The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-03
The Quddruple Bank RObberieS
=By George NJ A. Cain =-
= By George NJ. A. Cain :

| leapeo upon the rear steps Of the
patrol wagon. And the driver did his
best to demonstrate that it was indeed
"huTry-ur call"
The gongs Of twenty IRE engines.
their trucks and hose carts were clang-
ing through the streets The huge red
automobile OF the insurance patrol went
roaring past them
Everywhere people were streaming
from their houses IN their night clothes.
They turned, when they made sure that
their own homes were still standing.
and followed the engines
Swinging into Chestnut street, they
saw the CLEAN of broken plate win
dOws covering the sidewalks and Curbs.
Great signboards lay in twisted heaps
or hung still rocking at the end Of
some cable that had stood the strain.
As they neared the bank building
which fortunately, was partially re-
lieved by the light of the full moon.
The front OF the bank building was
without a whole window.
Down an alley into Glover street.
most OF the swift procession Tumbled
its way AT the corner they were
: crete mingled with twisted Orders.
Firemen and police. leaping to the
ground. scrambled over the debris.
Looking up they saw the iron shut
tiers Of the building hanging by single
hinges where they had not been blown
of entirely.
Then they stopped at the edge Of a
gaping hole in the earth. Half way
across the back street it extended, and
II reached half way to the second story
windows in the wall.
The whole lower part Of the building
for twenty feet had been blown out.
Above this the concrete still held TO its
steel framework. Already two or three
FIRE engines on the other side Of the
hole had been attached to the hydrants.
The men came forward with their hose.
Far up in the top OF the dark wound
in the structure, a flame spurted forth.
A stream was directed toward it.
The moment the water touched that
| spot, the men at the hose tumbled to
their knees. one of them rolling head
long into the hole.
ITS a live wire-look out" they
shouted.
A battalion chief ran to the nearest
telephone and ordered all electric cur
rent shut off. A deeper darkness set
tied over the eerie scene, and the squirt
OF flame stopped instantly.
The hremen seized their lanterns and
began to direct their attention TO the
wreckage. With poles and hatchets,
they tested the soundness Of the stand
| ing wall.
A call had been sent to every hospl-
/ tai in the city. Ambulance bells
changed from every direction, adding to
the general din.
Lieutenant Wilson stood gazing down
after the lanterns Of the iremen who
had already entered the gaping hole
/ in the earth.
Here and there a ray of light CLEANED
back from a gold piece. Instantly, the
officers attention was centered on this
new development
| Come here" he shouted to a group
] Of policemen, who seemed to be mo-
mentarilv idle-'Look at all that yell
low stuff down there. Guard this
spot"
yellow stuff down there" Captain
/ Heeny suddenly shouted in his sub
Ordinate's ear. Look down at your
feetT'
Wilson turned in surprise at seeing
] 'iic captain vi t4lC SpON % Sooh- III
! kicked aside a little Of the mortar dus
! with his toe. Three big gold pieces
ldanced into view.
Guard the whole street, Heeny
added TO the men. Don't let anybody
enter or leave the street
The lieutenant, relieved of command
/ by the appearance of his captain, start
cd away, kicking at the gold-lader
debris, half wishing that there were no
so many eyes to see him II he STOPPED
to pick up a little Of the scattered
| wealth.