The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-25

to this land OF gold--and poverty for many
In front OF the senor We're sacks Of gold
dust and piles of gold ingots, known as
"slugs." each valued at $50 and 800. The
bank was capitalized at 100000. The
sonora was an expert dealer, and her
beauty and captivating manner always in
sured "a crowd at her table. The large
hall was well crowded with men and wo-
men of all nationalitles and costumes,
speaking all languages, mainly profane.
Henry Sewall, an inveterate CANISTER. had
accumulated several thousand dollars in
gold dust and came down to San Fran
cisco TO lose AZ or break the lei Dorado
bank" as he boasted. Seeing me, Sewall
called my name. and as / approached he
asked the sonora II She would permit him
TO make "a bet of 5000. She replied smI.
Ing pleasantly. that he would be granted
that favor. She placed the dust in the
scales. ana after weighing out the amount
no placed it upon the card. The slim shape
ly fingers deftly turned the cards and
Sewall won. with a patronizing smile
she said in q half banterlng manner:
THE senior may hazard the $4,000 If he
wishes. Tho cards were dealt and with
the same pleasant smile the sonora raked
IN the $4,000. Another bet and Ecwall had
lost an. Taking from his bosom a glisten-
Ing jewel he held It between his forehnger
and thumb close 10 the bright eyes Of tho
sonora. saying, This cost me 5000: may i
hazard 1t against an equal sum-
Her eyes seemed 10 dilate as She gazed
upon the pretty gem, her smile was
sweeter than ever, and, with a swift
glance at sewall. which only designing
woman can give, she extended her little
hand, literally blazing with diamonds, to
inspect the gem. Al the moment a thief
In waiting, known as Col" Starr,
snatched the diamond and ran out OF tho
hail. All was confusion Sewall and myself
at once started Ia pursuit, but our pro-
gross was blocked by some OF his con-
fcderatcs. However, we followed the
thief, into kearney street, and then up
a rickerty, dark staircase, through "A hall
way. down another staircase into base
ment where there was restaurant. As
we seized the thief some of the people Ia
the restaurant. evidently his partners
separated us. and the theft escaped into
a side door. closing II tightly as panel In
the wall. Drawing our weapons, we broke
open the door and entered to sec the
thief disappear through what seemed 20
us as another door We found no door.
only solid wall Yet, ! was sure that
had seen something shut, and, as the
thief had disappeared, he certainly must
have gone out through that spot. In this
room there were five sacks I'm corner
nearest the place where / thought saw
a door shut.
sewall went to the police station for
some officers while / stood guard, my re-
volver covering the spot, where supposed
the panel door to be. Detectives Lees and
Mcdonald soon arrived with number OF
officers They placed Bob Wiswall the pro
prietor Of the restaurant, under arrest
Wiswall told the officers that the thief
had certainly escaped, and that for a re-
ward of 800 he would find him, as he be-
lieved the thief to be his discharged clerk.
Detective Lees believed this to be a ruse.
and that Wiswall was a confederate of
the thief who knew the ms and outs Of the
building.
open that door," commanded the dee
tective.
"There is no door there" replied Wis
wall In a deep bass voice.
Then / will break 1t in and fire voliey
at the man inside said the detective
The door was opened and the thief was
found In a closet. The search for the
jewel was about to be abandoned when the
detective pulled off the thief's hat and
the diamond was found in the lining.
The two thieves were then handcufed.
What have you in those sacks?" asked
the detective.
Potatoes" replied Wiswall.
"You have a very large supply for a
small chop house." said the detective.
as he ripped open one OF the sacks. The
floor was soon covered with dirt and
gravel.
"The restaurant was only blind"
said the detective; you are after that
bank across the way"
Palmer Cook & Co.'S banking house
was dlagonally across the street from
this chophouse. 1t was the depository for
the miners. and generally contained from
100000 to 100000.
How far have you tunneled toward that
vault?" asked the detective. The thieves
would say no more, and were taken 10
prison.
The officers entered the mouth of the
tunnel and stood with lanterns and re-
vOlvers drawn. An officer crawled into
the dark small opening with lantern
and drawn revolver. A pistol shot and all
was still. Our suspense was terrible. as
we supposed that the officer had been
killed. Presently he came out backward.
hauling dead man. The burglar had
the officer with his pick. when
the officer killed him Then several shots
were fired into the tunnel and there
were shouts, Wen surrender" The
other two burglars now came out. We
explored the tunnel and found that 1t was
within ten feet of the valut on a direct
line. Before morning they would have
had about 100000 in gold.
In about three months, however. the
bank failed through the connivance OF
the swindiing bank officers, and the de-
positors lost their money.