Year: 1873




A MAN ENToMBED IN A BANK VAULT.


From the Detroit, Mich Free Press.


A singular accident occurred at
Griswold street banking house Saturday
noon, by which one Of the employees Of
the establishment came near losing his
life through sufiocation. Itappears that
the gentleman who was the sufferer had
occasion to enter the inner chamber of
the vault about fifteen minutes before
the hour for closing the bank had ar
led, when an assistant in the cash de-
partment who had charge of the keys
came along, and without even as much
as looking into the vault, (thereby neg
lecting to turn off the gas, which is kept
burning during business hours care
lessly slammed the inner door and lock-
ed it. Unconscious of the fact that he
had imprisoned human being, he forced
the massive outer door of the vault into
position, turned the key, and depositing
it in his pocket, took his customary sta
ton at the desk. In the business routine
of this establishment the day books are
regularly posted before closing, in order
that no interruption may occur on re-
opening for the afternoons transactions,
and the involuntary prisoner, who super
intends this department, not being pres
ent TO give the usual orders, an inquiry
was raised as to what had become of him.
After few moments patient waiting it
was decided to send for him, and with
this view messenger boy was dispatch
ed to hunt him up. The boy soon re-
turned saying that he had made dill
gent search bat without result. As the
mans hat and coat were hanging on the
rack it was apparent he could not have
gone far, and it was decided to wait for
him until twelve o'clock before closing
the books. The city hall bell tolled that
hour, and the gentlemen engaged in the
bank prepared to &C to dinner, leaving
one of their number at the door in charge
of the missing mans clothing.


In going out the teller remarked in a
joking manner that their colleague had
been imprisoned in the vault. This
caused the gentleman who closed it so
much uneasiness that he at once decided,
Notwithstanding the burst of laughter
which his undertaking might create, to
swing both doors of the vault and walk
in. This was Immediately done, when,
to the horror of those outside, he uttered
a shrek and called for assistance. To
rush into the vault and turn on the gas,
which had become extinguished, was but
the work of moment, when the pros
trate form of the poor fellow was found
in position which revealed his suffer-
ings and showed how hard he had strug-
gled to regain his liberty. The appar-
ent lifeless body was carried out of the
vault into the directors parlor. Several
physicians were summoned, who, aided
by the bank employees, made every pos
sible effort to resuscitate him. After a
half hours assiduous labor, during which
time proper restoratives were applied,
they were rewarded by perceiving un-
mistakable signs of returning animation.
Under the advice of the atten ding ply
sicians he was placed in carriage and
conveyed to his home, where he shortly
afterward returned to consciousness.
Although very weak from the effect of
his imprisonment, the care and treat
ment which he is receiving will soon en-
able him to return to his post at the
bank. He states that when the doors
were locked on him he cried out at the
top oe his voice with but a faint hope of
being heard by those outside. He
shook the inner door until it ratified on
its hinges, but all in vain, and after hav-
ing resorted to every means in his pow
er to liberate himself from his tomb, ex-
hausted by exertion and stifed by the
close air Of the vault, he fell helplessIy
to the stone floor to meet his seemingly
inevitable doom. He soon after became
insensible, and but for the timely dis
covery of his whereabouts the escape of
gas and the fetid atmosphere of his her
metically sealed iron coffin would soon
have consummated its deadly work


Nor THE MAN HE THoUGHT.- Some
years ago young naval officer was dis
patched with a message to Commodore
Stewart, then at his home in New Jersey.
When he reached the Commodore's coun-
try seat, he saw an old man hauling ma
nure from the barnyard. Supposing him
to be one of the hired hands, he ap-
preached and sung out; Helloa, old
fellow is the Commodore at home ?"


"Yes," responded the barefooted,
shabbily dressed man, "just walk up to