Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-10-18

being built into wall they could work
upon after bank hours. perhaps for
days together II necessary. And this
decision was arrived at despite their
knowledge that the wall into which the
safe was built was three feet thick and
built OF solid granite.
They started operations from the
drain running down below the street on
which the bank fronted 10y digging a
tunnel twenty feet long on level with
the banks vaults This tunnel. cut
through exceedingly difficult ground.
opened on the foundations OF the build
ing. which were. on the one hand. too
deep 10 De passed under. and on the
other hand. So thick and solid - four
feet OF the strongest masonry - that
ninety nine men out OF a hundred would
have abandoned the enterprise il only
because OF the risk Of cutting a passage
through such a wall beneath the feet
OF an Office fun OF clerks and ever DasS-
ing pedestrians in the street. But the
thieves had a fortune I'm diamonds in
view and were men not easily fright
encd or diShcartened. and they not only
cut way through the foundations. hut
through two other walls little less for
midablc. before they came upon the
final wall into which the safe was
built. and they made a way through
this latter and the massive steel back
OF the safe I'm such a quiet. workman
like style that not soul suspected any
thing was GmisS until one OF the bank
officials went 10 the safe and found il
cleared ~ 10000 worth Of exquisite
diamonds.
Against these two aStoniShinCly sue
ceSSful enterprises stands the attempt
on the Mexican branch OF the National
Bank Of America. when failure attend.
Ell the thieves not because they were
any less daring or workmaulkc. but
owing 10 the sheereSt b2l luck. They
constructed a tunnel from house they
rented 10 The vaults of the bank. but
failed by few hours 10 reach the val
tables. worth an enormous sum OF
money, owing 10 an accident
Ii Glanced that when these men had
tunneled Il distance of some thirty
yards and arrived Just within the vault
where the safe was some OF the beams
they had used 10 shore up the tunnel
collapsed. causing a slight subsistence
Of the banks foundations. At the same
time the manager happened, quite con-
trary 10 his custom. 10 - 10 his Office.
and he was surprised 10 find diff
Guilty i'm opening the door Of the room.
y curSory examination was enough to
show him that since closing time the
wall of his room had sunk slightly.
causing the door 10 press on the floor
Probably this circumstance alone
would not have shattered the thieves
scheme, since the manager would have
waited till the morning TO call build
er in, by which time the safe would
have been empticd. hut while he was
considering the matter the thieves in
the vault below were making frantic
efforts 10 repair the damage to the tun-
mel sufficiently 10 enable them To com
plete their task before dayhreak. and
the manager heard them working be
meath his feet. The consequence was
he Immediately took light and re.
vOlver and descended to the vault
Two men suddenly appeared before
him. lie shot one dead. but the other
disappeared in a manner which utterly
baflled his comprehension till he search.
ed the vault and came ON the mouth
Of the tunnel. which. OF course. eX.
planned everything London Standard.