Evening journal., 1912-10-11
How the Run on the
Bank WasS Stopped
By EVELYN TlsDALE

UUIU Iurn sLnA uNIl UtiI ncCloAflAAA i1Nll|
ier In bank. l concluded TO go west
to some promising town and open a
bank.
There was one bank where / set
tied. Barton's, that previous to my en-
tering the field had done all the busi-
ness there was to do. Barton was very
much disgruntled at having TO give up
any Of II to me and did all he could
coyertly to injure me and my credit.
He was not liked. being considered a
skinhint. and I gradually cut into his
business This gain on my part was
partly due to my wife, who made her
self very popular with her acquaint-
ances and brought me many valuable
accounts.
The town was growing. and there
was business for two banks. II I had
not occupied the Geld some one else
would have done so. But Barton
wanted it an and acted accordingly.
All went well enough til the panic OF
1898 came on. when we were all in for
hard times Barton was known TO
have much more capital than l. but
most Of those having deposits with me
felt friendly 10 me or to my wife or
to both Of us and was able to keep a
pretty steady rein en- them. A few drew
their accounts and placed them with
Barton This would have been all the
dotriment to me that would have oc-
CURED during the panic had not Bar
ton. through others IN his interest. cir
culated reports that l would not pull
through
One morning when I went 10 bust.
ness ! found a crowd waiting for the
opening Of my doors and knew that
the blow had fallen was in for
run. Calling the employees together.
] gave them instructions In practicing
the usual delays resorted 10 by bank.
ers while standing a run. Then at the
opening hour the paying tellers win
dow was thrown up-there was no like
lihood Of the receiving telers having
anything 70 do-and the struggle com
mcncedA
bad got I'm some gold the night he.
fore 10y express after banking hours
and had kept Il at home. thought Il
might be advisable TO leave II there for
awhile for in case my bank should 20
by the board l would need something
TO put me on my feet again. When
went home az noon to dinner told
Lizzie that IN case ! should send for
the money TO bring II TO me herself
carrying # I'm such a way that the
waiting crowd Of depositors would pre-.
sume that she was bringing me gold.
Two days after this. when most Of
our ready cash had been paid out and
Sc appeared that we would have to go
under. looked over a list Of depositors
still unpaid and decided to put in my
reserve. hoping with Il 10 weather the
storm. SO ! sent a messenger to Mary
to bring It 10 me.
In due time. looking out the window
OF my private office. / saw her alight
from cab with the messenger. who
came in and said he wished a man to
assist In removing treasure The two
went back to the carriage and brought
in a sack that It required both Of them
to carry. ! was astounded. for the
amount ! had at home could easily
have been carried by Lizzie. The
crowd. seeing the load going into the
hank. set up a cheer. and some Of them
left the line and went away.
The sack was brought into my office.
] opened II and found my gold on top
Of several hundred pounds Of nut coal.
] threw my arms about Lizzie's neck,
praislng her inventive genius. then or
dered the gold-not the coal-dumped
IN a heap on the paying teller's desk.
Those nearest the window set mp an.
other shout. and the paying teller. by
my order. began paying out the gold
with considerable alacrity. More OF
those IN limo went away without walt
ing 10 be paid. and ! was pleased e.
see they We're those 20 whom owed
the largest balances. Before the clos
ing hour the line had dwindled TO q
Few persons having merely household
accounts. The backbone OF the run
had been broken.
But Barton IN undermining me had
destroyed confidence even in himself
and while I was feeling the tail end
Of a run. he was in the hottest part OF
one. Lizzie. who had gone home. re
turned. passing Barton. and. seeing the
crowd conceived the idea OF extend
Ing to him the succor she had giver
me Continuing on 10 the bank. sh,
aoniided her plans to me. and. placing
EI nl0 In f,r - H.. ~
sent two Of our messengers with It {,
Barton. They We're recognized by tn,
crowd in line as our messengers. ant
the depositors. presuming they CAM
with a loan. went wild with delight
I sent note by the messengers L
Barton suggesting that he pay out tn,
sold as had done.
was greatly relieved 10 see tn
throng before Barton's gradually dwin
Ole, and when both banks opened tn
heXt morning there were no depositor
waiting before either.
l. or rather Lizzie was wiser thai
Barton. who IN destroying confdenc
n me had undermined himself B.
kelping him we re-established conf
eence and gained the name Of havin
pulled him through At any rat,
from that time forward my bank. b,
ing supposed 10 be the stronger, di
tha bulk of the business.
take no credit whatever in the mat
ter. that all being due TO my wifi,
Had it not heen for her happy though
and her putting it into practice / al
mite confident that Parfon and