Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-25
MILLIONS To BE COUNTED.
A Huge Vault Filled With silver Dol.
lars Unlocked.

The huge vault at the Philadelphia mint,
known as vault c, in which has been sealed
up for nearly four years 100000 Of stand
ard silver dollars. has been opened. and the
long and laborious task Of counting this
big amount of money has begun. As the
occasion was deemed one of Importance
there was observed some little Formally
DR.. Caleb Whitehead had gone on from
Washington to represent the mint bureau,
Frank Sartor represented Superintendent
Townsend and w. l.. Bosbyshell, Col. Bos-
byshells son. represented the former super
ir,tendent William Z. Morgan, United
States treasury examiner, was also present
United states Treasurer Daniel N. Morgan.
who with his son, happened to be in the
city, and accompanied by Major NORMAN,
witnessed the breaking of the seal and az
terward made a tour of inspection of the
mint.
The vault where this vast amount of COIN
ed money has lain undisturbed is situated
In the center Of the first part of the base
ment.
Rusty Bolts Stick Fast.
Major c. H. Townsend. cashier OF the
mint. having been given the combination Of
the vault proceeded to open the outer door,
This was easily accomplished. but when the
inner door was reached some difficulty was
experienced. as even after the combination
lock was manipulated the door refused to
SPShs Vic boieS mum tohe MISUSE ehCkluk
fast.
This was soon overcome, however, en-
trance was finally effected, and the assem-
bled officials stepped within the Enclosure,
where lay piled up millions. On the inside
door, fastened by sealing wax, was a sheet
of foolscap paper containing the statement
that G3.000,OOo had been placed there on
February Z. 1880, with Major Meline of the
treasury, B. F. Butler of the mint bureau
ard James c. Eyster of the mint present
and that. further, slI.0oo.00O more had been
sealed up on May 20, 1891.
The vault emitted damp. musty odor
when opened. Under the glare of the cleo
trio light the great wealth of stored silver
was visible. There 1t lay in bags Just as it
had been placed. There were $1,000 bags
each containing 81 900 in shining coin. These
bags were piled up one on top of the other,
the topmost almost reaching the arched
ceiling OF the vault, nearly nine feet high.
Wealth Piled I'm Grent Heaps.
The whole mass had been arranged in diff
ferent stacks. The first stack was thirteen
bags high and eight across. Just In the
rear of this was a second stack, while still
further back doomed UP a third. This.
though, represents only one section of the
vault Altogether there are nine. The
weight of this great amount of silver is q
$4,000 pounds avoirdupois, and the tremen-
dous pressure of the upper bags upon the
lower had caused a number of the Ia tier to
burst. causing their glistening contents to
spread out upon the floor.
The inspection of the vault was followed
by the weighing of the coin. the bag con-
tanning 1900 was taken upstairs. and when
its contents as TO weight was determined II
was taken back and used as a counter
for the rest AS nearly all the bags were
more or less moldy, this viii necessitate re-
bagging the money. which is no slight task
of itself.
1t will be nearly two months before the
work of counting this vast hoard of minted
money Is completed.