Catoctin clarion., 1916-02-24

Yeggrnen Enter Post0tfIce
Blow Two Safes Worthless But
Get No Funds.
Last Saturday night Thurmont was
the center of attraction for yeggmen,
the postoffice funds being their chief
desire.
The postofice is located in the Masonic
Building near the center Of the town.
Directly in front of the building is an
electric light. This was burning all night
and light was burning in the office and
another at the side door of the building.
The light did not bother the yeggmen.
Entrance to the building was gained by
forcing the front door, and by forcing
the door between the lobby and work
room, where they had access to the big
safe. This safe was placed in the build
ing when the office was moved from the
Thurmont Bank building to it's present
location.
Two other safes, smaller in size, were
also in the room, and both contained
papers valuable to the postmaster and
clerks.
The big safe and one of the smaller
ones were loaded with nitro-glycerine,
evidently, and small wire attached
thereto and run across the room to the
side door. By punching chip from
panel in the door the wire was passed
out and into the alley and attached ~ a
battery and the charge set off.
The door from each safe was blown
clear from the body of safe, the small
door being thrown almost twenty feet
across the room and striking near the
ceiling. The large door fell in front OF
the safe and the books and papers scat
tered over the floor. Soap, which was
used in closing the cracks around the
door, was found pasted against the car
riers desks, and dust from the fire proof
material was scattered over the entire
room. A dozen or more holes were made
in the ceiling by pieces of metal from
the safe.
From what can be learned, the charges
we're set off between l.30 and 2 a. M,
the reports heing heard by numerous
people, but all thought it to be some one
outing off dynamite crackers and paid
no further attention to the matter.
Sunday morning Mr.. M. ]. Albaugh,
who lives next to the building, walked
by the building and found the door ajar
and on entering found that an effort had
been made to rob the postofflce. He re-
ported to Postmaster Gernand and Mr..
Rob't A. Tyson. Both men hurried to
the Office and found conditions as above
described.
The yeggmen were, however, foiled
and got little in return for their labor
The large safe contained steel chest in
which was kept the money and stamps.
The explosive failed to harm this strong
box and the thieves likely thought it un-
wise to tarry and prepare to blow this
after the noise made by the first two ex-
plosions. There was no money or stamps
in the small safe. The third safe in the
room was not locked This was ransack-
ed and the sum of SLIPS, money received
from the sale of Red Cross Stamps, found
and taken.
Sunday afternoon Postoffice Inspector
Partridge, of Washington, arrived. The
office books were gone over, money
and stamps counted and not cent was
found missing.
The loss of the large safe and damage
to furniture and building falls on Acacia
Lodge of Masons, and Mr.. Gernand is
out ST. 25 in money and safe. So far
as is known no mail in the office was dis
turbed.
A piece of iron about foot in length
and tapered after the style of a key was
found lying on the top of the big safe.
1t was recognized as belonging to the
brake rigging on freight car. Other
than this and the wire used. nothing was
left in the Office. There was no indica-
tion that blankets or other material had
been used to deaden the sound of the eX
plosion, and it is question to many
whether the work was done by experts
or men yet new at the business.
Thus far no clue has been obtained;
and no one can tell from whence the
robbers came, how they travelled, or the
direction they went when leaving town.