The copper era., June 01, 1899, Page 9, Image 9

About The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
THE COPPER ERA, CLIFTON, ARIZ., JUNE 1, 1899.
9
E. V. HUNTER, - -
HOUSE, SIGN & CARRIAGE
Painting ; PAPER HANGING
and GRAINING
- - AH work as good as the best.
Estimates cheerfully given
on all classes of work - -
(iive me a trial and get in' prices.
Francisco Norte building, South Clifton.
E, C. RABER,
Watchmaker anil Jeweler. S&
Below Clifton Hotel.
Daily papers sold and delivered.
FRED COOPER, - -
Tonsorial Artist,
Next to Bine Goose saloon,
Clifton, Arizona - - - -
Hot and Cold Baths Give me a call.
M. J. EGAN,
ATTORNEY - AT - LAW.
Office : In the Casn Grande, or. the Frisco
Embankment,
Clifton,. - . - - Arizona.
V. C. BLANK, - - .
Clifton Shoe Shop,
Clifton, Arizona.
fJ0 Boots and Shoes made to order.
Repair work done promptly and neatly.
Ctttliollt Church Servlceft.
Services at the Catholic church in Clif
ton next Sunday at 0 a. m. ; S.inday
school at 3 p. in. ; evening service at
7 : 15 p. in. Services will be held at the
ci lurch in Morenci the following Sabbath
(April 30ih) at the Paine bourn. Father
Tinimerman will then return the follow
ing Sunday (May 7th) to Clifton, and on
the 8th of M.iy will leave for So'.omon
ville and remain there four Sundays
after which he will go to Globe and hold
services two Sundays, returning to Clif
ton the latter part of June.
SUAUDING THE MINT.
HOW THE PHILADELPHIA INSTITU
TION IS PROTECTED. .
Little Chanoa For Any One to Get Rich
Quickly by Helping Hiintelr to Unci
Sam's Treasure Patrols, Kevolvers and
Wincheiitera la Plenty.
Probably not one person out of a hnn
lred who pass by tbe Philadelphia mint,
that grim looking edifice at Chestnut
ind Juniper streets, after nightfall real
izes what is going on inside. There is
aothing mean about Uncle Sam, but he
is determined that any one who gets
dis money shall get it honestly and by
process duly laid down. Therefore he
has taken all kinds of precautions to
properly protect, especially at night,
the millions upon millions piled up in
the vaults.
The doors of tbe mint are closed ev
ery weekday promptly at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. After that hour no one
but mint employees have any business
within the walls which inclose so much
money, and no one can either stay in
sx get in without a special permit from
the' superintendent. Needless to tay,
this is difficult to obtain.
Simultaneously with the closing of
tho doors at 4 o'clock the first shift of
the night guard goes on duty. Tbe shift
is composed of the captain of the guard
nd 11 stalwart men. As the men file
ut to begin their round each one is
sanded a big Colt's revolver of the most
ipproved pattern and loaded with big
cartridges.
From tben on till midnight seven of
ihe 11 guards patrol without cessation
ivery floor of the inside of the mint, from
ihe corridors of the gloomy vaults
where, away down in the earth, are
stowed eighty odd million dollars in
diver and almost as much gold, to the
'op floor, where' there is nothing more
ralnable than machinery. Placed at fre
quent intervals throughout the oorridors
ire electrical devices for enabling the
jnptain of the guard to keep tabs on his
oien. Each of these little machines coin
umiicates with tbe rotunda opposite
;he Chestnut street entrance to tbe
niut. Here it is that the captain is sta
tioned all through the long hours of
lis shift. Every two minutes and a
aalf the central machine in the rotunda
ieuotes the presence of some one of the
guard at some particular station in the
building. If it doesn't, then the cap
tain knows that something is wrong,
ind he immediately proceeds to discov
er what it is.
But it has been a long time since tbe
little machine failed to send forth its
innooncement at the proper time, for
tbe mint guards are patrolling up and
Jown outside the big building, careful
ly watching that no suspioioua cbarao-'
ters approach too near the vast treasure
left in their care.
. Promptly at midnight the second
shift of the night guard puts in an ap
pearance to relieve the early shif t. It
is also composed of a captain and 11
men, and they are split np, as tho other
quad, into inside and' outside details.
From midnight on until 7 o'clock in
the morning they follow - in tbe foot
steps of the first shift, with every fao
ulty alert to catch an intruder:
The big revolvers are not the only
weapons upon which the guards have
to 'rely. On each side of the main cor
ridor leading from tbe Chestnut street
entranoe stands a walnut case, Through
the polished glass front of one frpwn
30 Winchester rifles. The other con
tains as many ngly looking carbines.
To grab these dispensers of death would
oe but tbe work of an instant for the
guards, and tben woe be unto any man
or men upon whom it might be found
necessary to turn them.
For the revolvers there is kept con
stantly on hand in tbe mint 500 rounds .
of ammunition, and for the rifles and
jarbines 2,500 rounds. Each of the
guards is an expert in the use of both
she pistol and the gnu, and each is en
flowed with a plentiful stock of cour
age; hence a combination capable of
raccessfully resisting almost anything
iess than a regiment. .
The superintendent and assistant cus
todian both talked to the reporter about
ihe methods in use to proteot the mint
ind its contents. Both smiled siguifi
jantly when the possibility of one get
ting away with a portion of the vast
Tea sure was suggested. : . .
"It would be folly for any one to try
it, " was the superintendent's only com
ment. To it the assistant custodian nod
led empbatio assent. . ; -.
"I have been here for a good many
rears," the latter said, "and no such
ittempt has over been made. It is prac
Sically impossible for any one to break
nto the mint from tbe outside, and no
ue could secrete himself in the build
jig during the hours when it is open to
'isitors and hope to avoid discovery.
Wo- search every nook and corner of the
itracture carefully as soon as the doors
ire closed for the day, and you may
.est assured if any one who had no
3usiness within these walls was found
je would regret the day he was born.."
In addition to the two shifts of night
guards, the superintendent and assistant
justodian have a habit of dropping in
it the mint at odd hours of the night to