The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-01
III WAS A DARING PLOT The STATES FINANCES
Scheme to Loot the st. Louis
Sub Treasury.
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR
He Tried to Get Information Relative to
the Interior of the Building-A
Fear That Robbers Will
Get Into the Vault.

| st. Louis. Dec. Slit is believed
around the federal building that during
| the past week there was daring plot
| to rob the vaults of the United States
| sub-treasury, on the second floor of the
building, and that if the nerve of those
in the plot has not failed the attempt to
secure a good sized wad of greenbaeks
now lying in Uncle Sans strong box
will yet be made.
The first suspicion of the plot was
aroused last Wednesday, and since
then the attaches of the sub-itreasury
department even though they are heav-
| lily armed, have been in a state of APP
prehension.
On the afternoon of the day mention
ed above United States Sub Treasurer
Small was sitting in his private office
when there came a heavy knock on his
door. Mr.. Small unlocked the door and
bade his visitor enter A tall, lean and
nngainly individual walked into the Of
flee in an awkward manner and very
bluntiy informed Mr. Small that he
wanted to see the interior of the sub
treasury department Mr.. Small was
surprised at the strangers nerve and
asked his reasons for his request.
The visitor replied by stating that he
never seen such a thing as a govern
ment vault, and he concluded to take
advantage of his presence in the city to
crafty his curiosity. Although Mr.
Small felt suspicious, he supposed that
there could be no danger whatever from
one man, and accordingly agreed to
show him around.
The stranger eyed the arrangement of
the office in furtive manner, and
infinitely inquired into all its details. So
inquisitive was he that when Mr. Small
reached the vaults he concluded that he
would go no further, and informed his
visitor that he would have to be con-
tent with viewing their exterior
Now" inquired the stranger in an
anxious manner, what means have you
| to repel an attack in case an attempt at
hold-up is suddenly made?"
Every man in this office has a Colt S
| revolver where he can reach it at a mo-
ment's notice. replied Mr.. Small, 'and
| if that would not suffice, we have alarm
bells connecting with every office in the
building"
The stranger turned very pale, and
bidding Mr.. Small good day. in an al
| most abrupt manner, hurriedly left the
| building.
Mr.. Small remarked to his chief clerk
| that the mans conduct was certainly
very strange, and the latter had ex-
| secret service officials in the building
| have been notified and a close watch is
| being Kept in anticipation Of sudden
| attack.
| THE man certainly acted in strange
| manner" said Mr. Small to a Republic
| reporter, land were I a nervous man
| would be in constant dread of his sud
| den return with a number of accom-
| plices for the purpose of making rich
| haul. But" he continued, in a COM
placent manner, eff they do come we
are ready for them. If he came from
| Columbus he might not be as ignorant
| as he appeared"
| Mr.. Smalls statement is about as
| near correct as any that could be made.
AS he told the inqusitive stranger. ev-
cry man in his office is provided with
with a large Colts revolver of the
latest style and Improvement, and none
of them would hesitate a moment about
using it in an emergency, Mr.. Small
being an absolutely fearless man HIM
| self, he has only men of the same cali
| Der around him. Every precaution has
been taken. The office is heavily
screened and it would be almost impos-
sible to cover every man at the same
time. BY merely touching a button
the Secret Service officers can be in
formed of what is going on. The en-
trance to Mr.. Small's Office is so fixed
| that only he himself can unlock the
| door. Consequently when a man gets
in there he cannot get out unless the
former is disposed to permit him to do
so. But as there is over a million dol
lars in the vaults, it is argued that a
| daring bandit would even take such
| desperate chances as these,