Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1898-11-12
GUARDING THE MINT.
HOW THE PHILADELPHIA lNsTiTu-
TON is PROTECTED.

/ NAiAOASSScHS IA Elenbys
Probably not mcpherson out of hun
dred who pass by the Philadelphia mint
that grim looking edifice at Chestnut
and Juniper streets, after nightfall real
ICES what is going on inside. There is
nothing mean about Uncle Sam, but he
is determined that any one who gets
his money shalls get it honestly and by
process duly laid down. Therefore he
has taken all kinds of precautions to
properly protect, especially at night,
the millions upon millions piled up in
the vaults.
The doors of the mint are closed ev-
cry weekday promptly at o'clock in
the afternoon. After that hour no one
but mint employees have any business
within the walls which inclose so much
money, and no one can either stay in.
or get in without special permit from
the superintendent. Needless to say
this is difficult to obtain.
simultaneously with the closing of
the doors at 4 o'clock the first shift of
the night guard goes on duty. The shift
is composed Of the captain of the guard
and ii stalwart men. AS the men file
out to begin their round each one is
handed a big Colts revolver of the most
approved pattern and loaded with big
cartridges.
From then on till midnight seven of
the II guards patrol without cessation
every floor of the inside of the mint, from
the corridors of the gloomy vaults
where, away down in the earth, are
slowed eighty odd million dollars in
silver and almost as much gold, to the
top floor, where there is nothing more
valuable than machinery. Placed at fire.
quent intervals throughout the corridors
are electrical devices for enabling the
captain of the, guard to keep tabs on his
men. Each of these little machines COM
municates with the rotunda opposite
the Chestnut street entrance to the
mint. Here it is that the captain is sta
toned all through the long hours of
his shift. Every two minutes and a
half the central machine i'll the rotunda
denotes the presence of some one of the
guard at some particular station in the
building If it doesn't, then the cap
tain knows that something is wrong,
and he Immediately proceeds to discoy-
er what it is.
But it has been a long time since the
little machine failed to send forth its
announcement at the proper time, for
the mint guards are patrolling up and
down outside the big building, careful
" watching that no suspicious charac-
tiers approach too near the vast treasure
left in their care.
Promptly at midnight the second
shift of the. night guard puts in an APP
pearance to relieve the early shift. 1t
is also composed Of captain and II
men, and they are split up, as the other
squad, into inside and outside details.
From midnight on until O'Clock in
the morning they follow in the foot
steps of the first shift, with every fac
ulty alert to catch an intruder.
The big revolvers are not the only
weapons upon which the guards have
to rely. On each side of the main cor
ridor leading from the Chestnut street |
stands walnut case Through |
the polished glass front of one frown |
20 Winchester rifles. The other con
tains as many ugly looking carbines.
To grab these dispensers of death would |
be but the work Of all instant for the |
guards and then woe be unto any man
or men upon whom it~might be found |
necessary to turn them.
For the revolvers there is kept con-
Stantly on hand in the mint 800 rounds |
of ammunition, and for the rifles and /
oarbines 1850 rounds Each of the |
guards is an expert in the use of both
the pistol ara the gun, aud each is en-
lowed with a plentiful stock of cour
age; hence "a Inclination capable of
successfully resisting almost anything |
less than a regiment.
The superintendent and assistant Gus
5odian both talked to the reporter about
5he methods in use to protect the mint
and its contents. Both smiled signifi-
,antly when the possibility of one get
ing away with a portion of the vast
treasure was suggested.
at would be folly for any one to try
t, was the superintendent s only COM
nent. TO it the assistant custodian nod
led emphatic assent
81 have been here for a good many
7ears, = the latter said, land no such
attempt has ever been made. It is prac-
ically impossible for any one to break
nto the mint from the outside, and no
me could secrete himself in the build
ng during the hours when it is open to
,isitors and hope to avoid discovery.
We search every nook and corner of the
structure carefully as soon as the doors
ire closed for the day. and you may
est assured if any one who had no
business within these walls was found
he would regret the day he was born. .
In addition to the two shifts of night
yards, the superintendent and assistant
have habit of dropping in
It the mint at odd hours Of the night to
ee that everything is going on all right.
The mint is connected with the CEN
raj telephone station, and should there ,
e trouble the captain of the guard
ould communicate with police head