The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-08

1HeF6 WIS mOEe VI lesS upIHN"A 49,
easiness when the banks OF the city
opened Tor business yesterday morning,
The closing OF the doors OF tho Exchange
bank, aud its assignment, though the
concern was known to DO solvent, and
able to pay dollar for dollar, might be
expected to have the effect OF render
ing depositors in other banks timidr
aud perhaps this would have been the
result had the people not had Sunday
in which to recover their sober senses.
The assurances given by leading bust
ness men that all the other banks were
sound aud safe also had q wonderful
effect in preventing general uneasines',
Yesterday there Were . number Of
people who tested the solidity OF their
banks. Some peculiar things developed,
and taken I'LL In all the days business
was exceedingly instructive to both the
bankers and the people in general.
While some money WAS Withdrawn
from the banks, it was almost exclusive
ly by small depositors. and the condi-
ton Of affairs at the close OF business
yesterday afternoon was both unex-
pected and gratifying. More money,
that is more currency, was in the vaults
oil the SEVERAL Wheeling banks ut the
close OF business hours than when the
banks opened. The
EXCESS OF READY CASH
last night over that in the banks Satur-
day night was considerable.
People who came to the banks to
draw out money, or for any other pur-
pose, found an unusual state Of atiairs.
In several Of the banks more money
was visible to the naked eye than over
In one over $40O,O00 was piled on q long
table, much OF 1t being in gold. An
other had also several bushels" OF
coin and paper heaped on u table
whore it was in plain view from the
street. These exhibits attracted agreat
deal Of attention and people gathered
around to see what Two or three COM
Portable fortunes looked like when
heaped in one variegatcd pile.
It was found also that the saw
ings banks, whose charters reserve to
them the right to require of depositors
notice in advance OF the intention to
withdraw money, were protecting them
selves, and thus their depositors, by
enforcing this regulation.
Perhaps, however, the most peculiar
thing those beut on being among the
first to draw out their money encoun-
tered in the banks, was the fact that
they had TO take turns with men even
more eager to deposit. Mon with sew
eral hundred dollars to deposit, and in
several banks Mt times with several
thousand dollars they were eager to
got into the custody OF tho receiving
teller, elbowed others with small cer-
tifcates which they wished to have
cashed.
Many uneasy dopositors, when they
saw the state Of atTairs, loft without
drawing any money. Others, after
leaving tho banks with their little piles,
came buck, concluding that the money
was safer in the bank vaults than any.
where else.
Business men did not wait rs usual
until nearly the close OF business to de-
post their days receipts, but as soon
as d respectable sum accumulated has
tened to the bank. Many were waiting
before the doors were opened ,
TO MAKE DEPOSITS
OF money taken in after the banks
closed Saturday,
One remarkable thing was the mum.
Der of now depositors. People who had
boarded their money at home and did
not use the banks were numerous in
the lines OF depositors. Some proba-
bly, concluded it was safer in the banks
than elsewhere, while others, feeling
the banks were perfectly sound, were
no doubt actuated by a laudable motive
to do what they could to help swell tho
volume OF currency where 1t was most
needed and restore tho confidence OF
any who were weak kneed.
Yesterday tho announcement OF NJ.
Somehow, OF tho Hub clothing store,
that lie would accept checks on tho
Exchange bank ut par for goods, was
the theme Of much talk. Tho Hub
windows we're decorated with his adj
yertisemont from the INTRLLIGENcER,
this papers account OF tho Exchange
bank failure, and its editorial comments
on the situation. Other merchants
caught on in the curse Of the day aud
verbally, by notices posted on their
doors OF through the newspapers, an
nounced that they would honor Tx
change bank checks. These things did
much to keep up public confidence.
In view OF any possible excitomont
yesterday forenoon, Chief OF Police
McNichol had every available man
ready at headquarters for duty, After
consultation with the mayor, It was dc.
Ctded to be best to keep all people
moving on Market and Main streets, or
wherever there might BIO q crowd
gather from idle curiosity. There was
little need for the wise %precaution, for
tunately. Tho order was enforced, how.
ever. officer West ordered a party Of
three standing IN front OF q bank to
move on, and two OF them did &C. The
third, John Z. Clator. refused, and
atter some words tho officer oboyed in
struCtions and locked him up. A little
later tho chief released him on his own
recognizanco, but he returned rather
"hutFy," and insisted OH putting up
cash to cover q Emo. This was tho
only ripple OF trouble during tho day.
There was q pathetic incident at ono
oil the banks. An old lady presented a
certificate OF deposit for a large sum,
and was paid In 500 bills. Sho started
out clutching tho roll tightly in her
hands, and tho men in tho bank went
on with their business. In u iow min.
utos tho poor woman returned, with
toara In h6r eyes and q tromor In hor
voice, aud said n man had robbed her
OF u hundrod.dollar bill. OF course tho
bank force could do nothing for Aor,
and hfter CRYING a Whilo sho rodpnosit.