Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-27
wYOMING'S NAPOLEON.
How q Young Clerk Stopped q Raid on q
Bank,

How q Young Clerk Stopped q Raid on q
Bank.
"We've got bank clerk up in our neck O.
woods who some day will give Jay Gould
cards and spades in the game of financiering
and beat him to standstiii,' says Mortz Cur
rem of Cheyenne to the Leader. "He's only
nineteen years old, but is hummer. Two or
three months ago, while the president of the
bank was away, the cashier was taken sick
and in a few hours was in a deiirious
state. The young Napoleon was left in sole
charge of the bank. Some evil-disposed per-
son started the story one afternoon that the in
stitution was in a bad way and intimated that
the president had skipped the country and that
the cashiers illness was only bluff Before
night it was evident there would be a run on
the institution the next morning. The young
clerk knew there was scarcely money enough to
lastan hour. He had no one to advise him, but he
acted promptly. He called on the leading hard
ware merchant and held a brief conference.
Then this young Napoleon went home, where
he found a committee from the depositors
awaiting him. He did not wait for them to
speak. but made this bluff: 4 refuse to discuss
business with you. There will be so. 900 in gold
here in the morning and there is like amount
in the safe. You may draw out every dollar
you have deposited and wen 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 ex-
press wagon was driven up, in which were seated
two heavily armed men, one of them the watch
man OF the bank. A pathway 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 'S5 600 and one or two
$4,000 The people saw these bags heard
the chink 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 financier 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
accoants 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 juncture 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 consented, but declared
If there was ever any more DID nonsense
he would throw every depositor's money
into the street. The crowd departed
happy and confident 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 30, 900 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 soundnesss of the
bank. The two men the young Napoleon in.
sisted on paying in full the bank had long
wished tn Oat ri IF