Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-02
How the Run on the
Bank Was Stopped
BY EVELYN TlSDALE

tsring the Geld had done all the bust.
ness there was to do. Barton was very
much discruntled at having to give up
any Of 1t to me and did all he could
covertly to injurs me and my credit.
He was not liked, being considered q
skinflint. and 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 had
not occupied the neld some one else
would have done 20. But Barton
wanted 1t all and acted accordingly.
All went well enough till the panic Of
1893 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 to mo or to my wife or
to both Of NJ, and I was able to keep
pretty steady rein on them. A few drew
their accounts and placed them with
Barton. This would have been all the
detr1ment to me that would have &C.
CURED during the panic had not Bar
ton. through others In his interest, cir.
culated reports that would not pull
through.
One morning when I went to bust.
ness found a crowd waiting for the
opening Of my doors and knew that
the blow had fallen. I was in for
run. Calling the employees together.
I gave them instructions in pracucing
the usual delays resorted to by bank
ers while standing a run. Then at the
opening hour the paying teller's win
dow was thrown up-there was no IKE
lihood Of the receiving tellers having
anything to do-and the struggle com.
menced.
had got in some gold the night be-
fore by express after banking hours
and had kept 1t at home. / thought 1t
might be advisable to leave It there for
awhile. for in case my bank should go
by the board would need something
to put me on my feet again. When
went home at noon to dinner told
Lizzie that in case should send for
the money to bring 1t to me herself.
carrying 1t in such a way that the
waiting crowd of depositors would pre-
sumo that she was bringing me gold.
Two days after this, when most Of
our ready cash had been paid out and
It appeared that we would have to 60
under. looked over list Of depositors
still unpaid and decided to put In my
reserve, hoping with it to weather the
storm. So sent messenger to Mary
to bring it to me.
In due time. looking out the window
Of my private office. saw her alight
from a 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 1t 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
bank. set up a cheer. and some Of them
left the line and went away.
The sack was brought into my once.
I opened It and found my gold on top
Of several hundred pounds of nut coal.
I threw my arms about Lizzie's neck.
praistng 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 up an
other shout. and the paying teller. by
my order. began paying out the gold
with considerable alacrity. More of
those in line went away without wait
ing to be paid, and I was pleased to
see they were those to whom I owed
the largest balances. Before the clos
ing hour the line had dwindled to a
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 ] was feeling the tail end
Of q run. he was in the hottest part OF
one. Lizzie. who had gone homo ~
turned passing Barton. and. seeing the
crowd, conceived the idea Of extend
Ing to him the succor she had given
me. Continuing on to the bank. she
connded her plans to me. and. placing
$1,000 in gold on top Of the coal, !
sent two Of our messengers with 1t to
Barton. They were Recognized by the
crowd In line a our messengers, and
the depositors. presuming they came
with a loan, went wild with delight.
I sent a note BY the messengers to
Barton Suggesting that he pay ont the
gold a. had done.
I was greatly relieved to ses the
throng before Barton's gradually dwin.
die. and when both banks opened the
next morning there were no depositors
waiting before either.
I. OF rather Lissie. WAS wiser than
Barton, who In destroying cou6danee
IN me had undermined himself. By
helping him W re-established conn.
dsncs and, gained tho name Of having
pulled him through. At any rate.
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