The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, January 14, 1915, Image 8
V
[ow She Saved • i
the Batik
; A Financial Story of-the < |
1907 Panic
By WILLARD BLAKEMAN
There are different ways of further-
in* one's getting on in the worlc).
Shortsighted persons can see only one
way, which is acting on the adage,
“Every feilow for himself and the
devil take the hindmost." Neverthe
less men have made fortunes by help
ing others. The difference between
this class and the other is that one
acts with a view to bettering his con
dition, while the other acts through
kindness of heart.
When I was a young man I obtained
a position in a bank and by attending
faithfully to business rose to be cash
ier. I was economical, so far as my
own personal expenses were concern
ed, bnt I don't think I was mean. 1
would never lend small sums to my
young men companions, but when any
one really needed assistance would
give it outright.
That I had good Judgment in making
Investments is proved by the fact that
my savings grew rapidly. When I was
twenty-seven years I married Molly
Ersklne, aged twenty. A year after
onr marriage word came In from a
western town that there was only one
bank In the place and room for more.
After talking the matter over with my
wife I decided to start a bank there.
I got some of the stockholders of the
institution with which 1 was connect
ed Interested in the project and with
. my own capital in due time opened my
'doors for deposits. .
I found that the man already estab
lished. John Itedfleld, had antagonised
certain persons by declining to give
them all the discounts they desired, and,
there being no other hanker In the
town, they had taken steps to have one
establish himself there. These persons
welcomed me, oiiened accounts with
me and averred that If I would do a
liberal business and not be scared at
trifles I would soon do all the business
at the town.
1 saw at oace that Itedfleld was not
pleased at the aitpearauce of a rival
and took secret means to discredit me.
He kept the best and safest accounts,
while the weakest came to me. But
by adhering rigidly to flxed principles
of banking and acting on the aupitoel-
tion that there was business enough
for both of os I got my share of the
new deposits, which were Increasing,
und occasionally one of Redlteld e cus
tomers would fhll to me. But. as I had
maintained, there was business enough
for both, and at the end of five yeers
Redfleld bad more titan held bis own.
while 1 bad obtained a solid footing.
Bunkers, like sen ca|»tains. must ex
pect storms. 1 matinged my affairs
with this In view; but. as in tbe case
of a sailor, much depends uiton the
facility with which he can get In sail,
so the banker's safety depends u|>ou
his shinty to get in his loans. If tbe
captain keeps hia sails furled he will
make no headway, and If the lainker
kee|« his money lu his vaults he will
make no money. When the punic of
l*fl07A - auie on I waa In as good. If not
better, condition tban the average
banker to moot the storm.
It looked at one time during that
jmulc as If the financial structure of
the United States was about to col-
la|>se. 1 confess I was in great fear
that it would carry me down with it
and bury me under its ruins. Every
day more money was withdrawn from
circulation und locked up. I got in all
the loans I could and sold at a great
sacrifice all my private property. This
.fund I turned into gold, took It to my
home and concealed It under a latnrti
in tlie floor. I proposed to keep it to
enable me to pass a crisis.
The financial barometer—the New
York stock market—continued to fall,
and money grew proiiortiouately scarce.
One morning 1 beard that u run had
been started on Ih-dfield's bunk, and
ns the day wore on the line before tbe
paying teller’s window increased.
There was nothing like a run on my
bank, but during tbe day the amount
drawn was three times Hie usual av
erage.
Tbe next day the line leading to the
paying teller’s window of Itedflold’s
bank was increased, and at noon Ked-
field came to my bank and told me that
he must either have help or close his
doors. He asked for it on the ground
that if he went under the panic would
extend to me- and I would be carried
down with him.
# I told him that I did not think so.
That there would be a run on my bank
I was willing to admit. But my intelli
gent depositors would not draw their
money, and I oduld pay all the rest.
“Then,” he said. "I am ruined. I am
too old to begin again, esiiecially with
a debt hanging "over my head. If I
had $20,000 or $30,000 to tide me over
the rest of tbe day I conld pull
through, for tomorrow I am promised
tuiyment on a sale of bonds l have
made.” > ‘ j '
It waa then 12 o’clock. I told Red
fleld that I would cqnalder the matter
of helping him and let blfli know V 2,
If not earlier. He went hack to the
hungry crowd before hia bank, and I.
celling an auto cab. went home There
T found my wife and told her that I
waa eallad. apon to save Redfleld. with
♦Vr ' ■ tMty.of going under
. I gave U* tbe gold
d
I had In raaarva he would pnll through
Bnt my trouble Waa still to coma, and,
without the funds I had sacrificed my
property to provide I knew 1 could not
meet a rum
My wife ♦bought a long while before
reolylng. \7beu she did she as id:
‘‘Give it to him. He is an old man
and to break down would kill him. I
have little doubt that in saving him
you will go under. But we are cons*
paratively young and cyn begin again."
“Remember," 1 said, "begiuuiug ugaip
is a hard thing to do.”
“So it is. but when I or another must
perish I prefer to give way to the
utber.”
Without replying. I took up the
board concealing my treasure and was
about to put tbe gold iua satchel when
my wife stopped me. _
“Go'back to the bank." she . said,
“and let me attend to this. Ybu are
needed there, and I can co'uvey this
gold to Mr. Redfleld.”
There were the shining gold pieces
that I had accumulated slowly and by
constant work and that I was going
to send to another on the eve of need
ing them myself to gave me from ruin.
“ ‘Charity begins at home.’ ” I said
to Molly. “I fear we are going to do
something we will regret.”
“That adage has a good deal of
truth in It.” she replied, "but I have
never come across any adage that will
cover every case. I prefer the one
‘Cast your bread upon the waters.’ *’
“Very well, sweetheart; if we go
under through saving another you will
not chide me with haring done so and
1 shall have a stout helpmeet with
whom to begin anew.”
I left my wife to attend to the mat
ter in her own way and returned to
ray own Immediate duties.
A few minutes before 2 o'clock Molly
came to my batik.
“Well.” she said, “I’ve taken the gold
to Mr. Kedtleld. T chose a coarse bag
that bad held potatoes to carry it in,
and I he bulk looked very small. It oc
curred‘to me that I would be seen de
livering ft at the bunk and if 1 conld
make the ftowd believe there was
more of tbe gold It would Induce con
fidence. I emptied the coal scuttle
standing lieslde tbe range into the bot
tom of the bag and put the gold on.
fop."
“All of itr
“Every dollar."
“Go on."
“When I got the coal and the gold In
tbe bug und had tied a string around
the top 1 cut n slit lu tbe bag near the
gold, over which 1 held my hand. Then
I called a cab. got In with tbe treasure
and drove to tbe Henderson bank.
When I reached It I sent In for some
one to come out and carry it inside.
The crowd watched the clerk take the
bag from me. and as I handed It to
him I took my band sway from the silt
l had ent In It and out rolled half ■
down gold pieces.
“The crowd set up a shout, autt, hur-
•rying the clerk into the bank, I picked
up the piecee on tbe pavement—that
Is. all I could And. 1 think I must
have lost something like live half ea
gle*. or $25."
“An Investment worth $25,000!” I
exclaimed.
“As i went Into the Imnk to take a
receipt for the funds there was an
other sbbUt, and I noticed a number
of i>erxonM leave the line."
I threw my arms about Molly's neck
and kissed her.
There was a call at tbe telephone. It
was Itedfleld. »
“That wife of yours." he said, "far
more than the gold she brought lias
an veil me. We have counted a down
depositors whose accounts would ag
gregate $.'10,000 leave the line. The
gold wouldn't have been enough. It
was the eoal that did it!”
I told Molly that I had had some very
large amounts drawn during the day
and if there was as much cash called
tor on the morrow I would surely go
under.
The next morning 1 was horrified at
seeing a 'line of unintelligent depos
itors before my bunk waiting for tbe
doors to oi>eu. 1 thought I could stand
ihe run for that day, and I did. but
the next ns curly as 11 o'clock our
funds had been so reduced that I knew
we could not keefi paying till the clos
ing hour. v
The morning Journals had given an
account of my wife’s arrival at Red-
field's bank with a bug of gold and of
the effect it bad produced. This help
ed me a good deal, but it seemed that
every depositor 1 had in the lower
walks of life was in line. It was half
past 2. and our pile had'been reduced
to $200. Despite the delays practiced
by the receiving teller to gain time I
knew It would-not hold out for the re
maining half hour.
At twenty-nine minutes to 3 Mol
ly drove up to the bunk with a sack
and called for some one to carry It iijto
,the bank. 1 rushed out. seized it and
ran with it into the bank amid the
plaudits of tire crowd. When I got it
into my private oflice and opened it,
hoping that Molly had effected a loan,
I was shocked to see nothing but nut
eoal.
But her ruse was effective. Some
of those in the line, having deposits
which for their class were quite large,
on seeing her carry In a bag. suppos
ing that she was repeating her act of
the" day before, left tbe line, leaving
those near tbe window whose accounts
were verjr small. When the clock
struck 3 ami the window was closed
there was but $12 in the bank.
Bnt meanwhile Itedfleld had got
his loan and the next morning return
ed sufficient of what l had sent him to
carry me through. As soon as all da
ger had passed tmraff the gratitude to
tell the story of how be bad been sav
ed. and. while Molly became a heroine,
I profited in emolument*.
Of all the acts of my life this
; V '1
—"— 1
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THE BARNWELL PEOPLE
BARNWELL, S. C.
Send Your Order Now-
Today
A Story of tbe Ozarks.
If you want to meet Sammy Lane
and know all about her sweet love, her
thrilling life among those good and bad
folk of the Ozarks—if you want to know
about the man who would not fignt for
her, and also about the man who risked
his life for her dear soul—if you
*
want to know about Sammy’i father,
Jim Lane, the old Bald Knobber, Uncle
Ike, the Postmaster at the Forks, with
his "Ba Thundayf” “Preachin’ Bill,”
“A sayin’ things as good as David
Harura,”" “Wash Gibbs" and the old
"Shepherd”—and all the rest of the
people who lived among the hills, you
can find it all in “The Shepherd of the
Hills,’’ the dramatization of Harold
Bell Wright’s novel, which opens its
first annual engagement at the Barn
well Opera House, Jan. 20.
The dramatization was made by Mr.
Wright with the assistance ofEisbery
W. Reynolds. It is said to be even more
interesting than the story in book
form.—adv. -
tM
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For tale at hardware and general (tons.
Look for the Triangle trademark
-The Confederate vetenns and the
widows of veterans i n Barn well County
will please tske notice that I will He in
the Auditor's office in the Court Hjuse
every Saturday in January, coromenc-
ng January 2nd. 1915, for the purpose
of receiving applications for pensions.
'fr-' O E. Birt,
Pension Commissioner. ,
Treasurer’ •. Notice.
The Treasurer’s office will be open
for the collection of State, County and
School taxes levied for the fiscal year
commencing Jan. 1st, 1914, from the
15 day of October, 1914, to 15th day of
March, 1915 inclusive. A penalty of one -
per cent will be added from Jan. 1st,
1915 to Jan 31, 1915 inclusive. From
February 1st to Feoruary 28, inclusive,
a penalty of two per cent will be added
for all taxes paid in February, 1914.
From the 1st to the 15th of March, 1915,
a penalty of seven per cent will be ad
ded on all unpaid taxes, books close
Mch. 15th, 1915.
LEVY.
For state purposes 6 mills
“ ordinary county purposes 5 1-2 mills
“ back indebtedness 2 1-2 mills
“ constitutional school 3 mills
Total 17 miUk /*
Commutation Road tax will be •l-&Q,^ fc>
payable at shine time as other taxes.
Special School Levy.
i
Ashleigh, Baldoc, Barbrty Branch,
Cedar Grove, Columbia, Edisto, Ellen-
tou, Friendship, Greens, Harmony,
Hilda, Kline, Meyers Mill, Morris, Mt.
Calvary, New Forrest, Oak Grove,
Pleasant Hill, Sand Hill, Seigling,
Seven Pines and Tinker* Creek, 2 mills.
Barton, Bloomingdale, Cave, Hickory
Hill,Owens Cross Roads, Reedy Branch,
Shady Grove, Sycamore and Upper
Richland, 3 mills.
Appleton, Big Fork, Double Pond,
Healing Spring, Hercules, Lees and
Ulmer, 4 mills.
Dunbarton and F.Iko
Blackville and Fairfax
Williston
Barnwell
Allendale
United States currency,
silver coin, county and
5 mills.
6 “
6 1-2 mills
8
81-2 ••
gold and
school claims
proved will be received for
axes; checks and drafts will not be
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
(NEW JERSEY)
V BALTIMORE
Waabiaftoa, D. C.
Norfolk, Vo.
PfrhinMiili
Charlotte, N. C.
Charleston, W. Va.
Charleston, S. G
properly appr
taxes; checks
accepted for taxes except at the risk of
the tax-payer.
J. B. Armstrong,
Treasurer Barnwell County.
Barnwell, S. C., Sept 15. 1914.
Auditor'* Appointment*.
The Auditor will be at the following
places on the dates named below for
the purpose of receiving tax returns
for the year 1915:
Snelling, Wednesday, January 6th.
Dunbarton, Thursday, “ 7th.
Robbins, Friday, “ 8th.
Millette, Saturday, “ 9th.
Baldoc, Monday, “ 11th.
Appleton, Tuesday, “ 12th.
Barion, Wednesday, “ 13th.
Fairfax, Thursday, “ 14th.
Allendale, Friday, “ 15th.
Kline, Saturday,'' “ 16th.
Blackville, Monday, “ 18th.
Elko, Tuesday, “ 19th.
Williston, Wednesday, “ 20th.
Mercatus, Thursday, “ 21st.
Hilda, Friday, “ 22nd.
Sycamore. Monday, “ 25th. -
Jennys, Tuesday, “ 26th.
Ulmer, Wednesday, “ 27th.
Only personal property will be re
turned this year. All returns sent in
by mail must be properly signed and
probated before they will be accepted. flH
Remember. 50 per cent, penalty will -
be added after F,eb 20.
R. W. Riley, ‘
Auditor B. C.
DR. W. C. MILHOUS,
Office hours: 8 :30 a. m. to 6 p. n..
Persona living away fi-nn Ban jul
will please make appoii .menrs beiM*"
coming. By so doing they will be > me
of immediate service ami
Dr. J. W. Reeves
Dentist
In office last week of each month.
Barnwell, South Carolina
. Office in Harrison Building.
oct31-12-l jr
Dr. J. P. Lee, J r.
Dentist
WILLISTON, - - S, C.
Work done at your home anywhere in
Barnwell County.
Office over Balnk of Williston.
Hours 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. 3 to 6 p. m.
8-5-13-lv.
Thos. M. Boulware,
ATTORNEY AT LAW
aaiata.
money In sums not les*
fan
than
•6,000.00.
Office oyer Bank of Western fWr. m
: UWWELU S.L