Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-29
GUARDING THE MINT.
HOW THE PHILADELPHIA INSTiTU-
TON is PROTECTED.

dred who pass by the Philadelphia mint,
that grim locking 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 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 ev-
cry weekday promptly at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. After that hour no one
but mint employees have any business
within the walls which inciose so much
money, and no one can either stay in
Or get in without a special permit from
the superintendent. Needless to 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 to 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
tho corridors of the gloomy vaults
where, away down i'll the 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 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
tened all through the long hours of
his shift. Every two minutes and Il
half the central machine i'll the rotunda
denotes the presence IF 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 it is.
But it has been long time since the
little machine failed to send forth its
at the proper time, for
the mint guards are patrolling up and
down outside the big building, careful
ly 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. It
is also composed of captain and IL
men, and they are split up. as the other
squad, into inside and outside details.
From midnight ON until o'clock i'll
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
entrance stands a 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 an instant for the
guards, and then woe be unto any man
or men upon whom it might DO 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
$500 rounds. Each of the
guards is an expert in the use of both
the pistol and the gun, and each is en-
lowed with a plentiful stock of cour
age; hence 4 combination capable of
resisting almost anything
less than regiment.
The superintendent and assistant Gus
-odian both talked to the reporter about
he methods in use to protect the mint
md its contents. Both smiled signifi-
,antly when the possibility of one get
ing away with portion of the vast
reasure was suggested.
at would be folly for any one to try
{, - was the superintendent only com
nent To it the assistant custodian nod
led emphatic assent.
Il have been here for n good many
ears" the latter said, land no such
Ittempt has ever been made. 1t is prac-
icalIy 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 il is open TO
-isitors and hope to avoid discovery.
We search every nook and corner of the
tructure 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
lie would regret the day he was born "
In addition TO the two shifts of night
yards, the superintendent and assistant
ustodian have habit of dropping in
&c the mint ut odd hours of the night TO |
ee that everything is going on all right
The mint is connected with the CEN |
raj telephone station, aud should there |
Re trouble the captain of the guard !
ouId communicate with police head
quarters in a brief space OF time.
IF you come across anybody who /
links he can get rich quickly by help |
ng himself to our coin, remarked the |
uperintendent in parting, lust advise !
lin to think il over carefully first.