Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-09-30
GUARDING OUR MONEY
How the Treasury Vaults at
Washington Are Protected.
WATCHERS DAY AND NIGHT

TO Sheet TO k;ll-Never Has Dol
lar Been Taken From Them BY
Foree-one Daring Scheme.
Not dollar has ever been taken
from the United States treasury by
force.
Perhaps the nearest approach TO loot
ing the vaults OF the treasury was the
time Martin Broadfoot had his plans
about perfected. This was back I'm the
eighties, aud the plan was 10 get into
the building by means. of the great
sewer which runs under and near the
treasury and is known rs the Fifteenth
street sewer and which grows larger
as 1t enters the Potomac about three
quarters OF a mile from the White
House.
Broadfoot's plan. rs developed after
his arrest. was TO get into the building.
crack the safes and place the money
la large rubber bags and foat them
down the sewer 10 the Potomac. where
his pals would be In waiting. These
bags were found I'm his room when he
WAS arrested. and secret service men
had often seen him walking along the
shores OF the Potomac near where the
big sewer empties. This sewer is
about nine feet i'm diameter where it
PASSES the treasury. \ man could
easily make his way up the sewer
through n stream OF water which IN
Ges normal conditions Is only about
twelve inches deep. BY entering the
tunnel or sewer at the river the jour.
ucy To the treasury could be made by
keeping sharp lookout When the
iaau or men In the sewer reached the
Fifteenth street sewer nothing would
separate them from the gold coin and
bullion except about eighteen feet OF
,3-:h and not too secure stone wall.
II WAS BrOadfoots scheme TO dig his
way through this obstruction and to
Let the earth tloat or wash down the
sewer lt would not have taken one
mau more than two weeks working
Only at night. 10 have made an opening
large enough for man to crawl
through CT course Broadfoot knew
the exact location OF the vaults. and
when ne oDcc reached them he would
have had no trouble IN getting the gold
colin ard bullion. II WAS evidently his
purpo1r 10 ell the rubber bags with
The rFecious stuff and float them down
the sewer TO the river. where they
would be looked after by his confed-
crates. This was the only really well
laid plot ever made TO loot the treas
ury. and just why Broadfoot was
never given trial has never been
known to the public. He was an intel
ligent man. and suspicion was first
aroused against him by his frequent
visits 10 the money rooms and vaults
and by the questions he asked watch
men and messengers as TO the hours
OF duty, when the time locks closed
and what time they opened. and all
such questions. That he could have
successfully carried out his plans so
far rs getting into the building and
the vaults are concerned there Is no
question. for men have been In the
sewer and conduits who say that It
would have been easy work. The most
difficult part OF the Job would have
been I'm getting away with the money
and bullion. for II would have required
hard work 20 secure it and get away
About the only chance would have
been 10 bury IL somewhere in Virginia,
for II II had been placed on boats II
would have been easy TO recover It,
IL Is the opinion OF the secret service
men that many celebrated cracksmen
have from time TO time contemplated
the conversion OF few million treas
ury notes 10 their own use, but after
careful study they have decided that
the undertaking was too colossal In
character. Secretary Folger when he
assumed his duties was not slow In
deciding that the treasury was not
properly and safely guarded There
: was not an electric alarm In the build
Ing, the watchmen were isolated ana
had no facilities for calling help. ana
the safes were of the old time lock and
, key sort, scattered almost all over the
7 Dig building. The secretary went 10
: work to bring about a proper condition
or affairs. He had the watch system
completely changed and reorganized.
3 putting them under the strictest disci.
e pine. Elaborate and extensive alarm
e systems were installed The old safes
were replaced by modern steel affairs
with time locks and intricate combina-
lions. The gold and silver vaults were
fitted with steel castings and time
locks, different parts of the combina.
lions being distributed among various
officials, so that the vaults could be
opened only with the concerted action
OF all OF them, and then only at the
stroke OF the hour for which the time
locks had been set. But without a pep
feet system of watchmen TO guard the
safes the treasury could be easily rob
bed, for the most perfect safe ever
made is not proof against the profes.
sionals
The watch force OF the treasury Is
perfectly organized, and the least In
fraction OF rules means layoG or dis
charge The men seem to realize the
heavy responsibilities resting upon
them and they are careful almost to
fault. The watch is divided into three
reliefs. the tour of duty lasting for
eight hours. However, the watch does
not anticipate an attack by robbers.
, but they are prepared for any emcrgen
cy, and they Will not no cauoht non