Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-09-18

brming him that an attempt would be
made to rob the vaults of the treasury.
No one wa frightened by that letter, for
for such anonymous communications are
by no means rare. Two or three times a
year some crank or joker writes that the
treasury is to be robbed. Now a gang of
professional burglars has been organized
to ~overpower the guards and force an en-
trance to the vaults.
Again, a building near the treasury has
been rented, and a tunnel thence to the
bottom of the vaults is to be dug. But
Uncle Sans big surplus is still untouched
by the vandal hands of modern banditti,
and probably will so continue for a great
many years. The burglar who organizes a
conspiracy against the governments strong
box will be a desperate man indeed, and he
and his confederates will doubtless pay for
their temerity with their lives. The gov
eminent vaults are perhaps no stronger. in
themselves than the vaults of many banks
throughout the country. By some author
tiles they are declared unsafe.
For years stories concerning the insecur-
ity of these repositories of riches have been
in circulation, and it is, no doubt, true that
burglars and desperate characters have
been attracted hither by the possibilities of
getting their fingers upon the hundreds of
millions in the basement of the treasury.
No doubt, moreover, a number of them
have been here to "pipe off the job" and
estimate their chances. If they lave been
here for this purpose, it is obvious they have
become discouraged at the outlook and
gone their way, for the treasury has never
been robbed by the processes of burglary.
The methods by which it has been robbed
are SO various that I couldn't stop here to
mention them. Besides, that diversion
might take me into the field of politics.
Professional burglars don't like the looks
of the treasury job Of crib cracking, be-
cause the big vaults are too strong for
them, for they aren't. Probably there
isn't a vaul in the treasury which three or
four expert burglars, properly equipped,
could not get into between sunset inc sun
rise If they could get at it.
Careful inquiry shows that the treasury
vaults have but moderate protection in tho
way of concrete, steel and modern locks.
Their chief protection is of a sort which no
burglar likes to contend against-a we'll
picked, thoroughly disciplined squad of
watchmen. armed with self cooking six
shooters and Winchester rifles. To get at
the vaults a burglarious party would first
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That would not be easy, as every entrance
is guarded by armed men and lighted by
electric lights. Admitting that entrance
to the building could be secured by hiding
during the day or other means, what could
be accomplished? Surrounding all the
vaults are electric lighted corridors, pa
trolled by dozens Of armed men. At tho
first appearance Of a suspicious character
sixty or seventy men would come running
with big revolvers in one hand and Win
chesters in another. If shots were ex-
changed an alarm gong would be set ring
ing, and the city police department would
be instantly notified. Surprising, even,
that the burglars could verpower the
guards, they would still be unable to reach
the treasure, for before they could get a
drill into position several hundred police
men would swoop down upon them.