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ALL A TELEGRAPHER'S MISTAKE. But so Milwaukee Judge Stopped a Run on a Country Bank. From the Milwaukee Wisconsin. This is a story of how a bank was saved through the mistake of a telegraph operator, a mistake that was not discovered for several months. The bank is the Bank of "Cumberland. The hero was Judge Pereles. Therefore the story is true. It was during the panicky days of that memorable period in 1893, when the bank, without a run on it. was the exception. Cumberland is a small town and the Bank of Cumberland a small bank. Judge Perand several other Milwaukeeans have interests at Cumberland, and so one day was not surprised to receive a message bidding him send from $100 to $500 to the cashier without delay. There was excitement in the town, for there was, a run on the bank. With that calm, judicial deliberation that has marked his career upon the bench Judge Pereles reasoned that $500 would not go very far toward staying a run. and so he drew his check for triple the amount. forwarded the money by express and then dispatched a telegram to the cashier, telling him that $1,500 was one the way to help relieve the pressure. There was more excitement in Cumberand when that message was received than the day when the express wagon tore Second street with the box of gold that came from Chicago to the relief of the Plankinton Bank. The eyes of the populace nearly popped out of the populace's head when they rested on the telegram so conspicuously påsted on the window in front of the bank. Thus read the telegram: "Have just sent you $15,000 to help you out. If you need more wire at once. James Madison Pereles." It is suspected that the sudden change the direction. and the remarkable increase in the velocity of the wind on that particular day, was due to the vacuum caused by the gasp of astonishment that the populace gave when Tt saw the figures. The amount was probably greater than the entire capital of any concern in Cumberland, and there was the invitation to send for more to this Milwaukee Croesus. if necessary. But it did the business. The run on the bank was a thing of the past. Once while in "New York, Judge Pereles told the story and for some months the tale of how $1,500 saved a bank was the joke of New York banking circles. In times of great excitement the credulty of the public generally seems to be increased in proportion as pulses quicken and trivial incidents go far toward relieving pressure upon banks. This is true bank story No. 2, with the scene slightly shifted. Judge Pereles still remains the hero, while the bank is the Merchants Exchange. One of the timid clients of Nathan Pereles & Sons became infected with the panic germ and insisted upon the firm storing for him $5,000 in gold that he had left with it on investment. It was a case where argument failed entirely, and so with much trepidation, Judge Pereles was obliged to seek the bank where the money was deposited. and make the demand for $5,000 in gold. There were execrations when the bank officials learned of the demand. They could not be conspicuous. for it was an era of suspicion. Finally the money came forth. Two messengers accompanied Judge Pereles, then just an ordinary lawyer, he walked off with the pile of gold. It seemed as if every eye was on that innocent looking satchel and it seemed an awfully long way to the office. Finally was reached. Then the Pereles brothers held a consultation. There was the liability of burglars, and it was decided to rent a safety deposit vault and store the gold. The two brothers posted off with the gold between them. heading for the Merchants' Exchange Bank. It wasn't very far, but the gold seemed awfuily heavy. "There's a run on Nunnemacher's Bank," said one as they passed across Wisconsin street. The statement was true. There was an excited crowd outside the teller's window, deposits In through
