Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-31
STAGE REALISM.
The Useful Discovery Made by Detective
Piniertor.

thlchgO Mnll.
When "The stowaway" was being
produced at the Haymarket in Chicago
two years ago, William A. Pinkcrton,
the detective, called at the theatre dur
ing the performance to sec the two bur-
glars, who accompany the troupe.
81 used to know Spike Ifennessy in
New York." he said, "but | believe this
man you have with you is an impostor."
"Comc around and see said Manager
Thomas II. Davis" Hcnnessy and Mccoy
will go on in the next act, and you can
see the safe-blowing act from the wings
If you want to-"
When Mr.. Pinkerton was shown into
the burglars dressing-room he no
sooner saw "Spike" and the kid" than
he exclaimed:
"Well, we'll, this is the last place
where I'd have looked for you fellows"
"How are you, Billy?" said Hem
messy. "Let Inc introduce you TO Hide
brand Montrose, who accompanies me
on the jimmy while flash the dark Lam
tern in our character sketch in the
second act. He was known to fame sew
eral years ago as kid Mccoy"
1.-The Kid and / are old friends" re-
piled Mr.. Pinkerton, land / am sur
prised TO see you both here imposing on
the public"
"Wh hat do you mean ?" demanded the
kid
"Why, this safe. blowing" said the
detective, pleasantly. mo use of you
trying to convince Inc that you men can
blow open safe in four minutes
"Thore's the safe standing outside the
door," said Benncssy. "Take look at
it, and if you find anything wrong about
it I'll cat my hat"
Accordingly the detective stepped out
side and looked the safe over He cx-
amined the lock, felt of the hinges, and
studied the tlanges in the ponderous
doors. "And you blow it open in four
minutes" he remarked thoughtfully.
That's their average Time" said Mr..
Davis.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, 'Spike,'"
said Mr.. Pinkerton, II put 500 in that
safe, you do the same, and let me lock it
in my own combination, and il you get
the money out in five minutes it belongs
to you; if you don't, it belongs to me-"
IF my colleague" responded Spike,
waving his hand deferentially towards
the smooth-faecd Kid "sees no objec-
ton to making 800, | don't either"
BY this time the curtain was down on
the first act, and the money was at once
placed in the safe, and the detective
changed the combination, locking the
safe so that il could NOT be unlocked by
anyone but himself. The safe was then
rolled on The stage and the curtain rung
up. Mr.. Pinkerton stationed himself in
the wings where he could command
good view of the safe, and waited watch
in hand, for the burglary scene. When
the cue was given for the burglars,
lIenncssy and Mccoy jumped through
q window, and in an instant were at
work on the safe. There was the rattle
of tools, the flash of dark lantern, and
in trice the ratchet drilling machine
was attached to the safe door, and the
diamond.pointed drill could be heard
cutting softly through the steel door. Two
minutes passed, when the drill was jersed
off. The hole had been bored through the
door, and now Henncssy inserted
powder blower, while the kid worked
the bellows. The skilful hands of the
two crooks swiftly puttied the crevices
around the door and crank drill ST.
lently cut the hinges. The fuse was in
serted, wet blanket hung over the
door, and the flicker of match told
that the charge was about to be ex-
plodcd. As the split second hands in
Mr.. Pinkerton's watch showed that
three minutes and thirty-cight seconds
had been consumed, there came sheet
of flame from out the safe door, a rush
of smoke, and, with a heavy jar, the
massive door sprang out and fell on the
stage.
The detective slowly turned and re-
marked, rchectively: i've been chas-
ing safe-blowers and thieves for over 30
years, and thought l knew something
about the business, but this is the first
time ever heard of q safe being blown
open in four minutes"