23128. Bank of Wheeling (Wheeling, WV)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
state
Start Date
March 11, 1884
Location
Wheeling, West Virginia (40.064, -80.721)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
32e29574

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Two contemporaneous articles (dated March 11, 1884) describe a depositor run driven by a specific false rumor initiated by a German woman about a check endorsement. The bank is described as sound and able to meet obligations; no suspension or closure is mentioned.

Events (1)
1. March 11, 1884 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
A German woman, after being sent home for her husband's endorsement, spread a report that the bank was unable to meet the paper, prompting withdrawals.
Random Run
Yes
Random Run Snippet
Woman spread report bank unable to meet paper; bank described as sound
Newspaper Excerpt
The trouble originated in a German woman presenting a check not properly endorsed by her husband. On being sent home for his signature she spread the report that the bank was unable to meet the paper.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. March 13, 1884 The Daily Dispatch Richmond, VA
Article from The Daily Dispatch, March 13, 1884

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Article Text

A Wheeling Bank Run. A Wheeling (W. Va.) special of the 11th says: Yesterday and to-day there was quite a run of depositors, mostly having small balances to their credit, on the Bank of Wheeling, one of the soundest in the city. The trouble originated in a German woman presenting a check not properly endorsed by her husband. On being sent home for his signature she spread the report that the bank was unable to meet the paper. Today the run was given fresh impetus by a large drug firm withdrawing its account of over $20,000. In all, probably $35,000 has been withdrawn. The bank is abundantly able to take care of itself, and has heavy outside backing.

2. March 15, 1884 Martinsburg Independent Martinsburg, WV
Article from Martinsburg Independent, March 15, 1884

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Article Text

A Wheeling Bank Run. WHEELING, W. Va., March 11.Yesterday and to-day there was quite a run of depositors, mostly having small balances to theircredit, on the Bank of Wheeling one of the soundest in the city. The trouble originated in a German woman presenting a check not properly endorsed by her husband. On being sent home for his signature she spread the report that the bank was unable to meet the paper. To-day the run was given fresh impetus by a large drug firm withdrawing its account of over $20,000. In all, probably, $35,000 has been withdrawn.