Year: 1871

Afew weeks ago, while staging
at Atlantic City, / met at my DO
itel fine grey-haired old gentle
man, whose conversation greatly
interested me. He had evidently
seen a great deal Of the world
and was especially conversant with
everything connected with the
banking business.


In few days we became quite
companions, and Mr.. James Archer
(for such was the name OF my
new friend) informed me that he
had been engaged in the banking
business in his life yhaving at vari
Gus times filled the different Offices
of cashier, teller ard PRESIDENT
81 should suppose" observed
"that the banking business offers
fewer dramatic episods than any
other profession"


I don't agree with you there
returned Mr.. Archer. Judging
from my own experience, Ishould
say that there are but few profes
sions which offer more dramatic
scenes" FL


"You have been an actor in
some scenes of this character ?" ]
asked.


Il have indeed. Let us sit
down here, on the porch, and |
will tell you what ha' pened to
me once out West"


81 saying, we fixed ourselves
comfortably, and Mr.. Archer re-
lated to me the following exciting
episode Of his life.


I: :: :: ::


Some twenty years ago | was
cashier in a bank situated in the
city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Al
though a large place now, Mil
waukee at the time | refer to was
a long, struggling town, with a
very rough class Of inhabitanis.


Like all places on the extreme
verge of civilization, the law was
almost a dead letter Thieves,
robbers and murderers were there
in such numbers that they struck
terror to law abiding citizens, and
no jury could be found TO convict
the most heinous offender. If it
chanced to leak out that any of
the twelve jurors were in favor Of
bringing in a verdict of guilty, his
or their lives were sure to pay the
forfeit of their sense of justice.


As a natural consequence Of
living in such a state of society,
every man walked abroad with
his life in his hand, and without a
single exception every one went
armed to the teeth. | have known
men to be shot down like dogs for
Il word, or even a look. 5 - g


There were hundreds of men
who made it their special business
to try to pick up quarrels with the
better class, that they might have
an opportunity Of killing and rob.
bing them.


You will readily understand
that carrying on a bank under
these circumstances was an ar.
duous task. Every one OF the
employees was heavily armed, and
the vaults built Tor the specie and
valuables of the bank were of the
most massive character. In fact,
so much was this the case, that
they became n kind of show place
for strangers; and every one who
happened to be detained in the
city was sure to visit the vault of
the Citizens Bank.


Our president was a strong,
powerful, energetic man, who had
more than once proved his cour-
age in a melee; consequently the
ruffians Of the place kept him at a
distance. and for two years after
the bank was started no one of.
fered to molest US. We had re-
ceived orders from him to shoot
down the first man who showed
the slightest disposition to be ag-
gressive.


Mr.. Braintree, for such was our
presidents name, was accustomed
to mingle a great deal with the
rougher portion OF the communl,
ty, thinking by this means he
might learn if there was any
scheme on foot to attack the bank,
Of course these inquiries were al
ways made in disguise, and in,
deed, Mr.. Braintree possessed the
art of so altering his features that
he could deceive even his own fam.
lily and friends, particularly when
assisted by change Of dress.


He had carried out his plan for
about two years without anything
occurring to prove its necessity oil
usefulness when one hot Inlv