Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, April 26, 1908, EDITORIAL SECTION, Page 8, Image 17

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THE OMATTA SUNDAY BEE ; APRIL 2G, 1003.
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WISE CRACKSMEN PASS IT UP
Uncle Saa'ilreasury YaulU Too Well
Protected.
ALL PLOTS HAVE BEEN IN VAIN
Manned Rohhrry rlle In Tint
Mrckailrai an Hnmaw Hafe
sjaarda Around tkf ?fatloa's V,
Cash Boim,
It Is the opinion of secret service men In
.Washington that a number of celebrated
cracksmen have from time to time con
templated raids on the national caah box
with a. view to converting a few bundle
of treaaury notea and coin to their own
use, but after careful ctudy they decided
that the undertaking waa too colossal in
character. Secretary Folger, when he as
sumed his duties, was not slow In decid
ing that the treasury waa not properly
and safely guarded. There was not an
electric alarm In the building; the watch
men were Isolated and had no faculties
for calling help; the gates were of the old
time lock-and-key sort and scattered al
moHt over the entire building.
Tlie secretary went to work to bring
about a proper condition of affair. lie
had the watch system completely changed
and reorganized, putting the men under
the strictest discipline; elaborate and ex
tensive alarm systems were Installed;- the
old safes were replaced with moderft steel
affairs, with timelocks and Intricate, com
binations; the gold and silver vaults were
fitted with steel casings and timelocks,
different parts of the combinations being
distributed among various officials so that
the vaults could be opened only with
and by the concentrated action of all of
them, and then only at the stroke of the
hour for which the timelocks had been
set. But without a perfect system of
watch men to guard the safe-the treas
ury could be easily robbed, for the most
perfect snfe ever made is not proof against
the professionals.
Opened Safe In Two Minutes.
It. has not been a great while since a
safe expert was summoned from New Tork
to open a safe in the treasury, and he ac
complished the work In two minutes. Ho
then went through the building and opened
one safe after the other, explaining to the
officials that the expert cracksman did not
care about timelocks, but his main fear
was the police. '
The watch force of th treasury Is per
fectly organised, and the least Infraction
of the' rules means a layoff or discharge.
The men seem to realize the heavy re
sponsibilities which rest upon them, and
they are cartful almost to a fault. The
wstch Is divided Into three reliefs, the tour
of duty lasting for eight hours. The mid
night watch Is considered the most Impor
tant of the three on account of the well
known nocturnal preferences of burglars.
H-vwevvr. the certain of the watch Is of
the opinion that the day watch needs to be
on tho lookout for surprises. It Is his be
lief that should ever an attempt be mad4
to loot the treasury it will be made In the
daytime. He buses this belief on that fact
that to gain an entrance to tho building
after dark would have to bo accomplished
after tho plans of Broadfoot, the battering
down of doors, or the use of dynamite- for
all the entrances are locked and guarded
after 4:30 o'clock.
"A'hlle the work of gaining an entrance
by battering down doors or using dynamite
would be golt.g on, the District police, the
National Guard, the soldiers from Fort
Myer. Washington Barracks, and the
Murlce Barracks could be called to the
.treasury, as the building Is In electric con
nection and communication with these for
Just such emergencies. A broad daylight
Invasion of robbers would be mora diffi
cult to handle than a night attack.
Projected Sewer Raid.
Ferhaps the nearest approach to looting
the vaults of the treasury was the time
Martin Broadfoot had his plana about per
fected. This waa back In the 80s, and the
plan was to get Into the building by means
cf the great sewer which runs
under and near the treaaury, and la known
as the Fifteenth street sewer, and which
grows larger as It enters the Potomac,
about three-quarters of a mile from the
White House.
Broadroot's plan, as developed after his
arrest, was to get Into the building, crack
the safes, and place the money in large
rubber, bags and float them down the
ewer to the Potomac, where his pals
would be In waiting. These bags were
found In his room when he . waa, arrested,
and secret service men had often seen him
walking along the shores of the Potomac
near where the big sewer empties. This
sewer Is about nine feet In diameter where
It jsasajs the treasury.
A man, Could easily make his way up
the sewer through a,, stream of water,
which, under normal conditions. Is only
about twelve Inches deep. By entering the
tunnel, or sewer, at the river tha journey
to the treasury could be made by keeping
a sharp lookout. When the man or men
In the sewer resched the Fifteenth street
sewer nothing would separate them from
the gold coin and bullion except about
eighteen feet of earth, and a not too secure
stone wail.
A Well-laid ritl.
It was Broadfoot's scheme to dig Ms way
through this obstruction, and let the earth
float or wash down the sewer. It would
not have taken one man more than two
weeks, working only at night, to have made.
an opening largo enough for a man to crawl
through. Of course, Broadfoot knew the
exact location of the vaults, knew the exact
direction In which to dig, and when he once
reached them he would have had no trouble
In getting the gold coin and bullion. It was
evidently his purpose to fill the rubber bags
with the precious stuff and float them down
the sewer to the river, where they would
be looked after by his confederates.
This wsa only the really well-laid plot
ever made to loot the treasury, and Just
why Broadfoot was never given a trial has
never been made known to the public. He
waa an Intelligent man, and suspicion was
first aroused against him by his frequent
visits to the mony rooms and vaults, and
by the questions he asked, watchmen and
messengers as to fie hours of duty, when
the time-locks closed, . what time they
opened, and various questions of this
character. That he could have successfully
carried out his plans, so far as getting Into
the building and vaults Is concerned there
Is no question, for men have been In the
sewer and conduits Who say that It would
have been no difficult task. The hardest
part of the Job would have been In getting
away with the money and bullion, for It
would have required heroic efforts to se
cure It and get away. About the only
chance would have been to bury It at
some point In Virginia, for If it had been
placed on boats It would have been easy
to recover It Washington Post.
WHAT IS MEANT BY A YEGG
Orlgla of an Expression that la Iso
Ulr Conpled with Safe
Blowing;.
Borne years ago, when the United States
government was experimenting with high
explosives, wishing to secure some death
dealing and destructive shell that would
cause more damage than any before man
ufactured, some one suggested that nitro
glycerin be tried. Vp to that time this
most powerful of explosives had not been
utilized In this way. The government ex
perts went to work and the results of their
experiments' were from time to time pub
lished broadcast through the community.
At last they succeeded In making a shell
In which nltro-glyqerln was the chief com
ponent part and which made all former
ones sink into Insignificance.
In a town In the middle west, at the time,
there lived a- man named John Yegg. In
his earlier days he had been one of the
most expert electricians as well as all
round experienced mechanics In the coun--try-
Later, through drink and bad asso
ciates he had descended to a life of crime,
his principal art being, that of safe blow
ing. He was attracted by the published
accounts of the experiments of the govern
ment authorities with nltro-glycerln. The
thought struck him why could not this be
used In blowing safes? The method at that
time was to drill a hole In the safe to bo
wrecked, fill this with powder or dynamite
and then touch the fuse. Thin method,
however, required considerable time to pull
off "a Job," was noisy and dangerous.
Yegg went to work on the nltro-glycerln
method. Ho. tried It and It was a com
plete success. Furthermore, after he had
performed Job after Job he had the police
of.the country baffled. They did not know
how the work was done. Yegg Instructed
others In the art and soom from one end
of the country to the other safes were
being wrecked, but by what manner no
one knew. r
Yegg's method was to take some of the
explosive which ha and those with him
called "soup," and, by the way. this terra
Is still er.tant. and pour It In the crack of
the safe near the hinges of the door. The
small aperture was then covered with soap
to hold the explosive In place. The fuse
was applied and with the explosion off went
the ?rs, slick and clean. The entire Job
took but a few minutes. It remained for
a young Pinkerton detective to solve the
matter on a safe that waa blown In Cold
water, Mich., where a bank, was wrecked
and many thousands of dollars secured.
The crime was traced to Yegg and some of
his companion and they were found guilty
and sent Jo prison. Thereafter those, wha
employed the nltro-glycerln Instead of the
older methods were called "yeggmen," or
"yeggs."
This waa the beginning of' tha term, but
since that ttme the application of It has
grown greatly. Today a "yegg," viewed
from whatever aspect. Is the most dan
gerous criminal with whloh tha police of
the oountry have to deal. He la one wi.o
rides the country o'er on freight trains,
working through the south In the winter
and migrating to more exhllaratlnif climes
during the rummer. He ' will - beg when
he Is hungry and will ' steal and commit
murder when he sees an opportunity of
benefiting himself.
Today there are thousands of "yeggs"
ED 6 Ifovi
d a M
Want
mme?
On Tuesday, April 28th, at 2 p. rn., Auc
tion Sale of Lots in lloctor Terrace.
Beginning promptly at' two o'clock Tuesday, April
28th, I will offer for sale the most desirable residence
property in either Omaha or South Omaha. The accom
panying cut is a plat of this new addition to the city of
'South Omaha, consisting of 185 lots. .
This property will be sold exclusively for residence
purposes and subject to the following restrictions. No
residence to be erected costing less than twenty-five hun
dred dollars $2,500 and but one residence erected on
each platted lot. .
Most every lot faces on Spring Lake Park, thus giv
ing the purchaser the advantage of a country home in the
heart of the city and all lots within two to five blocks
of a street car line.
The fact that the property lies in both Omaha and
South Omaha makes either city equally accessible.
Col. T. C. Callahan will act as auctioneer, and will
offer the property on terms of one-fourth cash, balance
to suit purchaser, or 5 discount for cash.
To reach the property and auction, take the South
Omaha car and get off at 24th street and Central Boule
vard, just east of Krug's brewery and go two blocks east.
Plats and detailed -information may be had at my
office, 415 North 24th St., So. Omaha.
I will be glad to personally show the property to those
desiring to purchase, anytime before the sale and will be
on the grounds all day Tuesday.
These lots are wo jlh from six hundred and fifty dol
lars $650 to twelve hundred and fifty dollars $1,250
now and because of their very desirable location are cer
tain to double in value in a few years.
Do not miss this opportunity to get a beautiful lot at
a low price on reasonable terms. - If you look this prop
erty over today or tomorrow, you will be sure to buy
Tuesday. " v
THOIBAS. HQCTOR. AgL' '
Office JPlione, South 415.
Residence Phone, South 148.
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RorKTowu
tprjaegst CnynaF
422 Bw ftoiUma
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.sjy HoctorTerrace
v 4n$yv ' '
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iSTTS
Ill'
m, 1 1 naa 1 1 r"' s'fnrT
. J
CMesp
Jewel fe
Stoves
39.50 to $40
Use Less Gas Data Quicker
ALL STEELEDCOT FINISH
SOLD ONLY DV
FJillon Rogers & Sons Co.
Hlli and Farnsa Streets
L
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Pressin Dyeing Rcpairiai
VACUUM PROCESS
CIcthcs Thrcs SI Per
CIsr.:d Suits f.!:nth
Restores, the nap; preserves the cloth; absolutely remove
all dust. 1
CAKPETS, Itt'CS, FEATHER RENOVATING.
SANITARY CLEANING COMPANY
1S1 rsxuau tU HOilts-Sail, S3ea( lAdcptiMLs&t. Aissa
scattered throughout the country. Most of
mem Deiong to some certain band, each one
of which has a leader. He is the king.
It Is his duty to enlist recruits. To him
' shipped all the loot and he In turn
converts ji intp money and places the
amount'to the cretjlt of the member send
ing it. For this the kinsr recolv... com
mission.
Most of the " ypflrr" ennftn a . in
known as a "kitten" with thpm. ti,. vif-
ten" Is a boy, young man or cripple, whose
auiy u is to visit houses and places of
Dusiness, apparently begging food or sell
ing shoestrings, lead pencils, etc., and who
then reports to the Kane "tho lav .v..
land" so that when the time comes for
pulling off the Job all are familiar with the
premises. The "kittens" are ofcen run
away boys, and later become "yeggs"
themselves, destined to follow a
crime and degradation. Pittsburg Oasette.
TALKS RIGHT OUT IN MEETING
Another Sensational Pulpiteer Roasts'
a Coaarrescatlon to a
Finish.
Evangelist "Dan" Shannon Is nothing If
not forceful.
In describing a garden Implement used
for digging purposes he calls It a spade,
and ha begins It with a big "B." And In a
series of meetings, which have aroused
Chicago's southern environs' to a daszllng
white heat, he has brought gaps of aston
ishment and . approbation from certain
churchgoers and unchurrhllke language
from other members of the First Baptist
church, Hammond, where he Is conducting
a series of revivals.
Evangelist Shannon began stlrrring things
up about fourteen seconds after he entered
the pulpit of the church Wednesday even
ing. Three minutes later twelve; feminine
members of the choir were hurrying from
the church in an angry and chattering
group, and about three minutes later art
equal number of male escorts, using ex
plosive language, joined them on the out.
side.
A few staid members of, the church also
quietly followed the angry choir members,
but a large majority remained to hear the
verbal fireworks.
When he had taken his place In the pul- j
Pit Evangelist Shannon faced Choirmaster I
E. W. Bump.
"Before w start," he said. "I want to)
say that if you have any of that dancing.
card playing bunch who pretend to be
church members up there I don't want
them on this platform.
"It them go home, where they belong.
They are bound for hell and have no busi
ness here. No dancer can be a church mem
ber. I know of one convert who wanted to
Join the Baptist church and be allowed to
keep up his dancing. He was tcld he could
not and said the Presbyterian church was
full of dancers.
" 'Yes,' I told him. 'and hell Is full of
Presbyterians, with their feet hanging out
of tha windows.'
"Some of these men members of the
choir are aa bad. I have seen soma of
them brainless, white-livered ,s.pes, whif
fing on their cigarettes, a strip of tobacco
with fire on one end and a fool on the
other. I know them half-baked fellows,
dancing and drinking, and who pretend to
be church members.' They ought to be In
an Insane asylum."
As the preacher paused there was an
other hurried exodua of choir members and
the audience nervously braced Itself for
the nxt assault.
"Some of the teachers should be ashamed
of themselves. Uook at tha university of
Chicago Theological school. They used to
pray In the uppes rooms there. Now they
pray In the supper rooms.
"They are after the loaves and fishes.
It is tho fleece, not the wool, they seek,
tliese sufferers from fatty enlargement of
the ego. They have no revivals; of course
not. They couldn't have thern.
"I'm going to get out of Hammond Sun- J
day. I ara tired of the beer guzzler and ;
A B
E
MONSTRATTON
I N V A L
UB-.Q
IV IN G
We will show you in a conclusive manner during the next 6 days that
the payment of a large sum of money is not necessary to enable you to own a
Hlgh-Gradc Standard Piano. If we have enough confidence in
ur pianos to say to you "Come and buy a piano from 'us and after you have
had it for one month, you find that it is not just as represented and is not giving
you perfect satisfaction or does not come up to your expectation and was not sold
to you for less money, than the same grade or make would havebeen by any
other Nebraska oiano dealer, vour monev will be refunded for the asking"
Don't yu ihink you should have enough confidence in our pianos to take us up on our prop'
osition. In the first place you ar not taking any chances, for the pianos we are offering during;
the last 6 daysof the Grand Finale of the greatest Value Giving Piano Sale in the history of piano
selling, are all high-grade standard Instruments of this year's case design and
guaranteed to be perfect in every respect. . .
The prestige of Hayden Bros, Piano Department has been built up chiefly by its superior
merchandise and low prices. Valucgiving is the Secret of our success.
One Lhiderman. Upright.. 'S61.50
One Kui-tzman S70i50
One Hallet ft. Davis $05.00
One Kimball 8112.00
One Von & Sons 8137.50
One Haines Iiros 8127.00
One Bailer SlitsiOO
One' Kohjcr & Campbell 8138iOO
WE IWITE YOU TO SEE THE FOLLOWING PIANOS.' EACH AND EVERY OM IS A REAL BARGAIN.
i
One Srhaeffer . $148.00
One Kimball 8130.00
One KcliHlf, used one year. .8172.00
One Everett 8178.00
One Wt-gman, used two years. .. .8185.00
One StoRer, Mahogany 8103.00
One Kbersole, used six months. . . .8107.00
One Melville Clark 8205.00
One Bordman 8235.00
One Ksty (art style), used 2 years. . .8252.50
One Chickoring & Song (Boh ton) . . , .257.00
One Wepnan (Concert Piano) 8-3o0
One Chickerintf Bros., used 1 year. . 8272.00
One Sherman S2S1.50
One Chickering & Sons, (Boston) . ..S203.00
One Kstey (Cottage Piano)
One Knabe, qaed two years
8312.50
8345.00
All pianos will be
sold for cash
or on payments'
Havdeti
ros
Selling Pianos that ronie direct
from the factory to our wan-rooms
on ensy terms and for less than
either wholesalers', manufacturers'
or-Jobbers' prices.
ber rwITlera of this place. Ttie only dlf- f
ier;nc txrtiren hell and Hammond la that
therw Is a rlvr lrt Hammond."
Evangelist Shannon's unrensored com
ments upon his novta and audiences have
stlrrd up much charch acttvlty In cities
he has vtaited recently and noncharchxaers
frequently have taken part. ' '
Residents of Terra Hauts demanded that
he, be ordered to leave the city, and In
Garrett, Ind., where he mad many con.
verts, his opponentn also combined to force
him to leave town.
"There Is nothing- like telling the truth,
even If some people are stirred up," he
said yesterday. "Stagnation loads to dam
nation In churches aa well as other things."
Chicago Record-Herald.
l'olrted Paragraphs.
Most men are not as ugly as they look.
Many a thouETtituI loptr la fuller than be
thinks.
Don't confide In a person who Is always
confiding in you. "
After a self made man finishes the Job he
closes the factory.
- After a girl Laiiy gets too big to play with
her toes stio begins to flirt.
It's difficult for a silver-tongued orator to
make sliort work of a (eecn.
Many a father lius made s man of his boy
by not sending hint to college.
There are a good many men behind the
bars in tills glorious land of the free.
Occasionally a widow flirts with a mar
ried man merely to see if his wife will get
busy.
A women who speaks from experience
says It is eaaler to manage a husband
tliun a hired g;rl.
In France the janitor of aa apartment
house is CMlled a concierge, but what he is
called In orne. parts of this country
wouldn't ICHjk well in print. Chicago News, i
I -C - - 1 We. bv i-
LIVERV G
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WANTED
A GOOD
GROCERY
When a nian picks up Tlie Bee, he is as certain that all the business news is printed in it
as he is sure that all of the news of the world is given. When you have a grocery store, a livery
stable or a manufacturing concern for sale, that ii news business news. . '
The Bee prints this kind of news. When you have anything for sale send it to The Bee.
When you want to buy anything, look in the Classified columns of The Bee--you are almost sure
to find it. Perhaps not the first day and maybe not the second, but sooner or later you will find
what jou want ia tha Classified columns P.f Tba. Bee, It will rmy you to read these colutaaj mv
day. ' - " ' , '
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