Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-27
N CASH SECURED
BY BOLD BANK BURGLARS.
BATTLE IN THE sTEETS of sOMER-
SET, OHIO, BETWEEN CITI-
ZENS AND ROBBERS.
ss5. 900 IN GOLD AND BONDS
WE'RE OVERLOOKED BY THE BAN
DTS IN THEIR HASTE TO GET
AWAY FROM THE JOB.

SOMERSET, o., March 26.-Seven
bandits partially wrecked the State
bank of Somerset early to-day by ex-
ploding a heavy charge OF nitroglycer-
inc in the vault doors; secured $4,000;
appropriated two livery rigs; held a
posse of citizens at bay, and escaped
in the face of a heavy fire. Bonds and
securities to the amount of 10000 and
SIS, 900 in gold coin were overlooked by
the bandits. The bank was fully in
sured and it's business will not be in
terrupted.
A heavy explosion in the bank build
ing shortly before 2 a. m. aroused cit
liens living in the vicinity OF the bank
OF Somerset. John Hayes, whose
home is directly opposite the bank
building, raised a window and quietly
observed four men stationed in front
of the bank. He saw that the whole
front of the two-stony brick building
in which the institution was located
had been shattered, and, believing he
could brighten away the men, who,
it vas evident, were much alarmed by
the strength of the explosion, hastily
donned his clothes and sailed forth.
When he reached the sidewalk he
was challenged, and, under the in
f1uence of four rifles pointed at his
head, again mounted the stairs and
secured arms. Meanwhile many other
persons began to appear in the dark
ened streets of the village. William
7 @x-lt ~r,A,@l E,A ~, ~ ho n Iitc ruifh
a rife. but his aim was not OF the
best, and his shots only served to draw
the fire of the robbers.
The shooting soon became general,
as citizens crept toward the bank from
all directions, and the robbers evident
ly began to think of escape. At a
signal from the four on guard three
others emerged from the debris of the
bank. bearing several sacks into which
they had hurriedly placed their loot.
The robbers were under good disci-
pine and their leader gave his orders
like a military leader. "All ready, for
ward march"
Single file they marched under the
shadows of the trees which lined the
sidewalks, turned a corner, clamored
into two rigs aKd drove in a northerly
direction.
Citizens took up the chase and at 4
a. m. found the rigs deserted along the
roadside. The sheriff of Perry county
had been notified by telephone and ar
rived at daylight with a pack of blood
hounds, which will be used in the
chase. The robbers were successfully
tracked around town by the hounds.
1t was found they had broken open a
blacksmith shop to secure tools, and
then had taken the rigs, in which they
escaped, from a livery stable near the
bank. So successful were the hounds
in their work that it is hoped the en-
tire gang will be bagged.
President Samuel Ream, of the bank,
said this morning that his institution
will not suffer in the least except Tor
the inconvenience caused by the
wrecking of the vault and the blow
ing out of the front portion Of the
building. The loss is fully covered, he
said, by burglar insurance. The bulk
of the banks funds, he said, are on
deposit in other cities; otherwise, the
robbers might have been richly re-
warded for their daring deed.