The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-08-08
Story of an Omcial.

Vallejo, Cal, Aug. An official of
the Selby smelling works made the
following statement regarding the
robbery:
1.-THE robbers must have succeeded in
entering the vault some time between mid
night and five o'clock this morning. They
entered the vault through q hole about
the size of a mauhole in a boiler, and the
indications point to the fact that robbers
have been working on the scheme for some
time. Over $50 holes were bored into the
bottom of the vault, and the workmanship
indicates that mechanics of more than
usual ability superintendent the job. The
holes were bored to within g hairs breadth
of the surface, and when the proper time
came the plate was forced up, thus giving
the robbers access to the vault. The plot
tiers first eXcavated a hole alongside the
building directly in line with the vault.
The work of e~xcavating must have taken
some time, and at the end Of each nights
work-fOr the work must nave been lone
at night-a covering OF laths, rubber sheet
ing and sacks was made, the whole being
covered over with a layer of dirt, thus hid
ing any sign of what was going on. What
became of the ~excavated dirt we nave been
unable to find out. II must have been re-
moved in sacks. The covering, We have as
certalned, was not strong enough to hold
the weight of a man, but the excavation
was made so close to the building that the
men never walked over It. We are salts
fled that the plOtters were aided by some
one familiar with the system employed at
the works and one fully informed as to the
construction of the vault.
Last night one of the watchmen en-
ployed about the premises heard noises in
side the vault and informed his fellows
that the devil or ghosts were inside the
vault. They laughed at him and made no
investigation, and thus the robbers were
left unmolested at their work. The weight
of the gold carried out aggregates 1900
pounds, and II must have taken several
trips for one man, n several men m
have been employed In carrying the metal
to the boat. We are assured a boat was IN
waiting for them. Inside the vault were
several sacks containing $4,000, but this
was not touched. 1t may have been that
the men became alarmed. That they were
harmed is also indicated by the fact tina
two bars Of gold of great value were left
on the beach in their haste TO escape. It
Is impossible for US to say at this time
what direction the men took. If they used
q steam launch to leave the scene of the
robbery they could have gone in any direc-
ton, but If they escaped In a rowboat they
would doubtless have taken the direction
in which the tide was running. SeverG
broken drills and an oil can such as is use2
by cyclists nave been found I'm the hols.
Every possible clew is being followed, but
/ am unable to say that we have been at
all successful thus far, but We hope later
10 make the announcement that the rob-
bers have been apprehended. IbeIeve they
secured about $4,000"
Robbery at Chicago.
Chicago, Aug. 6.-Four men bound
and gagged two employees of the
Suburban Electric Railway company,
blew open the safe in the Office and es-
capped with between 5000 and $500 early
Monday morning. The robbers had
evidently laid their plans carefully,
for their work was done with q
smoothnsss and precision which be-
token Familiarity with the surround
iEgs and the habits Of the employees.