Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

THE YUKON ADVENTURE 187Early in the first winter it was realized that the bankshould have a down-town branch, and one was established in asmall office adjoining the premises of the Alaska CommercialCompany. It was opened mainly as a convenience to thepublic, and conducted along lines that caused no uneasinesson the score of fire risk. In fact, on January 10, 1900, afterthe branch had been moved to Front Street, in the veryheart of the business section, the office was burned down by afire that destroyed the greater part of the business section ofthe city. On that occasion no loss whatever was experienced,and no inconvenience beyond the mere trouble of having tothaw the safe before the dials which operated the locks couldbe worked and the safe opened. As soon as it became clearthat the office would be burned, the small equipment of furnitureand even the stove were carried to safety. The downtownmanager went into the office to have a final look around,but had to make a rapid exit, as the firemen, assisted by thepopulace generally, had ropes and tackle on the whole front ofthe structure and were heaving away at it to pull it down whenhe emerged. He got clear of the building just as the frontcrashed to the ground, and only drew a good-natured laughfrom the crowd when he took indignant exception to suchcasual treatment.It was the custom of the police at a fireto order men indiscriminately to assist in such work as thatjust described, or in passing buckets in long lines from theriver and other tasks, and immediate arrest and heavysentences awaited those who deemed themselves immunefrom such public service. The members of the force themselvesworked like Trojans and took most daring risks.After the first summer it was the custom at the bank tokeep the vaults open until about eleven o'clock each night duringthe "clean-up," two or more of the staff remaining in theoffice to receive gold dust arriving in town from the minesafter hours.This convenience to the public was instituted forthe reason that unforeseen delays often occurred on the trailand prevented the miners from reaching town during the usual