Evening journal., 1901-08-07
THIEVES BOOTY
WAS GOLD BULLION
California Smelling Works
THnnelOd by Robbers
They Worked in Dead Of Night aAd
Gained Entrance to VauIt-Ouar-
ter Million Taken

San Francisco, Aug. About $780,
600 worth Of gold bullion was stolen
from the Selby Smelling Works at
Vallejo on Monday night. The rob-
berry was not discovered until yester-
day morning. Access to the strong
room, where the bullion was stored,
was secured through a tunnel, which
the thieves had bored from the edge
of San Francisco bay to the building,
some distance from the waters edge.
1t is supposed that the thieves took
their plumber away in boat.
The Selby Smelter is the largest on
the Pacific coast. Ores are sent there
from all parts of the western slope for
reduction. The works are located
near the bay shore, about 80 miles
from San Francisco The gold is kept
in a steel-lined room. The robbers
tunneled until they got directly under
the room, and then cut through the
floor The tunnel was skillfully con-
structed work, which it must have
taken many days to complete.
Not the slightest trace OF the thieves
has been discovered, and the detec-
tives are completely at sea.
An official of the Selby works made
the following statement this morn
ing:
: 1.-THE robbers must have succeeded
In entering the vault some time be-
tween midnight and 1 o'clock yesterday
morning. hhey entered the vault
through a hole about the size Of a
nanhole in a boiler, and indications
point to the fact that the robbers have
been working on the scheme for some
ime. Over $50 holes we're bored in
he bottom of the vault and the work
nanship indicates that mechanics of
more than usual ability superintendent
he job. The holes were bored to
within hairs breadth of the surface,
and when the proper time came the
plate was forced up, thus giving the
obbers access to the vault. The plot
ers first sxcavatedi hole alongside
he building, directly in line with the
ault The work Of excavating must
ave taken some time, and at the end
each nights work (for the work
must have been done at night, a COW
ring of laths, rubber sheeting and
acks was made, the whole being COW
"A red over with layer of dirt, thus
iding any sign Of what was going
4.
what became Of the excavated dirt
e have been unable to find out 1t
tust have been removed in sacks. The
overing we have ascertained was not
rong enough to hold the weight OF
man, but the excavation was made
) close to the building that the man
ever walked over it. We find that
e plotters were aided by some one
oroughly familiar with the system
nployed at the works and one fully
formed as to the construction Of the
.ult.
Monday night one of the watchmen
nployed about the premises heard
Discs inside the vault and informed
fellows that the devil or ghosts
ere inside the vault They laughed
him and made no investigation, and
us the robbers were left unmolested
their work.
1.-THE weight of the gold carried out
the vault aggregates 1900 pounds
d it must have taken several trips
one man. And several men mus
I've been employed in carrying the
stal to the boat. We are assured &
at was in waiting for them.
Inside the vault were several sacks
ntaining $4,000, but this was moi
lched. 1t may have been that tbs
IN became alarmed. That they were
lrmed is also indicated by the fac
1t two bars of gold of great value
re left on the beach in their haste
escape"