17315. Bank of the Society for Savings (Cleveland, OH)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
state
Start Date
March 10, 1910
Location
Cleveland, Ohio (41.499, -81.695)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
9b502bf5

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Public signal of financial health, Books examined

Description

Multiple contemporary articles (March 10–14, 1910) describe a multi-day run on the Bank of the Society for Savings in Cleveland driven by baseless rumors. The bank paid out about $1.2M, officials and the state examiner reassured the public, and the run abated; there is no mention of suspension, receivership, or permanent closure. OCR errors in some articles corrected (e.g., 'Pank' -> 'Bank').

Events (1)

1. March 10, 1910 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Run attributed to baseless/malicious rumors with no specific adverse bank news; articles repeatedly state vague rumors as the basis.
Measures
Bank officials issued public statements asserting soundness; displayed large sums of currency and paid out about $1.2M; state bank examiner publicly supported the bank.
Newspaper Excerpt
END OF RUN ON BANK. Savings Institution Declared to Be on Sound Basis. The run was started by baseless rumors started by some malicious person or persons; About $1,200,000 was withdrawn.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (10)

Article from Evening Star, March 11, 1910

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Article Text

END OF RUN ON BANK. Savings Institution Declared to Be on Sound Basis. CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 11.-Noon today saw the end of the run on the Bank of the Society for Savings which started late Wednesday and caused a panic among thousands of depositors who had put their savings in the institution. The promptness with which the bank officials inet the crisis and the steps which they took to assure the public of the absolute soundness of their financial position had its effect-today in stopping the run, which had assumed extraordinary proportions yesterday. About $1,200,000 was withdrawn. Myron T. Herrick, the president of the bank. issued the following statement: "The Society for Savings was never in a sounder financial position in its history. The run was started by baseless rumors started by some malicious person or persons whom we are now endeavoring to trace. About $1,200,000 has been paid out by the bank and the hardship falls on the misled depositors, who have forfeited the three months' interest which would accrue on April 1."


Article from Evening Times-Republican, March 11, 1910

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Article Text

BANK FLURRY OVER. Crowd at Doors of Cleveland Institution Subsiding Today. Cleveland, March 11.-The crowd at the doors of the bank of the Society for Savings this morning was smaller than that on yesterday. Indications are that this is to be the last day of the flurry. Noon today saw the end of the run on the bank of the Society for Savings, which started late Wednesday and caused a panic among the depositors. About $1,200,000 was withdrawn.


Article from Tonopah Daily Bonanza, March 11, 1910

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Article Text

No Reason Can be Given for Run on Cleveland Bank Panic Stricken Foreign Depositors WithCOBB ELECTED draw Savings From Bank that is DePRESIDENT PRO TEM clared Solvent. OF N. Y. SENATE By Associated Press. the bank is able to meet all deCLEVELAND, O., March 10.mands, and this assertion is asBy Associated Press. With thousands of panic stricken serted by State Bank Examiner SeyALBANY, N. Y., March 10.depositors clamoring at its doors, mour. The crowds of hysterical deSenator George Cobb was selected the Bank of the Society for Savings positors stood in line before the as president pro tem of the senate faced the second day of the run bank all day. Inside the bank the in the republican caucus late tothat apparently had only a vague clerks literally ladeled out gold, night after a bitter fight which rumor for its basis. Ninety per silver and bills to the excited men threatens to disrupt the party in cent of the throng that surrounded and women. No definite explanathe state. Cobb is the candidate of the building were women, and tion has been given for the run. Chairman Timothy Woodruff of the nearly all were foreigners. The A pile of more than a million He state republican committee. bank officials were unwilling to in gold, and bills was displayed was opposed by Senator Harvey make any estimate of the money on the counters of the bank in Hinman and supported by Elihu paid out and they reiterate that plain view of the depositors. Root and Governor Hughes. The


Article from Tonopah Daily Bonanza, March 11, 1910

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Article Text

By Associated Press. CLEVELAND, O., March 10.With thousands of panic stricken depositors clamoring at its doors, the Bank of the Society for Savings faced the second day of the run that apparently had only a vague rumor for its basis. Ninety per cent of the throng that surrounded the building were women, and nearly all were foreigners. The bank officials were unwilling to make any estimate of the money paid out and they reiterate that


Article from The Cairo Bulletin, March 11, 1910

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BANK HOLDS OUT AGAINST A RUN THOUSANDS DEPOSITORS CLAMOREP AT DOOR OF CLEVELAND BANK YESTERDAY. MILLIONS IN THE VAULT And Over a Million in Full View of Depositors, But Still They Came-Mystery About the Run. Cleveland, March 10.-With thousands of panic-stricken depositors clamoring at he doors, the Pank of the Society for Savings faced a second day of a run which apparently has for its basis merely vague rumors. Ninety per cent of the frightened throng that surrounded the building were women, and nearly all were foreigners. The bank officers are hnwilling to make any estimate as to the amount of money paid out. but reiterate that the bank is fully capable of meeting all demands, and this assertion is supported by the bank examiner. Scenes about the bank today were extremely picturesque. Outside, the long line of depositors, herded by a hundred policemen, chattered volubly in half a dozen languages. Every now and then a hysterical woman would break from the line and make a dash for the bank entrance, only


Article from Daily Press, March 11, 1910

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Article Text

BIG RUN ON BANK. Cleveland Depositors Panic Stricken Over Rumors. CLEVELAND, OHIO. March 10.With thousands of panic stricken depositors clamoring at its doors, the Bank of the Society for Savings, taced this morning the second day of a run which apparently has for its basis merely vague rumors. Ninety per cent. of the frightened throng that surrounded the building were women and nearly all were foreigners. The bank officials assert that the bank is fully capable of meeting all demands and this assertion is supported by B. B. Seymour, state examiner of banks.


Article from The Ocala Evening Star, March 12, 1910

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Article Text

AN UNREASONABLE PANIC Cleveland, O., March 12.-With thousands of panic-stricken depositors clamoring at its doors, the bank of the Society for Savings faced yesterday morning the second day of a run which apparently had for its basis merely vague rumors. Ninety per cent. of the frightened throng that surrounded the building were women and nearly all were foreigners. The bank officials assert that the bank is fully capable of meeting g all demands and this assertion is supported by B. B. Seymour, state examiner of banks.


Article from The Mt. Sterling Advocate, March 16, 1910

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Article Text

Run On Bank. Last week a run was made on the Bank of the Society for Savings at Cleveland, O. There are 89,000 depositors, mostly foreigners. Conspicuously displayed on a table was $1,500,000 in bills, beside bags of coin and bills. The bank had $5,000,000 in currency and $30,000,000 in bonds. The run lasted for two days, checking out $1,250,000.


Article from The Citizen-Republican, March 17, 1910

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Article Text

PANIC OVER CLEVELAND BANK IS NOW ABATING Cleveland, Ohio, March 14.-Al.nost with the dawn, excited depositors commenced to gather about the Bank of the Society for Savings and the third day of the run on the institution opened with several hundred men and women thronging the doors of the bank, calling for their savings. The crowd, however, was appreciably smaller than on yesterday. The published statement of the bank officials and of the state examiner and telegrams from the biggest financial houses of America, offering help, and expressing confidence, have apparently had their effect in checking the panic. The cause of the unprecedented run remains as much as mystery as ever.


Article from The Bon Homme County Independent, March 17, 1910

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Article Text

PANIC OVER CLEVELAND BANK IS NOW ABATING Cleveland, Ohio, March 14.-Almost with the dawn, excited depositors commenced to gather about the Bank of the Society for Savings and the third day of the run on the institution opened with several hundred men and women thronging the doors of the bank, calling for their savings. The crowd, however, was appreciably smaller than on yesterday. The published statement of the bank officials and of the state examiner and telegrams from the biggest financial houses of America, offering help, and expressing confidence, have apparently had their effect in checking the panic. The cause of the unprecedented run remains as much as mystery as ever.