The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-17

tion to it, as because of the constant
blasting in the tunnel to the north
persons in that part of the city no
longer heed any noise made by firing.
This was about 9:15 o'clock and it
is now believed that the man whom
Koch and Girwood saw was one of
the burglars and was acting as look
out for the other who blew the safe.
A. F. Skirving was another who heard
the explosion.
Several other persons than those
named say they saw couple of stran-
gers early in the evening lettering
about the brewery. No heed was given
to the fact, but now it is believed that
they were awaiting favorable oppor-
tunity to make their way into the
office to do the work they had laid
out for themselves.
Are Frightened Off.
There is no doubt as to the time
the laundry safe was robbed as there
are at least a couple of known wit
nesses to the event.
AL. Bassett, who is employed in the
laundry, was going home at about
1:45 o'clock yesterday morning. He
street, coming from Montana avenue.
When opposite the Office of the laun-
dry he observed a dim light, which
he describes as making red glare,
in the south part of the room, be-
tween the counter and the wall. He
stopped for moment wondering what
it meant. Thinking that it was made
by some one connected with the
place he started to walk toward the
office, when he saw a man standing
on the sidewalk almost in front of
the Office door. The man had evidently
seen him; for after hesitating a few
seconds ne walked toward the door
and hastily entered.
Mr.. Bassett waited no longer, but
hurriedly left and went in search of a
pO11NCAdA. A4C was uAoO1O W 1AlAu OAAC
on the streets and ran to the city
/; hall, where he found Officer Salisbury
| to whom he related what had occurred.
Salisbury accompanied him to the
laundry, where Bassett left him and
went to notify Mr.. Erickson, one of
the owners, who lives a short distance.
1
The policeman continued to walk
until he passed the south window OF
the office and saw couple OF men
inside at work on the safe. They
must have seen him as soon as he
saw them, for they made a bolt tor
the door, Salisbury, who had walked
east to- about the length OF the build.
ing, heard them leave and ran back
toward the door. He arrived just in
begin running north in Twenty-sixth
street. He gave chase, at the same
time firing at the fugitives and sent
five shots in their direction, none OF
which is supposed to have found a
mark, as the men continued to run
until they got to the corner of Second
avenue and Twenty-sixth street,
where they separated, one going east
and lodging into an alley, while the
other disappeared a short distance
further on. Although search was
made for some time no trace OF the
men was to be found
| Used Primitive Tools.
Aside from the nitro glycerine used
to blow open the doors of the two
safes, the men employed only the
most primitive tools to do the work
An ak, switch bar and wedge such
as is used to hold brake blocks of a
railroad car constituted their outfit.
With the ak the dials and knobs were
knocked off the doors, while the
switch bar did service as lever and
the wedge was for similar purpose
in prying open the money drawers.
The use of the tools was made clear
at the laundry. Instead of having