The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-05-25
"Did they see any vehicle standing
or driYine near the treasury 2''

pacing outside the walls of this build
ing, heard nothing of the explosion be-
yond low rumble, and those who
thought Of the matter at all imagined
an explosion had occurred in some dis
tant part of the city"
''Then the outside doors in the large
hall above Were not blown open?"
''No; the officer reported that they
were locked and bolted when he exam
ined them, which was some minutes of
course, after the disaster had taken
place, for he, the officer in charge, had
been thrown down and stunned, SEEM
ingly by the conclusion of air which
took place. -
AS Jennie walked down the corridor
she SAW more and more evidence Of the
| convulsion. The thick iron bound door
lay where it had fallen, and it had not
been stirred since it was moved to get
the two men from under it. Its ponder
| Gus hinges We're twisted as if they had
been made of glue, and its massive
bolts We're snapped across like bits of
glass All along the corridor on the
floor was a thick coating of dust and
debris, finely powdered, growing deeper
and deeper until the entrance to the
room was reached. There We're no win
dows either in corridor or chamber, and
the way was lit by candles held by sol
diers who accompanied them. The
scoria crunched underfoot as they walk
ed and in the chamber itself great
heaps of dust, sand and plaster, all fine
ly powdered, lay in the corners of the
| room and on one side was piled up
higher than mans head. There SEEM
ed to be tons of this debris, and as Jen-
ME looked up at the arched ceiling, re-
sembling the roof of vaulted dungeon,
she saw that the stone itself had been
ground to fine dust with the tremendous
force Of the blast
"Where are che remnants of the
treasure chest 2" she asked.
The director shook his head
s'There are no remnants; not vestige
of it is to be found
"Of what was it nader"
owe used to have an old treasure
chest here made of oak, bound with
iron, but some years ago, new recep-
tacle being needed one was especially
made of hardened steel, constructed on
the modern principle of those burglar
proof and fireproof safes. -
and do you mean to say there is
nothing left of this?"
"Nothing that we have been able to
discover.
"Well, I have seen places where dy-
Mantle explosions have occurred, but
know OF nothing to compare with this.
| am sure that if dynamite had been
used or any explosive now generally OBJ
tainable there would have been left at
least some remnant of the safe. Hasn't
this pile of rubbish been disturbed since
the explosion?"
Yes; it has been turned over We
made a search for the two men, but We
found no trace of Them
land you found no particles of iron
or steel?'
"The heap throughout is just as you
see it on the surface, fine, almost i'm
palpable, dust We had to exercise the
greatest care in searching through it,
for the moment it was disturbed with a
shovel 1T filled the air in sutfocating
clouds. OF course we shall have it re-
moved by and by and cart it away, but
considered it better to allow it to re-
main here until we had penetrated
somewhat further into the mystery
than We have already done. "
Jennie stopped and picked up a hand
full from the heap. Her action caused a
mist to rise in the air that made them
both choke and cough, and yet she was
instantly struck by the fact that her
handful seemed Unfortunately heavy for
its bulk.
''May take some, of this with me p
she asked.
''Of course, replied the director. 81
shall have a packet of it put up for
you.
81 would like to take it with me
now, >" said Jennie. 81 have curiosity
to know exactly of what it is composed.
Who Is the government analyst, or
have you such an oficial?"
''Herr FeltZ, in the Graubenstrasse,
Is famous analytical chemist. You
cannot do better than go to him.
"Do you think he knows anything
about explosives?"
II should suppose SO, but if not he
will certainly be able to tell you who
the best man is in that line. -
The director ordered one of the men
who accompanied him to find a small
paper bag and fill it with the debris of
the treasure chamber When this was
done, he handed the package to Jennie,
who said:
81 shall go at once and see Herr
Feltz.
: my carriage is at your disposal,
Madame.
ooh, no, thank you'll do not wish
to trouble you further. am very much
obliged to you for devoting SO much
time to me already shall take
fiacre.
"My carriage is at the door. per-
sisted the director, ''and l will instruct
the driver to take you directly to the
shop of Herr Feltz Then no time will
be lost, and l think if 1 am with you
you VIII be more sure of attention from