The sun., 1891-07-05
THE ST. ALB.dNS RAID,
A Famous Scare Recalled by . Decision OF
tho Attorne ). G General.

A Famous Scare Recalled by Decision OF
the AttOrnoy-Geue
ST. ALBANs. Vt. July 4.-The decision OF the
Attorney General that Vermont is entitled to
its share OF the direct tax fund. notwithstand.
ng the counter claim of the national Govern
ment for arms furnished to equip the troops
raised to repel the threatened invasion from
Canada in 1864 revives the story OF the st. Al
bans raid This was probably the biggest
scare that Vermont ever HAD. and Vermonters
were not the only ones scared. either.
The St. Albans raid occurred on Oct. 10.
1864, the same day as the battle OF Cedar
Greek. 1t was wet, disagreeable autumn
day. and there are many residents OF st. AL
bans who have vivid remembrance Of it. St.
Adams ut that time was a town OF between
5000 and 1000 inhabitants. 1t had three
banks-the First National. The st. Albans. and
tho Franklin County. the latter a Stat bank
The raiders Wore twenty-three In number and
were commanded by Lieut.. Bennett II. Young.
They had their headquarters In Montreal. and
had visited St Albans seyera times during the
summer ami made themselves familiar with
The pace. They arrived IN small squads the
plans oG oapeiuliy Tne main object aI9 Of a,taek
taneousy lust bef re 3 o'clock in the after:
nom. Mr.. U. n. Bishop. assistant cashier OF
tne St. Adams Bank, was sitting at tab!o be-
hind !he counter sorting out bills and specie.
came up to the counter. They mad overcoate
asa As Hass suf BGm bop hss sd
up ant stood before them with nis hands on the
counter. waiting to learn their business. Both
men fumbled Tor u moment in tneir breast
pockets and the next thing the assistant cash
Ter isalizsd they had two revolvers pointed at
rsctors room, but the raid ers were there be-
eod fore 9m IN and 1ney wsfe ey tnis tine retp
clerk in the bank were stood up side by side.
and With riS,vSlyer, evstled h e. .heIf heads
10 the sau,hern Conedersey. % Then r sna Il" robs
ins 10 about t75:So9: 80 sral sitl1sas WAC
deposits we're held up by the raiders and com
peled to hand oyer their money. At the First
and aiot q Cover nment bonG. which had bssn
s Wh she 6sax ,aS an a' na hs Prankln
robbers, shut tho cashier up In the vault where
II: nearly suffocated before % hs was let ont: ~,
cry stables and on the streets and rode away.
firing their pistols In the streets. Only one
man was Killed, anh h. was n Soutl eln sym-
patllz,sr I, who was standing on q street. corner
an argument with several citizens wuen the
dsesmns was ss Shot aesa
TTo or th thre. .. Others th sa we're Injured. .,.,
The raiders carried dreek iIre, and q tempted
coed. They had q good start 1T the pu suing
party, ~ and got safely ner ,ss ,hs ine. .,,
and acquitted. and the court ordered that the
money found In their possession 10 returned
TO- them; hen II was proposed TO hold the
city OF Montreal respon sible to the banks but
the Dominion Parliament, which was then In
session settled the question by pass ng bin
found on the, raiders. The ST. Aibans and
First National banks eSch got back nearly
Bank got III tho easiest. -, y was state inst:
Immediately put the bank into Insolvency and |
telegraphsd the SUFFOLK Bank Of boston not to |
take. any OF his bills. About all the raiders got
a. at MS bank were three bank bills. and when
them Burton would not take them.
The scene which followed this raid resulted |
IN special call for troops, and every man and |
boy In Vermont who could carry musket WAS |
nnstsred In. Twelve full regiments we're
raised. The cost OF ths equipment OF these
troops troops is stu ~ eharsed again.t tho state on tie
bslleyes there VIII be q considerable balance
Government on this account also,