Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1889-06-02
ELKO, NEVADA, SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 1889.
HOW SAFES ARE BROKEN.
-hh fa'horitytp nnrslary Gives u Few i
li.l..

~'Na ~ tNts t01JNEN.
An Au;horitytn i'urslary Gives u Few In-
siuCtSu Points.
Tho Boston Herald gives an interesting
account uy Pittsburgh authority in the
burglars art:
There are in this country just about nm
oven score o! rcn whom no bank vault or
sac, however strong. can resist. TO rcas..
F, sure society, Hi.! say that more than half
OF 'hfso arc safe behind prison bars. Safe.
bfca!:css have E.arc than kent pace with
. Improvements in safes. including time locks
Chilled steel chests of eight or nine t,G..k-
rcsscs and electric protective attachments.
Their tools are made by some Of tho finest
mechanics aGd inventive gcuilscs of the
world. y ful! kit Of the most approved
modern salc-wori;cr's tools costs abou,
$500.
The modern safe burglar Is IN exceeding
~ Keen, Intelligent man. lie can open a
s4Ic having all the modern improvements
III from ten minutes 20 two hours without
tHc ali OF explosives, and Uy only slightly
cefa"inGl;. Sometimes he leaves scarcely
Il mark.
n first class modern safe, whether largo
or small, generally has double ouis,dc and
inside doors. with steel chest IN the bot.
tom, forming really safe withir safe,
the in5,dc one being the stronger The
"S.c.etou." TEc inside one is made Of
eight or rIno sheets, Of different temper, Of
the finest steel. These sheets nrc Do!iCd
ioEelhcr with conlcll bO4s, having left
hini threads, after which the heads Of the
bolts ara Gu, OF, leaving what Is virtually
Il solid piece of steel, which no drill can
pcHC,rItc. The best locks are OF tho COM
D.HItion type, with time lock- attachment.
~ o9tn cities aud towns safes containing
q e va -
attached. Any ytampCr.ng with 10 will c1rl-
mLn!catc the fact - tho owners or tIic
sa!c's guardian, which in cities IS either an
electric protective bureau or central po-
Hce station. Weeks, and sometimes even
months are spent in putting IN u Job of
magnitude, and often n number Of smaller
Jobs are done 10 carry ojjL' one where the
proceeds may run up into the tens Of thou.
slrIs Of dgllaTs.
Keys are f;tcito every door which stands
between tic street and the bank vault by
means nj e thin sheet OF brass, as near a,
Pc"SiD.G tho same s!zo as tho kcyhOlc. and
covered with n thin coat OF carbon, which
may bc applied with match Il dozen cn-
frances may have 10 be mado 10 Tho bank
before itls finally robbed. A key IS fitted
first TO the outer door, This course is
continued until keys arc had of every
door leading 10 the vault. Having the
w1tchinnn aud officials OF the bank down
fine, ono of tue last things 20 do is 10 select
favorable night.
Then the bank burglar proper appears.
lie has usually three assistants. The gang
never appears uuIII the night Of tho rob.
berry, "nd then not till eleven or tlrelvc
o'clock. lfthrrc Is Il witchnun, his lilbits
and disposition have been carefully noted.
u"t, having access to the bank BIZ Ecys, IL
IS m easy matter 10 surprise and ovcrp0Y.
or him y CROW Is next planted outside.
or in an upper window, il ihero DO one. to
give ncncI, by mclns OF signals or a cord
reaching 10 the workers, OF the approach Of
pIirc'acn or chance passcrs by. 4 rcgu.
lar c'-.G "f sig7aig Is used, telling when 10
ccl' operations aud seek cover, and when
10 sumo work.
Whcn drilling Is necessary n light, com.
pact machine, which, n.s tho combination
dial plate, anl which rapidly drills u snail
hole aOoTo the wntcr rim Of the combination
dnl plate, is Uacd \ small steel breach ia
then inserted and ho combination knob
turned until the tumblcrs arc brought into
position. thus permitting tho dog or bar
10 drop. a turn Oi tho hnudlG shoots tho
bolts back md the door swings open.
IL tho operators hud on entering tho vault
that tho steel chest is m Improved ono, thcv
then proceed 10 "strip" 1t. Sheet after
Nll-Gt - iHhtu OH Illll tlD WORKS arc CX-
posed. This is done by using "crow,"
which IS sCctiOnGl-ihat il. il may bo cx.
tended or contracted. as may 10 necessary
TO an ordinary observer tho GROW" looks
lko tho bar which holds tho "manholo''
plato OF steam boiler in place, mud is
worked on precisely tho same principle.
Should IL bc necessary TO wedge" safo
open, IL modified form Of tho old ''dragr is
used IL is light but rigid and strong
steel bar, sectional, ia 10 suit different
sized safes, aud for case In Transportation,
which clamps tho outer sido OF the safe
Through tho bar Is run II scrcw.thrcaded
bolt, with ball JOINT at ono end for re.
ccivinr wedge. On tho other cnd ia worked
railroad wrench, used by track hands for
tightening rails, and which can DO procured
from my railroad snciion-housa With
wcdginE nnh blocking, 10 door can resist
this mstrumcnt, Sometimes miniature
railroad "jnck," such as engineers carry, il
substituted. a heavy c!cat Ia firmly fast
cDCd IN proper positiou nnd placed on tho
floor. Tho wcdgo in tho crack tho lack"
IN pincc, tho Tcsultis but n question Of time.
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