The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-19
ROBBING THE TREASURY.
"a Job Which Even tho King Of
Burglars Couldn't Perform.
How the Nations Money Is Guarded-The
Captain In Charge of tho Treasury
Wetch-Herr Most and Captain
Harry Cobaugh.
, Especial Washington Correspondence

lSpecfal w aSnlnRtOn correspondence
To burglarize bank in midday re-
4uires audacity and certain sort of
courage, but neither scientific acquire
ment nor skill. To rob the Treasury of
the United States would be something
of which any professional thief might
well be proud, an achievement which
would make him famous among the in
famous. 1t has been feared that the
exploit may occur, some day, too, for
the locks upon the vaults wherein arc
stored five hundred million dollars in
coin, and many other millions in notes,
bonds and other securities, are weak
locks which readily succumb to the as
saults of lock experts.
About year ago an expert from New
York declared his ability to open one of
the strongest safe locks inside of thirty
seconds. He locked Treasurer Huston
Inside the safe, with the key in his
pocket and the combination unknown
TO the expert, and, in just twenty three
seconds that immense. door flew open,
and the Treasurer stepped out,
astounded, speechlcss with anazement.
New locks were purchased at an i'm
mense cost to the Government, some
thing like 100000 having been appro-
priated for the purpose. But, the pro-
hessional burglar is scientific fellow,
whose talents and abilities would en-
able him to attain cminencc in honor
able business life but for his criminal
tendencies. These expensive new locks
are as worthless to-day as their prede-
tcessors were Il year ago. Experts can
tamper with the new safe machinery and
open those doors where you and 1 have
our public monies stored.
Tho Treasury Department building is
guarded better, however, than any bank
in the country, and the walls of it's
vaults are thicker and harder to reach.
On all sides of the big money vaults
There are at least fifty feet of solid
masonry and concrete, so that we need
never fear that our treasures will be
taken from us by means of burrowing
underneath the streets, or drilling
ahrough the walls. If the Treasury is
ever burglarized, it must be by evading
the guards, gaining access to the vault
doors and slSillfully opening them. To
escape with much booty would seem i'm
possible, even if the burglar were to
gain access to the money and bonds.
Nhe building is guarded by sevcnty-five
watchmen, two ieutenants and ono
captain. These guardians of our Ma
tional wealth are all veterans of the
Union armies, and every one of them
has military record of which he may
be proud. Their organization is we'll
nigh perfect, and whoever enters the
building, by day or night, with felonious
Intent, will take his life in his hands.
When the visitor enters the main door,
after climbing the long flight of stone
steps on Fifteenth street, the entrance
hall looks as peaceful innocent and I'M
guarded as the vestibule of church.
The handsome gentleman with full,
black beard, sitting at table to the
left, is one of the regular watchmcn Of
Che Treasury. He is an old soldier, and
author of the Hard Tack peculiar
historical device which is quite popular
with the Grand Army of the Republic
throughout the country. lie looks
harmless enough; but he is we'll armed,
has his eyes wide open, can touch an
electric button which will alarm tho
entire force, and speedily communicate
with the police headquarters of the
city. Other watchmcn are near by, and
are also distributed throughout tho
building; and every ono of them is we'll
armed, thoroughly drilled, knows his
lnty and does not fear to perform it.
At night, watchmcn patrol regular
beats around the building, while others
have little watch-houses in which they
may sit and view an entire side of tho
great quadrangular edificc.
While all is seemingly peaceful and
hnguarded at the main entrance, tho
visitor will witness transformation
scene if he will turn the corner to tho
left and start down the corridor towards
The room of the superintendent of the
building. The first door around that