The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-25
MASSIVE BANK
PLATES MELTED

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A crowd of bank presidents and cashiers
stood in the Lafayette bank yesterday af-
ternoon and saw a steel vault reduced to
nothing so quickly that an extra force of
night watchmen were placed in the bank
last evening.
They saw steel 21a inches thick melted
like cheese, and then the bankers shook
their heads and came to the conclusion that
there was nothing safe in this world, not
even their safe-deposit and automatic time
lock and burglar-proof safes.
The presence of the bank officials at tho
bank was for two purposes. One was to con-
vince them that a burglar with the proper
tools could get into a safe-deposit vault
quicker than it takes to tell il, and the
other was to take last look at what at
one time was considered the finest vault
in the country.
Some time ago an agent for an electric
company visited the banks to sell a protec-
ton for steel vaults against burglars with
the electric tools for opening safes. The
agent claimed that burglar with the prop
er tools could enter bank and attach a
wire to the electric light socket and in a
few minutes burn hole in the safe or
vault and throw the tumhlers and open the
safe. The bankers did not believe in any
such thing, but they sent for the safe ex-
perts. The latter laughed at the idea and
said that it was impossible. When the
agent returned he was told that there was
nothing in his claims, but he insisted that
there was, and he went further by claiming
the burglars could load a storage battery
in q wagon and use that if there was an
electric light in the bank. But his Talk
went for nothing, and he did not make
sale.
But Yesterday the same bank officials saw
with their own eyes steel melted like but
ter. They were given an opportunity that
comes once in lifetime, as the testing of
the scheme was not an advertising affair
and fixed for the occasion.
Thirty-fve years ago company known
as the Cincinnati Safe Deposit company
was formed by leading bankers and capital
lists of this city 1t was just before the war
broke out and it was decided to build a
vault that would hold valuables against
everything but dynamite. A part of the old
Lafayette bank building was rented, and
the late Miles Greenwood was given the
contract to build steel vault. He was
told to spare no expense, as the company
wanted safety vault that would be safe.
Greenwood went to work, and when he got
through, he said:
Nov, the only way you can ever get rid
of this vault will be by burying it,"
lie vault, when completed, was said to
be the finest in the United States. 1t was
built of steel two and one-half inches thick.
The plates were screwed together, and the
off and then chilled. In
other words, it was steel box with but
two openings. and they were doors with all
kinds Of combinat ton locks and bolts.
During the war this vault contained near
ly all the valuables in Cincinnati But after
the war there were other safety vaults con-
structed, and the Cincinnati company grad
ualiy passed out of existence. But the vault
did not. For ten years the Lafayette bank
officials have been wanting to get rid Of
the vault, as they needed the room. Con-
tractors were sent for and told that they
could have the steel If they would take out
the vault. The proposition was accepted,
but when the job was to be started they
found that there was only one way to get
rid of 1t, and that was to blow it up, and
If that was done, the building would go
with 1t.
Something had to be done, and William
Stacey OF the Stacey Manufacturing COM
pany was sent for Mr.. Stacey builds gas
tanks, and knows as much about a steel
plate and rivet as any one Stacey looked
over the vault and accepted the contract
not to remove all tho vault but TO leave
nnough of Ii SO the bank could use IL for Its
books. Tho bank officials, after making the
contract, asked Stacey now no was going