Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-21
Safe Opening Hnmors.

FROM the Boston courier.
There are many amusing incidents
connected with our business" said a
sale manufacturer one day. 1T is to be
expected that in the ordinary course of
events circumstances will arise when a
safe will have to be opened by an ex-
pert. Locks, like any other piece of
mechanism, are not iniallibie. The best
of them are liable to tail at times
through some slight defect in manufac-
turing, same as the handspring of the
most valuable watch may give out unex
pectedly.
mot long ago firm wanted man to
fix their safe. 1t was open, but they
could not shut the door far enough to
throw the bolts. The man went to the
place, and, after brief examination saw
penny resting on one Of the bottom
6anges. Taking this off, the door shut
and locked all right. 1t is forgotten
how much it cost the firm to have the
man 60 to their place and pick up that
little coin. but it was enough to prevent
its being repeated no doubt. A similar
case happened recently. We were sent
for at about the close of business hours
to see what was the trouble with one of
our safes. The bolts would not throw
far enough to turn the lock. The result
was the finding of q cloth button from a
lady's dress in the lower bolt hole. This
removed, all was right. AS the victim
was a staid bachelor, and supposed to
occupy his office alone, he, begged that
it should be kept quiet.
Some years ago We had delivered
new set of vault doors for bank about
two hundred miles away. Just before
they we're ready to occupy their new
quarters we had telegram to send
man at once. The bolts of the outer
door would not throw far enough to
lock it. Our man went, and this is what
he found. The bank officers had fitted
IN board for the tread of the vestibule
but had omitted to bore holes in it to al
low for the throw of the bolts. An au-
ger and ten minutes labor made every
thing all right, but made that piece
of board rather extravagant lux
ury; ~,
the best for the last. For fear this may
reach the eyes of the hero OF the incl
dent, / will substitute for his correct ad-
dress that of Calais, Me. 1t was not a
thousand miles from there. The letter
read to come at once and open the safe,
as there were important documents
wanted for immediate use. With his
kit of tools, our m an took the next train
and arrived on the following evening.
It proved to be an old-fashioned safe,
with large key lock. There said the
man, lis the safe. The lock has been
working harder and harder for weeks,
until now l am locked out. l am in a
hurry to have it opeaed. Never mind
the damage, if yo1 will only break into
it in short ORDER Our expert took the
key and tried it, but it refused to work.
He then took a small wire and picked
out half thimbletul of dirt and lint
from the key, tried it again, and better
working lock was never seen. How
much is your bil1?' AS this involved q
trip, to and from Calais, of about 800
miles, and time and expense In proper
ton, he replied $40. Taking a roll of
bills from his pocket he said: That is
satisfactory, on conditions. Does any
one in the place know your business
here?' The reply was mo one.' AL
right, then; get out by the next train,
and keep mum; for | would gladly pay
500 rather than have any of my friends
know that 1 was fool enough to go to
Boston for man to pick the dirt out of
NV kov -