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'"ZZZSZZEZ?' AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. rL1rIf
"V"ol. "V. IV ow I31ooiiillcld, Tuesday, -A-tig-ust 1, 1871. IVo. 31.
J Published Weekly,
At New Bloom Held, Fenn'a.
BY
FRANK MORTIMER.
SUBSCRIPTION TERMS.
ONE DOLLAR rER YEAR!
00 Cents for 6 Months f 40 Cents
for 3 Months,
XTS ADVANCE.
ISABEL.
S
OFT waves of warm browa hair.
With gold lights shining through,
Shading a face as sweetly fnlr
As ever fancy framed In air,
As ever painter drew.
Sweet spirit, frank and true,
With love, with kindness rife
What tender heart but to thee drew I
What kindly eye but In thee knew
The sunshine of our life I
Sweet Spring, bright summer past,
And Autumn come again ;
The west-wind's spoils are falling fast;
What is our change bro't with that blast 1
Why fall our tears like rain t
Only a new-turned heap,
One little grave, new made s
Bare Is the earth o'er which we weep ;
Never a flower to pluck and keep,
Never a grassy blade.
Silence, where late was mirth i
One mother's heart half-riven
One vacant seat beside a hearth;
One loving spirit less on earth
One angel more In Ileaven.
A Fortunate Imprisonment.
SOME twenty years Ago I was cashier
in a bank situated in the city of Mil
waukee, in the State of Wisconsin. Al
though a large place now, Milwaukee at
the time I refer to waa a long, straggling
town, with a rough class of inhabitants.
Like all places on the extreme verge of
civilization, the law was almost a dead let
tor. Horse thieves, robbers and murderers,
were there in such numbers that they
truck terror into 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 with
out a single exception every one went arm
ed to the teeth. I have known men to be
shot down lik e dogs for a word or even
look.
There were hundreds of men who made
it their special business to try to pick up
quarrels with the bettor class, that thoy
might have an opportunity of killing and
robbing thorn.
You will readily understand that carry'
ing on a bank undor these circumstances
was a most arduous task. Every . one of
the employees was heavily armed, and the
vaults built for the specie and valuables of
the bank were all of the most massive
character. In fact so much was this the
case, that they became a kind of a show
place for strangers; and every ouo who
happened to be dotaiucd in the city was
sure to visit the vault of the Citizens'
Bank;, f !', (,'; ;
Our presidout was a strong, powerful, en
ergetio man, who had more than once
proved his courage in a melee ; consequent
ly the ruffians of the placo kept him at a
distance, and for two years after the bank
was started, no one offered to molest us,
We bad received orders from him to shoot
down the first man who showed the slight
est disposition to be aggressive.
Mr. Jlraiutreo.'for suoh was our presi
dent's name, was accustomed to mingle a
great deal with the rougher portion of the
community, thinking: by , this means ho
might learn if there was any scheme on foot
to attack the bauk. Of oourse Uiese in
quiries were always made in dlsguiso, and
indeed, Mr. Braintree possessed the art of
so altering hU features hat , be , could do.
celve bis own fairiil and 4&rricularfrlend
when assisted by a change of dress.
He had carried out his plan for about two
years without anything occurring to' prove
its necessity or usofullnoss, when one hot
July morning be entered the bauk about an
hour earlier than was usual with him.
" Good morning, Mr. Archer," said he
to me, as ho took off his fine black coat,
and put on an easy-fitting blouse.
"Good morning, Mr. Braintroe. You
are early this morning."
Yes I have something particular to
tell you, and I thought it better to lose no
time. You must know, in the first place,
that I visited tho 'Throe Swans' last
night."
The "Three Swans" was one of the low
est taverns in the placo, and the rendezvous
for all the desperate characters in the town
and neighborhood. There was scarcely a
ight passed that some one was not killed
there.
" You visited in disguise, I suppose?" I
remarked.
" Certainly. I was disguised as a drover,
and had the extreme pleasure of being taken
for a horso thief by all the scoundrels pres
ent." " That is at least a compliment to your
success in disguising yourself," I returned.
" Yes that's true. I learnt something
at the "Three Swans" last night, Mr.
Archer, which nearly concerns us."
"Indeed," I returned, pricking up my
my ears.
"You have heard of 'White Haired
Bobby?' " said Mr. Braintree.
"Do you mean the great bank robber?"
asked.
" Yes, he himself. He has robbed more
banks than any ten men in the United
States together, no has never failed in one
instance. 1 His success in breaking into
safes and vaults has somothing marvellous
in it. He works generally in company with
a friend of his who goes by the name of
Slippery Jim."
" I have heard of that raseal, too," I re
turned.
" Well now for my information. I learn
ed lost night that White Haired Bobby and
Slippery Jim are about to visit Milwaukee
for the express purpose of depriving the
Citizens' Bank of its specie and valuables."
" The douce they do 1" was all I could
ssy.".
" Mr. Archer, I do not intend that this
worthy pair shall accomplish their purpose,
so I want you to keep an extra lookout.
shall visit the Three Swans nightly for
some weeks, to find out, if possible, the
moment they arrive."
Six weeks passed away and we heard no
more of " White Haired Bobby" or " Slip
pery Jim." Mr. Baintree continued to visit
the "Three Swans" nightly but heard noth-
ing further. We came to the conclusion
that the two famous bank robbers had
changed their minds and bad gone to exer
cise their enterprising profession in a differ
ent field. We had forgotten all about the
matter, when one Saturday, in the ' middle
of the month of September, while we were
busily engaged in our various duties, a cler
ical individual entered and asked to see the
president. The request was addressed to
me, and I had an excellent opportunity for
obseiving his external appearance. 1
He appeared to be about forty-five years
of age, of commanding presenoe. His face
was fresh, fair, and exceedingly healthy
looking. His bands were very white, and
he wore a fine diamond ring on the little
finirer of the right hand. He was dressed
in a suit of black which fitted him perfect
ly, and must have been made by a first class
tailor. It was this black suit together with
the whitest and stiffost of cravats, and a
short-sighted eye-glass which dangled from
his neck, and which he every now and then
raised to bis eyes, that gave him the in
tense clotical appearance to which I have
referred above. ' '
"Do you wish to see Mr. Baintree on
business ?" I asked. .
" Not exactly on business," returned the
stranger, "but if he is disongaged, I should
like to speak to him."
"Here is Mr. Buiutreo now," I replied.
as the president stepped out of his private
room into the bauk." " , ,
" Mr. Baintreo,'!, said , the stranger,
courteously removing his hat and speaking
in the most polite tone, " allow mo to in
troduce myself. My .name is Elliot, tho
Rev. Robert Elliot. I am an Episcopal
clergyman, lately appointed pastor to
church in St. Paul's.' I am now on my way
there, but cannot leave until Monday. 1
At my hotel to-day I heard the landlord
speak of the extraordinary safety vault you
have attaohed to this bank. As I have
penchant for seeing such structures, I have
thought perhaps you would allow me to see
yours, of which I have heard so much." ,
. ',' Certain! y, sir, with pleasure,", , roplied
Mr. Baintreo, who by pie way was partic
ularly partial to clergymen, . doubtless : be
cause they formed tucb a striking contrast
to tho Inhabitants of frontier cities. "Mr.
Archer," added my chief. " will you be
good enough to light the dark lantern and
accompany us ?"
It wanted about twenty minutes to our
usual hour of closing the bank, and I had
just finished my work. Had suoh not been
the case, I should in all probability have
sent one of tho clorks in my place.
There was nothing, however, to prevent
me from doing as the president requested ;
therefore lighted a dark lantern, and we
all throe descended the steps loading to the
vault.
The specie and valuables of the bank
were, kept in an immense iron safo which
was placed in a stone chamber. Tho walls
of this chamber were of extraordinary
thickness and the entrance to it was
through a massive iron door, which was
secured by a thick bar of iron fastened by
an immense padlock.
By this means the specie of the bank was
doubly protected, for even supposing that
robber should succeed in obtaining an er
trance into the stone vault, ho would still
have to force the immense safo, a matter of
impossibility, unless he happened to possess
tho secret, which was turning tho handle
around exactly seven times. Once more
or less would be of no avail.
I unlocked the padlock, leaving the key
In tho lock, and we all entered the stone
vault. The Rev. Mr. Elliot appeared to be
itrangely Interested In the place. He gazed
around him in seeming wonder ; he meas
ured the thickness of the walls, and the
length and breadth of tho stone room.
Very secure ! very secure, indeed 1" he
murmured. "You can set bank robbers
at defiance with a room like this.Mr. Brain
troe."
Yes, sir ; I believe we can. For even if
any one should succeed in getting into the
stone vault they would have still the safe
to force."
True, very true," responded the rever-
ened gentleman, " but I notice one peculi
arity about your safe," he added, glancing
toward it as he spoke, " you have no lock
on it."
"It is not necessary," returned Mr.
Baintree, "for unless a person happened
to know the secret of opening the door, I
would defy him to open it. You see," ad
ded the president, suiting the action to the
word, " in order to effect an entrauce, it
is necessary to turn the handle around ex
actly seven times."
After the seventh time, Mr. Baintree gave
a strong pull and the heavy door slowly
turned on it's hinges. The reverend gen
tleman glanced Inside with excusable curi
osity. "Very curious ! very curious indeed," he
murmured. "How wonderful is the inge
nuity of man!"
At that moment Mr. Braintroe called the
clergyman to see something else in the
stone vault and they both moved away to
the extreme end of the apartment.
On glancing into the safe I noticed that
two lodgers were out of their places.
entered the ' safe to place them in
their respective cases, when either the cler
gyman or Mr. Baintree brsuhing past the
safe, unconsciously knocked against the
door, as he did so, which gave It an impetus
that closed It on me, the bolts shot noise
lessly into their sockets and I was a prison
er- ,
There was an acoustio phenomenon con
nected with this safe which I never heard
oxplalned, and that was, any one shut in
side could hear every word that was utter
ed in the vault, while no noise , that he
might make could reach those outside,
was aware of this peculiarity and knew
that it was utterly useless for me : to call
OUt.
The only hope I had was, that whon Mr.
Baintree missed me ho would surmise
whero I was. But in a few moments this
allusion was dispelled.
" Why, where can Mr. Archer be ?'
I heard Mr. Baintree observe. ' " Oh 1 1 re
member now, he had an engagement after
banking hours, and I suppose he has gone
to keep it, but I thiuk he might ' have loft
the lantern with mo. ' But we can find our
way out easy enough."
I heard them lcavo the vault, the iron-
bar put in its place, and the key turned ,1
the padlock.' .'... ' , ,'
realized tho fact that , there was, no
nope lor nio. . i was a prisoner, auu yiat
had to remain until Monday morning. ,
Jt was nq pleasant thing to contemplate
remaining shut up there for forty-two
hours without food or water ; but there was
no help fpr it, ,,for . I knew that all thi
soreaming In the , world would only be so
much breath wasted 1 1 thqrofore dotoi min
ed to take matters as philosophically jas
could, and not indulge in useless ropinlngs.
Fortunately in the safo was a volume
of Shakespeare, and tho dark lantern was
also in my possession. I made a seat for
myself on some ledgers and turning down
tho lamp to a point at which I could road
conveniently, I began to enjoy myself as
woll as the circumstances of tho case would
permit.
I read for five or six hours, and I can
safely affirm that I never enjoyed Shakes
peare as well before. The absolute quiet pro
vailing, and the fact of being shut off from
all exterior influences seemed to make me
appreciate the hidden beauties of the great
poet mnch more cloarly than I ever did In
my life.
I read till I grew sleepy. I then made a
bed for myself of the account books, turn
ed the lantern down to tho faintest glimmer
for the sake of saving oil, and closing my
eyes, I was soon fast asleep.
When I awoke and looked at my watch
found It was ten o'clock on Sunday morn
ing. I had therefore slept about twelve
hours.
I felt very hungry, but I knew that I had
twenty-four hours more to pass there be
fore I could get anything to eat, so I deter
mined to try and sleep as much of my time
as possible, remembering the French pro
verb, "jut dort dine."
I read a great deal of Shakespeare during
the day, and about 8 o'clock in the even
ing I again composed myself to sleep.
I was suddenly awakened by the sound
of voices in the stone vault, and naturally
supposing that it was ton o'clock on Mon
day morning, and that some of the clerks
were coming to open the safe, I glanced at
my watch and found to my extreme sur
prise that it was exactly twelve o'clock at
night.
By some intuition the truth struck me in
a moment. It was some one come to rob
the bank, and the reverend visitor of the
day before was a spy.
The first words I heard confirmed the
truth of this conclusion, for I heard the
Rev. Mr. Elliott's voice exclaim to his con
federate :
" Well, here wo are in this famous stone
vault do you know Jim, we got in much
easier than I expected."
Thanks to your visit on Saturday after
noon, Bobby, as one of the black-coated-gentry."
The robbers then were the famous 'White
Haired Bobby' and ' Slippery Jim.'
"Yes," returned Bobby, "'I think I
gammoned the two buffers pretty woll,
You see, Jim, what it is to be a man of ed
ucation. I should just like to soe you in
the part of the Rev. Mr. Elliot, and see
what a figure you'd cut in it.
" That ain't in my line, no how but I
tell you what, Bobby, you can't beat me at
picking a lock."
" You are pretty good at that, and no
mistake. But come, lot us get at the
swag." . ,
"You are sure you haven't forgotten
how to open the safe, Bobby?"
" No indeed ; the fool told me that it was
by turning the handle round seven times,
Of all the blessed babies I ever saw, I nev
er saw any one to come up to this mall,
Braintree."
I saw that It was now time for me to
act. Fortunately I had my pistol with me,
I drew It from my pockot, cocked it, and
turned up the lantern to its full, I waited
for tho door of the safe to be opened, real
izing fully that my only chance of overpow
ering tho two ruffians, was to take them by
surprise. : For If I allowed them to recover
themselves from the sudden effect of, my
appearance, they being two to one, would
soon overpower me.
I had not long to wait. I heard the ban-
die turn seven successive times, and then
Bobby gave a strong pull at the heavy door
of the safo.
It yielded, but in a moment, I stepped
out with the dark lantern turned full on
the robbers and with my arm stretched out
holding the cocked pistol In my hand.
-The effect of my appearance on Bobby
and Jim, ; was absolutely terrific They
must have thought me a ghost, for they
both turned livid with fear. , . "
Before they had time to recover' them
selves, I knocked Jim sonsoless to the floor
with tho butt ' end ofmyptHtol; and then
springing on the other, I grasped him by
.1.. Al I. .....! 1. l.tnti 4f 4liA rrt-mi.il
WIS VUCUUb UMiq uuio .-ugiuMtiMt i.
Fortune favored me lu, another respect,
for I saw hanging out of the pocket of the
ruffian I had under mo, a strong, piece ,pf
cord., Ho struggled violently, ,bu Iiwas
tho stronger man of the, two, and succeed
ed iu binding htm fast without much trou
ble.- i : ... i. ' t) "ii it . -t m tr'fl
When I hod White Haired Bobby, secur
ed I turned my attention to his companion,
who, fortunatoly for me, remained In a con
dition of insensibility.
In five minutes I had them both so se-
urcly bound that they could not move
hand or foot. I left them while I went to
arouse the house.
I proceeded first to Mr. Balntrec's room.
He slopt over the bank. I knocked loudly
at his door.
"Who's there? What is it?" he ex-
claimed.
"Get up, Mr. Baintree," I cried out,
'White Haired Bobby and Slippery Jim
have made an attempt to rob the bank.
They are both now lying in the vault se
curely bound."
You are jesting, Archer," said Brain
tree, jumping out of bed and opening the
door.
It is the positive truth. The Rev. Mr.
Elliot, to whom you so obligingly showed
the vault on Saturday afternoon, and ex
plained to him how to open the safe, was
none other than White Haired Bobby him
self."
It was a minute or two before Mr. Brain
tree could realizo the news I brought him.
At lost the truth began to dawn on his
mind.
"You say the villains are securely bound
on the floor in the vault?"
Yes."
But who bound them?" he asked more
and more puzzled."
"I did."
" Who helped you V
"No one."
"But bow the deuce comes it that you
were on the spot?"
I then told him how I had been fastened
in the safe and he began to see through the
fog.
While this conversation had been pro
gressing, Braintree had been dressing him
self. We went down together, summoned
the officers of the law, and all proceeded
to the vault. ,
We found our prisoners just where I had
left them, and in a quarter of an hour they
were safely lodged in jail.
It was the hut exploit of White Haired
Bobby and Slippery Jim, for they were
tried, and publio opinion having at last
aroused at their terrible contempt of laws,
human and divine, they were sentenced to
penitentiary for life.
Mr. Braintree and the directors of the
bank amply compensated me for my incar
ceration, declaring that it was the most
'fortunate imprisonment" that had ever
occurred. , - , , , '
Not The Lady.
I
A well known minister, walking along
the street a few days since, met a lady for
whom he had recently performed the mar
riage service. Desiring to renew the ac
quaintance (for the lady had interested him
greatly at the time) he accosted her with
the remark: .- s ;. :i
"Madam, did I not have the pleasure of
marrying you a few days since?" .' ' ' .
" I was married a fow days since, sir."
" Yes I thought I was not mistaken ; I
married you."
"Indeed I Well, I thought my husband
was a much youngor man than you are ;
but I have not seen enough of him to make
his acquaintance thoroughly., , By-the-way
my dear, my chignon is getting , shabby ;
please give me some money to buy a water
fall." i, -. : -: . -. v
Evidently this was moro than the' minis-.
ter bargalued for, and with hasty bow,' ac
companied by the remark, 1 " No, you are
not tho lady I'm mistaken," be took his
leave. ... 1 : xM ' 1 ''" ' "' '
. ,. - .1-, ,
13T A curious story Is told of three young
candidates for a Scottish ministry.) The
first one put upon his trial, while - putting
on his robes, happened to descry an ancient
looking, -i well-worn roll of paper,' which
proved to be a sermon on the text, " Jacob
was a plain man dwelling in tents." '' See
ing that the old sermon was much better
than his tew one, ' the 'aspirant to1 pulpit
honors took possession of it, delivered It as
his Own, and then returned "it 1 to ' its' 'old
resting place1. The sermon was d good one,'
and plbasel the hearers,' "although 'they
would ImVo preferred one delivered Without
the book. ' Groat was thoir astqhishrnent the
following Sunday when, preacher ( JNb ft,
treated them with the same sermon from
the same text ( but it wagjoq much for
Scottish i patience , wbon a liilrd minister
falling into Uie same trap, oorumenoed his
sermon by announcing that; "Jacob was a
plain man,; dwelling in touts,!! and one old
woman relieved the feelings for her follow-"
sufllerera by exolainilng r'Do'il dwell hm
Is he never gaun to flit ?"