The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-16
GUARDING THE MINT.
HOW THE PHILADELPHIA INsTITU-
TON IS PROTECTED.

tiON - FnC ~ L.
Little Chance For Amy One to Get Rich 4
ouiekly BY Helping Himself to Uncle
Sans Treasure-PatroIs. Revolvers and
wiachesters In Plenty.
Probably not one person out of a hun
dred who pass 10y the Philadelphia mint,
that grim locking edifice at Chestnut
ard Juniper streets, after nightfal real
izes what is going ON inside. There is
nothing mean about Uncle Sam, but ho
is determined that any one who gets
his money shall get il honestly and by
process duly laid down Therefore lie
has taken all kinds OF precautions TO
prope-ly protect, especially at night,
the millions upon millions piled mp in
tic vaults
The doors o. the mint are closed ev
cry weekday promptly at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. After that hour no one
nut mint employees have any business
within the walls which inclose go much
money, and no one can either stay in
or get in without a special permit from
the superintendent. Needless 10 say.
this is difficult TO obtain.
simultaneously with the closing Of
the doors at o'clock the first shift Of
the night guard goes on duty. The shift
Is composed OF the captain Of the guard
and IL stalwart men. As the men file
out 10 begin their round each one is
handed big Colts revolver Of the most
approved pattern and loaded with big
cartridges
From then on till midnight seven Of
the IL 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 cdd million dollars in
silver and almost as much gold, 70 the
rop floor, " here there is nothing more
valuable than machinery. Placed at fire.
qrent 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
Iaunicates with the rotunda opposite
the Chestnut street entrance TO the
mint. Here il is that the captain is sta
rioned all through the long hours of
his shift. Every two minutes and
half the central machine III 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 discov-
er what il 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
iy watching that no suspicious charac-
ters approach too near the vast treasure
left in their care.
Promptly at midnight the second
shift Of the might guard puts in an ap-
pearance TO relieve the early shift. 1t
j. also composed of a captain and IL
Een, 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
tteps 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
- rely. On each side Of the main cor
TidoT leading from the Chestnut street
entrance stands a walnut case. Through
the polished glass front of one frown
20 Winchester rifles The other con-
faiDs As many ugly looking carbines
TO grab these dispensers of death would
De but the work of an instant for the
guards, and then woe be unto any man
''r men upon whom it might be found |
necessary 10 turn them
For the Tevolvers ;hcre is kept con
stantly On hand in the mint 500 rounds /
of ammunition. and for the rifles and /
carilines $500 rounds Each of the |
guards is an expert in the use Of both |
the pistol and the gun. and each is en-
dowed with a plentiful stock OF cour- /
age; hence combination capable Of /
successfully resisting almost anything
less than a regiment
The superintendent and assistant Gus
todian beth talked to the reporter about /
the methods in use TO protect the mint 4
and its contents Both smiled signifi- I
cantly when the possibility Of one get
ring away with portion of the vast /
treasure was suggested.
1T would be folly for any one TO try I
II, " was the superintendent only CON-
lnent To it the assistant custodian nod
ded emphatic assent
Il have been here for good many 4
years " the latter said, land no such /
attempt has ever been made. 1t is prac-
iically impossible for any one to break
into the mint from the outside. and no 4
one could secrete himself in the build /
ing during the hours when it Is open 20
visitors and hope 10 avoid discovery. /
We search every nook and corner of the 1
structure carefully as soon as the doors
are closed foc the day, and yon may
rest assured il any one who had no |
business within these walls was found /
be would regret the day be was born. -
In addition 20 the two shifts Of night 1
fuards, the superintendent and assistant
custodian have a habit of dropping in
at the mint AZ odd hours Of the night to
see that everything is going on all right
The mint is connected with the cen-
tral telephone station, and should there
be trouble the captain of the guard
could communicate with police head
quarters in brief space Of tine.
IL ycu come across anybody who 1
thinks he can get rich quickly by help
ing himself TO our coin, remarked the
superintendent IN parting. ''just advise
Kim TO think it over carefully first -
In compliance with the superintend-
eDt's suggestion the advice is hereby
given
And it is pretty coed advice to follow
too.-Philadelphia Inquirer.
The population Of Antwsrn inolndes