Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-09-19
COLD NERVE.
How Young Clerk stopped = Run O.
the Bank.

How Young Clerk stopped Run o.
the Bank.
We've got a bank clerk I'D in our
neck o. the woods who some day viii
give Jay Gould cards and spades in the
game of financiering and beat him to
stand-still," says Mortz Curren, OF
Cheyenne to the Leader. HE Is only
l9 years old, but is a hummer. Two
or three months ago, while the presi.
dent Of the bank was away, the cash
Ter was taken sick and in few hours
was in a delirious state. The young
Napoleon was left in sole charge Of
the bank. Some eyil-disposed person
started the story one afternoon that
the institution was in bad way. and
intimated that the president had skip
ped the country and that the cashier's
illness was only a bluff Before
night it was evident there would be
run on the institution the next morn
ing. The young clerk knew there was
scarcely money enough to last an hour.
He had no one to advise him, but he
acted promptedly. He called on the
leading hardware merchant and held
brief conference. Then this young
Napoleon went home, where he found
committee from the depositors await
ing him. He did not wait for them
10 speak but made this bluff: i re.
fuse TO discuss business with you.
There viii be $50, 600 in gold here in
the morning, and there is a like
amount in the safe. You may draw
our every dollar you have deposited,
and Well be glad to get rid of your
small accounts, Then he turned on
his heel and left the committee.
Bright and early there assembled at
the bank the creditors just before time
for opening the doors an express wagon
was driven up. in which were seated
two heavily armed men, one of them
the Waterman of the bank. a path
through the crowd was made, and the
Waterman began carrying into the
bank canvas bags containing gold coin,
as indicated by the prominent marks.
Some of the bags were marked S.
600 and one or two SO, 000.' The
people saw these bags, heard the
clink of the metal and, believing the
bank was o X, were about to move
away. just as the last bag OF gold
was handed into the door the young
fnancier threw the bank open. The
crowd did not make any effort to reach
the paying teller's window. Come on
now, every one of you. shouted the
clerk. No one responding, he made
another bluff. You must come and
get your money. We don't want your
id accounts any more. Here Jim
BARLEY, take this and sign this receipt
in full. Here Bill Wyman. come and
get your dust He insisted on their
taking the money, Just at this junct-
ure the committee came in and begged
the clerk TO stop for Gods sake
They almost got down on their knees
TO ask the bank TO keep their money.
The young Napoleon finally consent
ed, but declared if there was ever any
more id nonsense he would throw
every depositor's money into the street
The crowd departed happy and conf
dent that the bank was one of the
strongest institutions of its kind in
America. Their confidence might
have been shaken had they known the
canvas bags marked s. 600 gold &c,
and bedaubed with red sealing wax.
contained nothing more nor less than
iron washers, which the young clerk
had purchased from the hardware
man, who had otherwise assisted in
the deception, he being convinced of
the soundness OF the bank. The two
men the young Napoleon insisted on
paying in full the bank had long wished
10 get rid Of.