Wichita eagle., 1889-08-11
lowered the trap carefully, and as carefully


left the building.
There was no longer any doubt The tun-
mel was there, and the robbers might be
ready to make their final movement on the
bank that very night 1t was scarcely prob
able 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
in the bank, and they could work without
fear of being heard
As it was probable that watch was kept
over our movements, our preparations for
the capture of the burglars were deferred
until after dark. During the afternoon we
worked at our desks as usual, and left the
building for om homes at the usual time,
have received instructions from Axtell to
report again 81 S o'clock We were to come
up the alley, which was always very dark,
and quietly enter the rear room of the bank
Meanwhile the president had seen the sher-
if. who was to come to the bank with four
deputies at s O'Clock.
When l cautiously stepped through the
back door into the building little before s,
found these men already there. The other
clerks came in promptly.
Two men were sent to a room in the second
story of building across the street, where
one enter the passage way, they were to no.
tify us by drawing match across the window
sill and immediately blowing it out. Each Of
the clerks, beginning with the bookkeeper,
was to be stationed for certain time near
the vault door, to listen for sounds from the
tunnel, and to watch for the signal across
the way The rest Of the party were to re-
main in the back ROOM ready to respond to
,1rxtz% II
The time dragged along slowly enough. We
could only sit in silence. No sound had
reached us from the tunnel, and no comnun
cation had been made to us by the clerk in the
banking room, up to II o'clock. AT that hour
another man was to relieve the first watcher,
and the exchange was silently made. The
bookkeeper had heard nothing below, and
had seen no signal from the opposite side Of
the street.
Again the time dragged. Nothing unusual
was 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 consultation by Mr.. Axtell and
the sheriff, it was decided that it was prob
able the robbers were at work in the tunnel,
and if they were they would leave it at an
early hour The sheriff and two of his depu-
ties took their station outside, two Of them
going into the alley, and the other into the
street in front, thus guarding both ends.
At about o'clock l heard a distinct noise
from under the floor near the vault door. 1t
was steady succession of strokes, as in dig
ging, mingled with a slight sound OF tools
Presently came a noise as though some heavy
body was being lifted or forced. | 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 enterl
Now was the time to act. The other end Of
tunnel was guarded, and at this end, of
course, there was no possibility of escape l
stepped back two or three PAGES, drew my re-
volver, and fired three shots in quick success
sion through the floor at the point at which
Judged the tunnel must terminate.
There was only a slight chance Of hitting
any one in the tunnel, but the robbers in
their fright would undoubtedly rush for the
other end, to find 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
were waiting developments. The men who
had been stationed across the way quickly
came over. as explained briefly as possible
what had occurred, and, revolvers in hand,
we surrounded the adobe.
After waiting some minutes we became i'm
patient, and the sheriff determined to enter.
Dark lanterns were procured. and the sheriff
directed us to follow him closely.
We crowded into the passage way, the
sheriff at the head. When the door was
reached, he flung it open without moments
hesitation, threw up his right hand with
cooked revolver, while two deputies immedi-
ately behind him reached forward with dark
lanterns, and flashed the light throughout the
room. There was an instant of intense sus-
pense. Then the sheriff said quietly, There's
not a soul inside"
All hurried into the room. The trap door
was down. There was no other door, window
or opening of any kind by which an escape
might have been made. The robbers must
be still in the tunnel. 1t was suggested that
they had built q branch tunnel for escaping
if discovered; but there seemed to be no
place in the vicinity suitable for such an
exit The chances were that they were still
inside, waiting, perhaps, an opportunity to
make rush through the trap door.
We listened for a few minutes, but heard
no sound Then the sheriff stepped forward
TO the trap door, and quickly lifting it, threw
the rays of dark lantern down the hole. As
far as the light reached, nothing could be
seen but the black walls Of the tunnel. Then
the sheriff leaned forward and shouted down:
Come up one at a time and surrender, and
we won't hurt you"
There was no answer, we waited a little
and then shouted again as before, adding,
not altogether politely, This is the last
chance you'll get. Don't make fools of your
selves!"
The echo of his voice was the only response.
In silence we waited about the tunnels
mouth, but heard not the slightest indication
that any one was inside The sheriff threw
down the door with angry impatience What
next! How We're we to capture thema Should
we have to srarve them out, or smoke them
out.
We divided ourselves into watches, two
men were to stand guard for one hour, while
the others retired to the bank to snatch lit
tie Sleep if possible. In the meantime several
policemen, having heard the firing, had come
to the vicinity of the adobe. One of them
stationed himself in the passage, and two
more took their stands in the street and alley
ready to spread the alarm if an escape was at
tempted Before leaving the watch to their
duty we fastened the trap door down Sc
curely.
From this time till $50 in the morning
nothing occurred. The watchers were regu-
larry relieved, and none Of them had reported
any signs of life in the tunnel But as the
banks business must go on without Interrupt
ton, it was necessary TO open the vault.
There was less chance of the robbers try