Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1911 — SAFE WAS APACHE PROOF Even When the Indians Pushed It Off a Cliff It Protected the Government Funds. [ARTICLE]

SAFE WAS APACHE PROOF

Even When the Indians Pushed It Off a Cliff It Protected the Government Funds.

Years ago in the west, when the government sent out safes' for the use of its army paymasters In remote districts, it was the -custom for the paymaster in cavalry service to ride in an ambulance with the safe, escorted by a guard of six mounted mem On one occasion such a guard was attacked by a large force of Apache Indians. Two men were killed, and the Indians captured the ambulance with the safe. The safe contained about SB,OOO in greenbacks. It weighed some four hundred pounds, and had a combination lock. Now the Indians had never seen a safe at close quarters, but they knew that It contained money. Also, they wanted that money. They -first pounded off the knob with stones, under the impression that the door could then be pried open. Their attempt was, of course, a failure. The next step was to try their tomahawks on the chilled steel, in the hope that a hole might be cut, In it. This means, too, proved of no avail, so they determined to try fire. Accordingly, they gave the safe a three-hour roaqting. Luckily for the government, It was fireproof. They threw big rocks upon it while it was hot, but they were as far from the money as ever.

Next the Apaches dragged the safe up the side of a mountain and tumbled it over a precipice two hundred feet high. They expected, of course, to see it burst open, but the only damage was a slight Injury to one of the wheels. The safe was left soaking in the river for three or four days, and great was the Indians’ din, appointment at finding themselves still baffled. Then they tried gunpowder, but knowing nothing of the art of blasting, they brought about an explosion that burned half a dozen warriors and left the safe none the worse. The Indians worked over that safe, off and on, for a month or more, but failed to get at the inside. Finally, in disgust, they left it in a deep ravine. Fourteen months later, when peace came, the army found the safe. It was lying in the bed of a creek with a great pile of driftwood around it. It was a sad-looking safe, but when opened showed its contents intact Harper’s Weekly.