The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-01
WAS A DARING PLOT
Scheme to Loot the st. Louis
Sub -Treasury. +,
. MYSTERIOUS VISITOR
He Tried to Get Information Relative TO
the Interior OF the Buiiding-A
Fear That Robbers VIII
Get Into the Vault.

st. Louis. Dec. Silt is believed
around the federal building that during
the past week there was a daring plot
to rob the vaults of the United States
sub-treasury, on the second floor of the
building, and that il the nerve of those
In the plot has not failed the attempt to
secure a good sized wad of greenbacks
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~-treasury
department. even though they are heav-
lily armed, nave been in a state OF APP
prehension.
On the afternoon of the day mention
ed above United States S~ub-Treasurer
Small was sitting in his private Office
when there came a heavy knock on his
o Mr.. mail unlocked the door and
bade his visitor enter. A tall, lean and
ungainly individual walked into the Of
flee in an awkward manner and very
bluntly 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
was from Columbus. Ohio; that he had
never seen such a thing as a govern
ment vault, n 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
n man, and accordingly agreed to
show him around.
The stranger eyed the arrangement of
the Office in a 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
a hold-up is suddenly nader"
Every man I'm this office has a Colts
revolver where he can reach IL at a mo-
ment's notice" replied Mr.. Small. land
IL 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-
actly the same views. Since then the
secret service officials in the building
have been notified and a close watch is
being kept in anticipation of a sudden
attack.
"The man certainly acted in a strange
manner said Mr.. Small to a Republic
reporter, and were I a ervou man i
woul be in constant dread of his u d
den return with a number of accom
plices for the purpose of making a rich
haul. But" he continued. I'm a com
placent manner. "if they do come we
are ready for them. If he came from
Columbus he might not be as ignorant
as he appeared"
Mr.. Small's statement Is about as
neal correct ae any that could be made.
AS he told the inquisitive stranger. cv-
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 ali
Der around him. Every ~precaution has
been taken. The office Is heavily
screened and IL 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.. Smalls office is so fixed
N 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 dc
so. But as there Is over a million dol
lars in the vaults. IL Is argued that q
daring bandit would ven take such
desnerate chances as these.