The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-26
CRACKED THE SAFE.
Daring Work of a Brace of
Skilled Burglars.
SURE JOB, BUT LOTS OF NOISE.
Strong Box of Standard Oil Company,
on South Ninth Street, Blown
Open-But 500 Secured.

The safe In the Seattle Office of the Standard
Oil Company was blown open yesterday morn
ing at 3 o'clock by two daring burglars, who Sc
cured, besides lot Of papers and notes, pay
ment on which has been stopped, 800 in cash.
Only about $40 was in the safe, and in their
eagerness TO get away the burglars overlooked
package containing $40.
About O'Clock a loud explosion was heard in
the vicinity of the Seattle General Light Com
pany's power-house ON the Grant street bridge.
The explosion was SO severe that persons living
in the immediate vicinity sprang from their
beds, thinking an earthquake had visited the
city.
William f. Smith and Fred Smith. working
men, who live but half block away from the
electric light power house, were awakened by
the report, and ran out of their house. About
thirty yards distant stands the works and office
Of the Standard Oil Company. The office issep-
arate from the tanks, and is a small one-story
brick structure. The smell of smoke was quite
strong. While the Smith brothers were looking
and rubbing their eyes they were astonished to
see two men, whose faces were unrecognizahle
in the darkness, run out of the open door OF the
Office and hasten along the road within few
yards of where they stood. second later they
disappeared, going in northerly direction.
One OF the men appeared TO be carrying some
heavy weight in front OF him with both hands.
William Smith jumped into his clothes and
notified William Mears teamster employed by
the company, who lives block away, that two
thieves had robbed the safe. As Mears had SO
In the safe, he lost no time in arriving at the
scene and confirming the report. He found the
Office scene of confusion, and strong smell
of powder pervaded the air. He teephoned
the facts to police headquarters, and immedi-
stely Captain Peer, Lieutenant Lewis and
eral officers started for the oil companys Office
on the jump
Arriving at the Office Lieutenant sims first lit
8 r0tkVn 70 Tln iYlU hy nX-
perts-men who knew their business. Through
the top of the safe was drilled a Ss-inch hole;
the work must have occupied at least two hours.
A charge OF powder was then dropped in and a
quick fuse attached. The explosion blew the
ponderous doors of the safe entirely off and
hurled them across the room, breaking door
on the opposite side and tearing away railing
which inelosed the private Office. An iron door
which Enclosed the entrance was closed by the
burglars, who undoubtedly took their stand
outside at the time of the explosion, was blown
open, tearing away the clasp and dozen or
more bricks OF the wall which held it in place.
A moment Later as all the evidence indicated.
the burglars rushed through the smoke To the
safe and one OF them sezing small steel chest,
where is usually kept separately locked up all
the valuables and money, they left the scene
with all haste. Papers ana books were scat
tered all about the room. The safe was a Die
bold, costing $780, and is total loss.
The office was visited again Yesterday by Chief
OF Police Rogers, Inspector Willard and Captain
Barck. With detectives eye Captain Barck
noted the surroundings and quickly followed a
trail leading north and east up the hillside,
through the woods. At place where, il graded,
would be the corner of Twelfth and Dearborn
streets, he found the steel compartment which
had been taken from the safe. 1t had been pried
open and the cash, amounting to 500, taken, but
the following notes, among other papers,
were left inside and are now in the hands OF the
police:
One note, W. A. Woodin. Fairhaven, Wash,
to standard Oil Company, for 800; Port Town
send Grocery Company, Port Townsend, Wash,
to Standard OIL Company, for $500; Washington
Cooperative Home Company, Seattle, Wash,
TO q. W. Boardman & Sons. for s31s93.
Two PosT-INTELLIGESCER reporters who hap
pened to be near the scene at the time OF the
explosion were among the first TO reach the
wrecked safe. The reporters were coming
along the track block from the Standard oil
Company's office shortly before the police ar
rived, when they met a suspicious-looking in
dividual- AS the shrill whistle of the police
man on Jackson street sounded he started in an
opposite direction. few seconds later the
policemen dashed down the track, but the sus-
picious-looking man had disappeared as If he
had been swallowed by the earth. 1t is sup
posed that this may have been one of the rob-
bers.
While the crime was evidently committed by
experienced safe crackers. the manner in which
the work was done has no precedent in Seattle.
Inspector ID. F. Willard. who has served both as
policeman and detective for many years, cannot
call to mind an instance wherein safe was ever
blown open in the manner this one was. Across
the top OF the safe and squaTely through the
center runs a belt of steel one half an inch thick
dividing the top in two panels. In the center of
the lett hand panel hole was drilled through
two thicknesses Of iron and about seven inches
a was f,Yti in
the doors blown open.
'in almost every case heretofore brought to
my notice. said Inspector Willard, 1.-THE hole
intended to contain the charge of powder has
been drilled through the door OF the safe near
the combination. In nearly every safe however
the doors are made of steel and are consequently
very hard TO drill The top, while not the best
place, is preferred by burglars because it is
generally composed of bat common iron \
hole drilled in front. while il takes several
hours work, is very effective and causes little or
no report If the burglars this morning,
instead of drilling through the center
OF the top of the safe. had
commenced at point further back, the expo
sion would have been twice as great. ana the
chances are that everything inside would have
been blown to pieces. The Office OF the oil COM
pany being good ways out the burglars proba-
bly, concluded that even though there was a
loud report II would not matter. for they would
have lots of chance to get away; SO they made
sure OF a successful jon, and drilled in at the
center. As il was the renort was very great
ali the burglar is fancy man, who has
cracked many safe, he first learns the thick
Bess of the door, then he commences at GER
tain place near the outer edge at the top OF the
safe and drills down, aiming 20 strike the spot
where the two doors meet The charge is then
placed. There is no report, simply cloud OF
smoke, short puff and the big doors are
wrenehed from their hinges, and the safe with
its riches is exposed to the willy burglar"