The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-07
Tunnel Dug Under Building
 to the Vault.
Work Evidently That of shIlsd Mechanjcs-Robbery the Nest 'i Remarkable and Success
 full Ever Accomplished.
 Got Away in e Boat

San Francisco, Aug. 6.-The eefbH Smelting and Lead Company has been robbed of s2So,00 worth of gold bul3ion.
 The theft occurred some time last night and was not discovered untd this morning. The thieves tunneled from outsIoe the building under the vnak al the Selby works. which are located on the bay short about thirty miles frem San Francisco. They got away with nearly 1.2oo pounds of fine gold, worth $2o an ounce. without leaving trace of their identity.
 The robbery Is the most successful and remarkable ever accomplished, and was evidently the work of skilled me- chanics.
 It Is supposed that when the robbers secured their loot they loaded 1t into a boat that was waiting and disap-, peared in the fog that had come over San Francisco BayIn their haste to get away they left two gold bars worth nearly $50,0o0 lying on the bank at the waters edge.
 The police at all the bay cities were immediately notified of the crime. but all they could discover was a few of the tools that the robbers had used. The SeIby Smelling and Leal Com pany Is the largest concern of its kind on the Pacific Coast. Ores are sent from all over the western country Co be smelted and refined and the gold Is then turned over to the mint A steam CT makes special trips between the smelter and San Francisco. carrying ores and bringing back refined gold.
 The Gold Was Gone.
 This morning when the workers ent- cred the vault to prepare the gold for loading on a steamer to go to San Fran cisco, the robbery was discovered. The thieves had taken the preeaution of fastening the door of the vault from the inside. so that 1t would be difficult to open from the outside in case they were interrupted in their work. Probably preparatory engineering ex- tending over several weeks was done before the robbery could be accomp- lished. Close to the wall of the build ing in which the vault is located a shaft was sunk below the foundation. Then a tunnel was run to the vault and holes were bored in the iron floor until an aperture sufficiently large to admit man was made. It was then easy work to pass down the treasure into the tunnel and load it into a boat The robbers even took the precaution to sprinkle red pepper in the tunnel in order to make things as uncomfortable as possible for any one who might at- tempt to pursue them.
 There were feur gold bricks in tho vault which the robbers footed. Each was ten inches long. five inches wide and four inches in height. They were all stamped with weight. number and finenesW and ran thus:
 No. 1236, containing 1190.37 ounces; No. 1237. containing 1127.43 ounces; No. 123s. containing .22 ounces, and No. 1239. contining 1073.79 ounces. /
 A q An- s20.60 an ounce.
 Crude Gold Also Taken.
 In addition to this there was stolen from the bullion vault crude gold in all shapes and sizes.
 Tt is the boldest robbery in the his- tory of the State," said Chief of Detec- tives Seymour this afternoon, and from all the information that we can obtain at this time there is absolutely no clue to the robbers. Telegrams have been sent to every sheriff in the central part of the State ordering him to search for the missing gold, to search every railroad train and stage coach passing through his county and to examine every one taking passage at the differ ent railroad stations throughout the State.
 We can do no more than this, and think with the precautions we have taken no stranger can leave the State uninspected. Surely, if any attempt is made to ship the bullion by any of the ordinary modes of conveyances, we will discover it. On the whole, believe the chances are good for capturing the robbers