Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-09-16
Clever Bank Tricks.
MORE WAYS THAN ONE OF SAVING
AN INSTITUTION FROM 4 RUN.

MORE WAYS THAN ONE OF SAVING
/. AN INSTITUTION FROM A RUN.
AT dinner the other evening, says
the n. Y. Tribune, the conversation
turned upon the financial perils
through which the country had
passed during the last few years, and
q naturalized Englishman told the
story Of bank in England where a
disastrous run was promptly stopped
by the quick wit Of the cashier.
Having some Of the very few SOW
ereigns within reach heated to the
burning point, he paid them over to
an anxious countryman, remarking
calmly and courteously that he was
sorry that they had not had time to
cool. The fellow counted them GIN
gerly, and, open-mouthed, skunk out
of tho bank and informed his friends
and neighbors on the outside that
they need feel no alarm as to their
money, the bank people were max
ing coins just as fast as they were
needed. The assembled crowd wa
vered, consulted and dispersed. The
bank was saved.
"That would never have gone
down in my State" said a Maine
man, shaking his head. "Some
lank SolOn from AroostOOk county
would have been sure to examine the
dates of the neWly-madc coins, and
the last state of that bank would
have been worse than the first. Ger
trude," turning to his wife. "now is
time for your Denver Stories"
Do you mean about the way the
two banks foated themselves when
all the others were being swamped ."
she asked. /" You see, | was spend
ing the winter in Denver that excit-
ing year-we had Il beautiful time
the Jail was beSieged and an Italian
confined for murder was taken out
and lynched l shall never forget his
face as the mob hurried him past our
carriage, which had been stopped by
the crowd. He looked in at us with
such imploring agony-ugh! / shud-
der to think Of it. A day or so after
the banks began TO go to pieces. The
president Of one of them was q friend
of my uncle, and he had been dr. cad
ing the panic for days before it came.
He sent East for funds, but there was
some delay about them, and so for
days he had been accumulating sill
yer, exchanging notes for it with the
most lavish generosity. When the
storm broke the depoSitOrs thronged
the doors, and the tellers began to
pay out the shining dollars, bright
silver things, with promptness that
was most reassuring. One clever
girl, newspaper correspondent, who
was staying at the same hotel | was,
went to the bank and came back with
the full amount of her savings, and,
with the help of two pOrters, got it
up to her room-twenty-two hundred
dollars in cOin-and then she sat
down and looked at it in despair.
Where shall l put it? What shall
l do with it?' she exclaimed. For
mercy's sake, Florence to her room
mate, do leave yours in the bank
II we have three thousand dollars
more in silver dollars and half-dol-
lars, with some quarters thrown in,
why, we'll just have to take another
room for its use, and sit up all night
to see that no one comes with wheel
barrow to carry it off,
And everybody seemed to be Of
the same opinion. When 1t was
found that the depositors were paid
without an instants delay, but inva-
r1aDly paid in silver, with fractions
In nIckels and cents, the run on the
bank stopped as if by magic. 1t was
too serious a matter to transport and
stand guard overt the bulky treasure" +"
The other device was even clev-
erer," said the narrator's husband
1.-THE threatened bank had tele-
graphed East for funds, and was in
formed that they were on the way,
only few hours off, when the run
began. The directors groaned, and, =,
metaphoricallyspeaking wrung their
hands; the people were too fright
ened and excited to listen to reason :;
it was no use attempting to tell them
of the coming money. Suddenly a
man of quicker wit than most people
spoke:
You are very ill., he said, turning
to the teller. | have noticed it all
day; you must go home at once and
go to bed. Let me feel your pulse
Why, heavens, man you are crazy
to be up and about! Go home at
once. MIR. Blank (the cashier) will
take your place for the day. The
teller looked at him minute, then,
without word, departed by the
back door, halfclosing his eyes, press
ing his head and looking very sick
as he met various clients hurrying to
the bank.
The depositors were received Just
as usual, no surprise being shown at
} the crowds filling the bank. The
/ first man at the window wanted to
draw his full! deposit. Certainly, the
cashier told him, no would give it to
him in one minute the teller had
gone home i'll, very i'll, and ne, being