The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-09-24

Americana
Official Safecracking

By Elmo Scott Watson

EORTY years from now there's
L going to be an official safe
cracking" in the United States Cap
itol at Washington Thereby hangs
the tale of a woman's dream of do
ing something for posterity and
how it didn't work as she had
planned.
She was Mrs. C. F. Denim and
in 1876, when other Americans were
looking hack over 100 years of
American history, she was looking
forward a century. Her idea was
to install a centennial safe" in
Memorial hall at the Philadelphia
Centennial exposition to be filled
with articles which would be inter-
esting to Americans of 1916 when
the safe would be officially opened.
But chiefly hel idea was to put in
it great albums containing photo
graphs and autographs of celebrities
of the day. Also there was one large
album with blank space below the
name of each person who wrote his
name in it so that the direct lineal
descendant of the signer might re-
cord his name below his ancestors,
when the safe was opened in 1876.
Mrs. Denim sent leaves from this
album throughout the country and
gained concessions from the express
companies to transport them free
of charge. She received an endorse
ment of her idea from the chief
Justice of the United States and
other high officials, who called upon
all Americans for cooperation in
the plan. But for some reason the
idea was not received as enthusi-
astically as Mrs. Deihm had hoped.
The safe was to have been locked up
and sealed on December 81, 1876,
but the CLOSING for 100 years" didn't
occur until 1879. Then it was sent to
Washington where she hoped to have
it placed in the rotunda of the Capt.
toll where it's doors were to be closed
with great ceremony and where it
was to remain until 1876. The au-
thorities, however, would not per-
NIT it's installation in the rotunda,
but did allow it to be set up in one
corner of Statuary hall, formerly
the chamber of the house of repre-
sentatives. Then the closing of the
doors with great ceremony" proved
to be a disappointment. President
Hayes, who was expected to be
present, sent his secretary to rep
resent him. Many other notables
also failed to appear.
A short time later congress de-
cided that this big iron safe was
out of place in a hall devoted to
statues of American notableS and
ordered its removal. So it was taken
to the place where it now stands-a
secluded spot under the great steps
in the center of the east front of the
Capitol.
Since that time the front has
rusted and one of the two handles
on the outer doors has been broken
off. But it makes no difference, for
no one remembers the combination
of the safe, anyway. Moreover the
key to the inner doors of plate
glass has disappeared, no one knows
where. 5S
So that is why an "official safe
cracking" is due to take place in
1875. It will be the only way to
open this treasure house of relics.
Inside one of the outer doors is an
inscription which reads eft is the
wish of Mrs. Deihm that this safe
may remain closed until 1916, to be
opened by the Chief Magistrate of
the United States" One wonders
who that man will be and if he will
fulfill her wish or disappoint her
as President Hayes did.