The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-18

vent IL, and SO you may as we'll save
your skull from being cracked. We
are going to bind and gag you. but un-
loss You make fool OF yourself you
will not be hurt. Do you savey?"
II do, ! replied. You have got
me dead to rights, and it's no use to
kick. but make up your minds that
don't answer any questions"
"Wo shall ask none" replied Will
liams as he proceeded to tie me hand
and foot and insert a ready made gag.
Just as the clock struck l he step
ped over and pressed the button to sig
nal the police that all was well. How
ho got onto the signal we never could
understand, but he used it correctly,
and then turned and said:
well. boys, it's off with our coats
and go to work. Our first job is to get
into the vault. Bring the watchman
along so that we may keep an eye on
him."
Two Of them carried me along in my
chair, and the third man saw to the kit
of tools. They placed me to the left
of the door, lighted two gas jets and be-
gan work on the lock of the iron par
tition. had heard the bank officials do
great deal Of Dragging about this lock
and fondly imagined the burglars would
be delayed a good half hour by 1t. 1t
was done for in about five minutes. and
one OF tho burglars added insult to in
jury by Observing that it was one of the
simplest, cheapest locks he had ever
seen used for such purpose. The door
OF tho vault proper was different mat
ter, however 1t was massive affair,
the material chilled steel, and the locks
Were warranted burglar proof. There
was combination which had to be set
at certain figures before key could be
introduced. When this key had turned
the bolts half way. second had tocome
into play. Each of the three men care
fully examined the lock in turn, and
then Williams queried: well, boys,
what do you think of it?''
well have TO use the drill and a
blast, replied one Of them, and tEe
other conceded with him.
At half past o'clock the "All is
well" signal was sent in. and the bur-
glars began work. They used what is
called a blacksmith's drill, the frame
of which had been smuggled into the
dentist Office and lowered down and
put together. All of them seemed ia
miliar with Its working, and they had
brought along no less than six different
drills for the machine. Work was be-
gun Just under the lock, the men SPELL
ing each other at intervals of 10 min
utes. When the 2 o'clock signal was
sent in, they had made very slight
impression on the hard metal, but at
hale past the signs were more encour-
aging The fellows must have had the
idea that when they got into the vault
the money would bo at hand, but after
they had worked. on the door for an
hour sudden thought occurred to Will
liams. He came over to me, removed
tho gag and asked:
"is there - safe inside the vault?"
II shall answer none of your ques-
tions. I
"Stif, amt you? Perhaps you want
little humping TO humble YOU"
If You want to thump. cant help
myself. am here as a watchman Of
the bank. II hadn't been asleep. you
wouldn't have got in. and I'm not go-
ing to make matters worse by giving
away any secrets.
We'll, odds is the difference whether
there's safe inside or not" he growl-
ed as he replaced the gag.
At 3 o'clock the trio were delighted
with the progress of the work. At $3.50
they ceased drilling, blew lot of pow
der into the hole and inserted fuse,
and pretty soon there was an explosion
which tore great piece out of the door,
but did not burst it open. AS matter
of fact, the force Of tho explosion threw
the locks put of gear and made the job
of opening it,still more difficult. Upon
this being discovered the fellows began
to curse and growl and lament their
luck. The two of them were for throw
ing up the job, but Williams denounced
them as towards and cutters. and it
was finally decided to continue work.
They had brought down with them
some bottled beer and sandwiches. and
they fell to and had a bite and sent in
the 4 clock alarm.
They did not use the drill again on
the door, but on closer examination de-
cided to blow it open. They had two
powder canisters, each holding pound.
They debated as to how much they
ought to use, but as it was getting to-
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