugal supper of
crackers, sandwiches and water, and at II
o'clock spread out his blankets and declared
he was ready to 60 to sleep. At midnight he
was tossing about on his hard steel bed. he
will be released this morning