The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-10-25
How the Run on the
Bank Was Stopped
By EVELYN TlSDALE

to some promising town and open
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 it - me and did all he could
covertly to injure me and my credit
He was not liked. being considered
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. If l had
not occupied the field some one else
would have done so. But Barton
wanted it 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 me or to my wife or
to both Of us, and l was able to keep a
pretty steady rein on them. A few drew
their accounts and placed them with
Barton. This would have been all the
detriment 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 to busi-
ness l 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,
l gave them instructions in pracdcing
the usual delays resorted to by bank
ers while standing run. Then at the
opening hour the paying teller's win
dow was thrown up-there was no like
lihood Of the receiving tellers having
anything to do-and the struggle COM
menced.
I had got in some gold the night be-
fore by express after banking hours
and had kept 1t at home. thought It
might be advisable to leave 1t there for
awhile. for in case my bank should go
by the board l would need something
to put me on my feet again. When
went home at noon to dinner l told
Lizzie that in case l should send for
the money to bring 1t to me herself,
carrying it 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
1t appeared that we would have to go
under, looked over list of depositors
still unpaid and decided to put in my
reserve, hoping with 1t to weather the
storm. So sent a messenger to Mary
to bring it to me.
In due time, looking out the window
Of my private office, I 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 it required both of them
to carry. I 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 office.
I opened it and found my gold on top
Of several hundred pounds of nut coal.
I threw my arms about Lizzie's neck,
praising her inventive genius, then or
dered the gold-not the coal-dumped
in heap on the paying tellers 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 / 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 l 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 giveI
me. Continuing on to the bank, she
conflded her plans to me, and, placing
81 900 In gold on top Of the coal,
sent two Of our messengers with 1t tC
Barton. They were recognized by the
crowd in line as our messengers, anC
the depositors, presuming they came
with a loan, went wild with delight
l sent a note by the messengers t.
Barton suggesting that he pay out th'
gold as had done.
was greatly relieved to see th'
throng before Barton's gradually dwin
die, and when both banks opened thu
next morning there were no depositort
waiting before either.
!, or rather Lizzie, was wiser thai
Barton, who in destroying confdenc'