The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-09-14
GUARDING THE MINT.
HOW THE PHILADELPHIA lNsTiTU-
ION IS PROTECTED.

iittiH tHhHGE Or any oA6 ~ NNh ANiNA
Quickly by Helping Himself to Uncle
SANS Treasure Patrols, Revolyers and
winchesters In Plenty.
Probably not one person out OF hun
bred who pass by the Philadelphia mint,
that grim looking edifce 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 shall 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 ey
CRY weekday promptly at 4 o'clock in
tho afternoon. After that hour no one
but mint employees have any business
within the WallsWhich iFcloso, SO much
money, and no one can either stay i'll
or get in without special permit from
the superintendent. Needless to ray,
this is difficult'tO obtain.
simultaneously with tho closing of
the doors at i oclocl1ithe first5shift of
tho night guard goes on duty. The shift
is composed 0f'the captain Of tho guard
and stalwart men. AS tho men file
out to begin thoir round each ono is
handed big Colts revolverof tho most
approved pattern and loaded with big
cartridges.
From then on till midnight seven of
the / guards patrol without cessation
every floor of tho insideof the mint from
tho corridors of tho gloomy vaults
where, away down i'll tho earth, .are
slowed eighty odd million dollars i'll
silver and almost as much gold, to the
top floor, where there is nothing more
valuable than machinery. Placed at fire.
quent intervals throughout tho corridors
are electrical devices for enabling tho
captain of the guard totheep tabs on his
men. Each of these little machines com
municates with tho ,rotunda opposite
tho Chestnut street entrance to tho
mint. Here it is thatBthe captain is sta
toned all through tho long hours of
his shift. Every two minutes and II
half tho central machine i'll the rotunda
denotes the presence Of some ono of the
guard at some particular station i'll tho
building If it doesn't, thon the cap
tain knows that something is wrong,
and no Immediately proceeds to discoy-
er what it is.
But it has been "a long time%sinco the
little machine failed to send, forth its
announcement at the proper time, for
the mint guards arc patrolliIg up and
down outside the big building, careful
ly watching that no suspicious charac-
tiers approach toonear the yast'treasure
left i'll their care.
Promptly at midnight the second
shift of the night guard puts imam ap-
pearance to relieve the early shift 1t
Is also composed of captain and,1i
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 i'll the foot
steps of the first shift, with every fac
ulty alert to catch an intruder,
The big reviewers arc not tho only
weapons upon which the guards have
To rely. On each side of tho main cor
ridor leading from tho Chestnut street
entrance stands walnut case Through
the polished glass front of ono frown
20 Winchester rifles The other CON
tains as many ugly looking oarbines.
10 grab these dispensers of death would
bo but the work of an instant for tho
guards, and then woe bo unto amy man
or men upon whom it might be found
necessary to turn them.
For the revolvers there is kept con
Stantly ON hand i'll tho mint 900 rounds
of ammunition, and for tho rifles and
carbinos >, 500 rounds Each of tho
guards is an expert in tho use of both
the pistol and the gun. and each is en-
dowed with plentiful stock of oour-
age; hence Il combination capable of
successfully resisting almost anything
less than II regiment.
The superintendent and assistant Gus
todian both talked to the reporter about
the methods in use to protect the mint
and its contents. Both smiled signiti
cantly when tho possibility of ono get
ting away with portion of the vast
treasure was suggested.
1T would be folly for any one to try
it, was the superintendent 5 only com
ment. To lit tho assistant custodian nod
ded emphatic assent.
Il have been here for a good many
years, " the latter said, land no such
attempt has ever been made. 1t is prac-
tically impossible for any one to break
into the mint from the outside, and no
one could socrete himself in the build
ing during tho hours when it is open to
visitors and hope to avoid discovery.
We search every nook and corner of the
structure carefully as soon AS tho doors
are closed Tor tho day, and you may
rest assured if any ono 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
guards, the superintendent and assistant
custodian have a habit of dropping i'll
ut tho mint Mt odd hours Of the night to
see that everything is going on all right.
The mint is connected with the cen
trail telephone station, and should there
be trouble the captain of the guard
could communicate with police head
quarters Ill brief space of time.
IF You come across anybody who
thinks he can get rich quickly by help
ing himself to our coin, remarked the
superintendent i'll parting, just advise
him to think it over carefully first.
In compliance with the superintend-
ent'S suggestion the advice is hereby
given.
And it is pretty good advice to follow
too.-Philadelph Inquirer.
Tho population Of Antwerp includes