The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-07-02
THE BANK OF ENGLAND.
Down In the Money Vaults Amid Almost
Countless Wealth.

The automatic bodyguard now shows
some animation. saws the London edi-
ton of the \. Y. Herald. Producing
hand lantern from another mysteri-
Gus recess he bids US follow. We walk
in narrow alleys formed of piles of
boxes, where not ray of light pene-
trates and find ourselves making a
rapid descent with the lantern ahead,
like some guardian angel. We -
scend sleeper incline than the others.
with the defunct bank notes in their
sarcophagi all around Us. when chill
air striking Us proves that we are well
underground.
Then the figure in front turns and
announces 10 rs in a tone calculated to
strike terror into nervous persons Nv
are now in the labyrinth" l begin TO
feel like another Guy Fawkes going to
blow up the whole place. But the
sudden twists and turns we take al
ways in that beuildering maze OF piled
up cases are becoming most trying TO
the banker who is not accustomed to
lodging 4 will-o -the-wisp in u cata-
comb.
| begin TO entertain fears that he is
leading us to some dungeon fastness
when he turns again and s0Iemniy re-
marks. with a wave Of his hand, 'All
bank notes" Some idea can be gained
Of the quantity when it is said that they
are II. 10, 900 in number. and that they
fill 13. 400 boxes, which, il placed side
by side, would reach two and a half
miles. If The notes were placed in a
pile they would reach a height of five
and half miles. or if joined end to end
would form a ribbon II, 40 miles long.
Their superficial extent is little less
than that of Hyde park; their original
value was over IL. $50. 600, 600 and their
weight over 80 IL tons.
Along another passage we enter a
large room-really a yault-which is
surrounded from floor to ceiling by
iron doors Of safes which at their open
ing might he five feet high by five feet
wide. One of these is opened and
shows rows upon rows of gold coins in
bags Of t., 600 each.
One is handed to me to hold, and
after doing SO for a moment decide |
will not carry it home. The dead
weight is enormous. Yet these officials
handle the slipping, sliding mass as
though it were book. Another door
is opened and we observe a stack of
bank notes. ] remark that have seen
lot already. For answer the manager
takes out parcel of l, 900 Il, 600 notes
and SAYS:
Take hold" do so, and am told |
am holding Il 900, 600. | should have
wished to hold it longer, but they want
it. so | put it back.
This small safe contains Is, 600,
OOO' continued the polite manager.
''and you are in the richest vault of the
Bank of England aud of the world.
This small room at present holds ESQ.
600, 600"
By this time my appetite for wealth
is nearly gone. | am nauseated with
the atmosphere of bank notes My
senses are duIed with the depressing
spectacle and bail with delight the
merry FLASHING fountain in the court.
yard. Here are the quarters of the
thirty four guardsmen who nightly
patrol the establishment. A double
sentry is posted 1T each gate. and as
they load with ball cartridges it is not
safe place for an enterprising burglar
to tackle. The officer OF the guard has
bedroom in the bauk, and is provided
with dinner and bottle of the finest
old port, and | understand that the
guards are also literally treated.