The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-07-27
speRDlLY OPENED THE sArR
How Two burglars Earned the ne.
ward offered hY m Manufacturers

~
the papers, as an advertisement, that 1t
had produced an absolutely burglar
proof safe, and to back up the state
ment offered the sum of $1,000 in gold
to any one who could get into the safe
In the time usually allotted safe blow
ers, says writer in the Globe-Demo-
crat The money was to be placed In
side the safe, and 1t became the prop
erty OF the openers the moment the
feat was accomplished. This challenge
was allowed to go unnoticed for some
time, but finally one day letter was
received from New York city, written
In disguised hand, In which it was
proposed that the writer and his COM
rade should make q trial at the safe,
but the firm must agree to grant i'm
munity to the authors of the PROPOSE
ton, as the climate of Massachusetts
had not been to their liking for several
years. The missive was signed by
Teddy, the Piper" and an immediate
reply was asked. The firm, anxious to
put the safe to a practical test, made
all necessary arrangements with the
New York gents" and Immunity was
granted them if they should be success
full. A day was set for a public trial,
and promptly at 8 o'clock in the MORN
Ing two nattily-dressed young fellows
stepped Off the train and asked to be
directed to the offices of the company.
They carried nothing about them eX-
cept small hand bags, which they
seemed to guard with special care.
A number of citizens and rival manu-
facturers had been invited to the test,
as the inventors felt confident of the
impregnability of the safe and wanted
to get the benefit of the advertisement.
The young men were usiaered into the
Office and the terms of the test were
announced. The New Workers. were
to be given one hour in which to do
their work, and no unusual noise was
to accompany it. Nor were they to
have any other assistance than is usu-
ally afforded to the practical safe
blower. The $1,000 was placed in the
safe, and it was publicly guaranteed
to them should they be successful.
At IL o'clock sharp, Teddy the Pi-
per" and his pal went to work Their
first act was to remove their shoes and
coats. The latter were placed in front
of the safe to drown the noise of foot
falls. The next thing was to open their
handbags, out of which drills, chisels.
q hog jawed" screw, powder and fuse
were taken. The hog-jawed screw was
the first tool taken up. 1t was a pecu-
liar instrument, having two thick,
heavy jaws like bull dog. The Jaws
were controlled by a screw of terrific
power, easily worked by short piece
Of steel which could be inserted into
notches That part of the instrument
containing the notches resembled a
wagon hub without the spokes. The
whole affair could be taken apart and
put in handbag no larger than those
usually carried by ladies. This tool
was set on the floor and it's iron Jaws
placed around the knob of the safe.
The two men worked with the greatest
quiet apd rapidity, one laying out the
tools and the other adjusting them.
The screw placed on the knob, 1t was
rapidly frightened UP, and inside of
two minutes the knob was literally
dragged out by the roots. 1t came with
a slow wrenching noise which must
have reached the hearts of manufact-
urers.
No time was lost, however One of
the men had the power and fuse ready,
and The former was inserted in the
hole. The coats were picked up and
thrown over the front of the safe to
smother the noise, the fuse was lighted
and the operators stepped behind the
safe. In a moment there was muf-
fed explosion and the entire front of
the safe was split open in jagged
creases. The whole system of bolts
and inner machinery was exposed to
view. 4 few Faps with o chisel and
Teddy gave the bolts sharp jerk
They responded to his touch and he
swung open the door. Reaching in he
seized the bag of coin, and in a few
minutes the professionals were ready
to depart.
AS Teddy was about to leaye one Of
the firm asked him; Can a safe be
made burglar-proof2'
Yes" replied Teddy.
Howl the manufacturer asked in
a pleading tone.
IF ! would tell you that my business
would be gone" replied Teddy, and,
bidding the party q polite good day, he
and HIS comrade- left the city on the
next train: The job took just twenty
minutes.