The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-06
ROBBING THE TREASURY.
1t Could be Done, Perhaps, but
Would Not Paw

1t Could be Done, Perhaps, but It
Would Not Pay.
A Washington special 20 the st. Louis
Globe Democrat says: According to the
statement Of high treasury official made
10 your correspondent the other day, vast
sum might be stolen from the treasury in
just one way.
1t would merely be necessary for him to
suborn the guard Of the vault for the first
step. OF course ne would not choose the
silver vault; that metal is too heavy TO be
worth stealing. He would hardly select the
gold vault-for his object would be a big
strike. and less than cool million would
hardly satisfy him. But 81 900. 900 in gold
weighs little over two tons, and he would
find difficulty in getting away with load
like that, even il he had a wagon outside on
Fifteenth street
Bank notes are much more easy to handle:
therefore he would make the vault contain
ing them his objective point This vault is
on the first floor, much more convenient
than the gold and silver in the cellar, any
way. Overhead is a reserve vault contain
ing $3.50, 900, in greenbacks mostly; but
II may be assumed that the thief would not
want To be hog, and that he would con-
tent himself with leave 70 grab in the first
story treasure chamber, which always has
at least s25, 900 900 in it.
Having bribed the guard preliminarily he
would hide himself during the day in the
building somewhere, which would not be
difficult. 1t is never known in advance
what guard will be on duty at given time,
but the thlefsHould have to wait patiently
mayb be he might have to hide for two or
three nights before things were propitious-
and the guard could notify him when all
was well. The guard has the key Of the
outer vault door at his disposal and that
ba xrO1Yld h,,c ~
chance TO tackle the inner door
A skillful craftsman could open this
latter In a short time, and then the millions
have only TO be picked off the shelves
around the inside Of the vault. He has his
choice among the packages, which are
plainly marked with big red letters, show
ing the sums they contain. II the notes
are $40 ones the parcel, about a foot square
| contains $4,000; II twenties, $4,000: if
mites, 100000; if hundreds, 100000 A
Few OF these last be probably selects-S10,-
! OOO,UOO perhaps makes a sufficient armful-
and with this haul he toddles awav content
There are single bundles containing $40
OOOOOO in $4,000 gold certificates in the
vault upstairs, but be would not care about
those, because they would be difficult TO get
rid Of.
just such a robbery Of the treasury as
THIS might unquesti0nably be ACCOMPLISHED
at any time but the point is, would it be-
profitable to the thief No sooner would
this greatest burglary Of history be re-
ported than pretty nearly every person in
the civilized world would be looking out
for 500 United States notes Of the numbers
advertised as stolen The robber-suppos-
ing that he got away without leaving a
clew-could not safely dispose Of dollar
OF bis ill-got millions. II he deposited any
Of the cash In banks the bills would be I'M
mediately identified. in case be paid them
to individuals be would be quickly be-
trayed. His money is useless to him. Too
bad that be did not take gold instead
sTRANeEE On Tombstone. Arizonal-I hear
your bar h has suspendedf