The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1889-07-19

the BANKS directors WllOm liz LOOK iHto,
the vault, pointed sOut the suspicious
appearance, and explained his theory OF
the cause.
Tho bank building stood on the
southeast corner Of tho intersection OF
two principle streets. at tho rear was
an alley, ana across that ~ large brick
the bank, was Il frame structure occu-
pied by Il clothing firm. Beyond, with
a three foot passage intervening, stood
an adobe house. The passage way ran
through from street to alley.
In tie building across the alley there
was no opportunity, MI. Axtell thought,
for working q tunnel; therefore lie con.
cluded the attack would be from the
east. The members Of the firm next
door were old citizens, and not to be
suspected. OF the adobe house he knew
nothing. This, then, Was the first point
for examination.
Mr.. Axtcll put a revolver in his
pocket, and going out the back door Of
our building walked up the alley to the
adobe house, and entered a rickety door,
which lie found unlocked. Here he
discovered Il bare, empty room, evil
IDENTIFY long occupied. But OH the 10 u
were tracks of muddy boots.
Upon examination lio found that the
flooring In the corner Of the room VAS
cut through, and II trup door had been
placed there. At one side of the door
al iron staple vas driven, apparently
serving us q handle for lifting it. lie
raised the trap cautiously, and saw a
barrel set into the ground pointing in
the direction Of the bank. Tlien he
lowered the trap carefully, and as care
fully left the b~uil1ing.
There WAS no longer any DOUBT. The
tunnel was there, and the robbers might
be ready to make their final movement
on the bank that very night. 1t was
scarcely probable that they worked in
the tunnel during the day. at least, now
that they had got so near the vault.
At night no one would be i'll the bank,
and they could work without fear of
being heard.
KS it was probable that a watch was
kept over our movements, our prepara-
tons for the capture Of The burglars
were deferred until after dark. During
tile afternoon we worked at our desks
homes ut the usual time, having re-
ceived instructions from AXtell 10 re-
port again ut S O'Clock. We were to
come up the alley, which was always
very dark, and quietly enter the rear
room or The bank.
Meanwhile the president had seen the
sheriff, who was to come to the bank
| with four deputies at s O'Clock.
When L cautiously stepped through
the back door into tile building u little
| before S, | found these men already
there. The other clerks came III
promptly.
Two men were sent to q room III the
second story of a building acros the
street, where they could watch the
adobe. If they saw any one enter the
Iassage way, they were to notify us by
drawing a match across the window and
Immediately blowing it out. Each of
the clerks, beginning with the book
keeper, was to be stationed for a certain
time near the vault door, to listen for
sounds from the tunnel, and to watch
for tue signal across the way. The rest
of the party were to remain in the back
room, ready to respond to any call.
Thus the night was commenced. The
time dragged along slowly enough. We
could only sit in silence. No sound had
reached us from the tunnel, and no
communication had Deen made to lis
by the clerks i'll the banking room, up
10 IL O'Clock. At that hour another
man was to relieve tho first watcher,
and the exchange was silently made.
The Dookkeeper had heard nothing
below. and had seen no signal from the
opposite side of the street.
Again the time dragged. Nothing
unusual vas reported by The watcher.
One O'Clock came, and it was now my
turn to relieve him. I took my place
under the counter. After a brief con-
.iultation by Mr.. Axtell and the sheriff,
it was decided it was probable the rob-
bers were at work III the tunnel, and if
they were they would leave it at an
early hour. The sheriff and two Of his
deputies took their stations outside,
two Of them going into the alley, and
the other into the street in front, thus
guarding both ends.
AZ about two O'Clock l heard IL dis
tlnct noise from under the floor near
the vault door. 1t was Il steady sue
ccssion Of strokes, as in digging, min
gled with Il Slight sound Of tools.
Presently came Il noise as though some
heavy body was being lifted or forced.
l crept to the front Of the vault, and
could catch the sounds very distinctly.
They seemed TO come from inside. The
robbers were either in the vault, or
just about to enter!
Now was the time to act. The other
end Of the tunnel was guarded, and at
this end, of course, there was 10 posi-
billty of escape. | stepped back two or
three PAGES, drew my revolver, and
fired three shots in quick succession
through the floor at the point at which
l judged the tunnel must terminate.
There was only ~ slight chance Of
hitting any one i'll Tie tunnel, but the
robbers in their fright would undoubt-
edly rush for the other end, to lind
themselves confronted by the sheriff
and his assistants. as those in the rear
room were hurrying forward, ] called
to them to run TO the Adobe.
We found the sheriff and his deputies
on the alert, as they had heard my
firing and waiting developments. The
men who had been stationed across the
way quickly came over. I explained