The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08
WELL.CUARDED
INSTITUTION
A Company of Guards Brig
ade Mounts Duty Every
Night in Bank of England
WELL WATCHED IN DAY
Two Unseen Policemen Note
All Who Enter or Leave,
Ready to Act on Occasion
WELL WATCHED IN DAY

1t is commonly known that a COM
pany of the Brigade of Guards mounts
duty within the Bank of England every
night The men, with diminutive bu-
gier at their head and commanded by
an orncer, may be seen marching from
wellington Barracks, along the Thames
embankment, into the city every even
Ing, not even Sunday or the merry
night of Christmas being allowed to
break the rule
But 1t is hardly known at all how the
bank is watched and guarded through
out the day. Thousands swarm past
Its portals every weekday hour. never
suspecting the presence of two men
who are invisible, yet who are so close
to the traffic of the street that they
might also arrest the passing pedes-
trian with outstretched hand.
ALWAYS ON WATCH.
These two men are detective officers
of the city police, and from 8 o'clock in
the morning till the bank closes they
never leave their postal least, not to-
gether. If one has occasion to be alb
sent for moment the other always re-
mains, but, generally speaking, they
face each other the whole day long.
Why are they there? The explana-
ton Is that there is never any knowl-
SNSC "hCA z IiCs may NC NdhlCQ. ACA
Is species of gentry to whom the
Bank of England is always prime game.
Bank notes. again, for various good
reasons, are always being stopped, and
there is never g. moment when a stop
ped note may not be presented by
shady character. When this happens
one of the alert watchers appears in
the noteroom as if by magic.
SEE ALL VISITORS.
AS has been already said, they are
rarely seen until they are wanted. In
the wall which divides the main en-
trance into two portals is constructed
a sitting box of woodwork and, glass,
and here. facing each other, in con-
stant readiness, the two officers sit
throughout the day.
The one with his back toward
Thread-needle street can observe every
person who leaves the bank, whether
on his right hand or on his left; the
other with his face toward the street
can similarly see every person who en-
ters through the gates. But neither in
conner nor outgoer can see the two
watchers until he comes almost abreast
of the box.
ROGUES WHO. ARE FEARED.
1t is when the clock of the Royal Ex-
change strikes 3 p. m, the heralding
the last hour of business, that the Of
ficers are most alert, especially OF the
last half hour, that anything may hap
pen.
One rogue may hope to pass a
stopped note, a second may attempt to
pass a forgery, a third may be look
ing for an opportunity to whip OF
somebody's cash bag and a fourth may
try to loaf unobserved until the doors
are closed In the hope Of a chance to
make a haul.
For these reasons one of the officers
always remains within the bank pre-
cincts until o'clock, his colleague be-
ing free to leave at 4. The governor
and court of the bank pay. Of course,
for the two hours additional service
and there is every justification for the
extended precaution. When the detec-
tive officer has closed his duty the mill
tary guard marches in for the night
Washington Star.