The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-15
GUARDING THE BANK OF ENGLAND.
What 1t Costs to Protect ''the Old Lady
of ThreadneedIe Street"
london Dailv Mail
London Daily Mail

That was quixotic enterprise upon which
Mr.. Taylor embarked. To endeavor to
storm the Bank of England single handed
and with one small revolver was likely TO be
about as productive as fitting at windmills
But it may be that Mr.. Taylor was merely
trying a little experiment for his own
amusement.
No one man would be so foolish as to at
tempt to hold up" the old Lady OF
with which the venerable dame is protected.
Nobody ever has robbed her, and the likeli-
hood is that nobody ever will. She was in
danger in 1850 at the time of the Gordon
riots and since then soldiers have guarded
her nightly. The Scots Guards are doing
You may see them any afternoon about
5 o'clock marching along the cembankment
to the bank They number thirty-tour, OF
whom two are sergeants, two corporals,
twenty-nine soldiers and one drummer boy
under the command of a subaltern-
The first piece of work gone through by
the men on their arrival is to receive their
wages for the nights watch-the prlVates
and the drummer boy one shilling each, the
corporals another siXpence ana the sergeants
half a croWn--in all thifty-elght shllllngs,
or a little over S500 a year, which cannot
be regarded as an extravagant sum to pay
for the safeguarding of the millions IN the
banks Golfers. The thirty-eight shillings,
however, is exclusive of the subaltern al
lowance the amount Of when Is not SUP
gate can scarcely exceed 41000
Each man receives a blanket, so that he
may sleep, when not doing sentry duty. on
great coats of an antiquated cut land deco
rated with very large buttons with the
words Bank of England stamped on
them.
A selection of books is supplied for the
diversion of the men, and there is also a
small library for the use of the officer. In
rooms adjacent to the quarters OF his men
the commanding officer is accommodated.
These rooms are decidedly convenient and
comfortable. The officer, like the remainder
of the picket can on no pretense whatever
leave the bank premises until his term of
duty is finished.
One of the first things done is the reading
by one Of the sergeants of the orders FOR
the regulation of the duty and general con-
duct" of the picket. These chiefly relate TO
the rules to be observed by the sentries-
how they are to act in certain contingencies
such outbreak of fire, or the like.
There is a small canteen for the conVen-
fence of the men. The caterer who runs It
for supper in cellar-like recess in the wall
of n dark passage, which leads TO regions
UNEMPLOYED
He Invariably has a good stock Of eat
ables together with cask Of porter, and
does an extensive business till near mid
night, when he departs. The regulations
provide that no more than two pints of por-
ter shall be drunk by one man.
The duties imposed upon the picket are
not heavy, as the chances of a serious at
tempt on the bank are very remote. The
walls Of the building are very thick, the
who should essay to run away with a few
millions would be difficult indeed, even IL he
could gain an entrance Into the building.
But bold burglars have done come OF the
most astounding things before this. and
there Is always the possibility OF trouble.
Failing this emergency call, the majority
OF the soldiers merely perform sentry go
once q Night Tor an hour. The sentrteS are