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EVERYTHING TIED UP. The Four Banks of Lemars Go Down Together. SIOUX CITY. In., Aug. 18.-The city of Lemars. the county seat of Plymouth county, occupied a decidedly peculiar situation commercially today, and presented the unique spectacle of a community of about 5,000 people without a single banking house doing business. Until this morning each day at 9 o'clock saw the blinds of four presumably sound institutions go up, but today they did not rise. Between the blinds and door pane of each bank was this notice: "Owing to the continual withdrawal of deposits, this bank has been closed by order of the directors. Depositors will be paid in full." The matter was at first regarded as a concerted joke on the part of the bank clerks, but when the cashier showed up. and in answer to questions merely pointed to the cards on the doors, there was something like a panic. Depositors thronged the streets in front of the several banks. In some cases small depositers, ignorant of business exigencies, became demonstrative, and had to be kept in check by the more level-headed among the people. Yet to the business men the action of the banks was an uncomfortable surprise. The houses control a large ount of English capital, and were thought to be as strong as any in the state, and it is still thought the tie-up may be only temporary. The Lemars National bank appears to have been the first to go to the wall. Late last night Cashier MacLagan notified the other banks that be would not open the doors in the morning. The others, being in no condition to stand a run. followed suit. MacLagan states that $500,000 of deposits have been withdrawn within the past six months. This bank has a capital of $100,000. with a $20,000 surplus. The other banks were the First National. with $100,000 capital, $50,000 surplus: the State Bank of Lemars, with a capital of $50,000, and the GermanAmerican Saviugs bank, with a capital of $50,000. The state bank examiner for the district IS 1 now in Denver, and, until his return, no statement will be made by the two state banks. An attempt was made to secure a statement from the national banks, but nothing more definite than that they would easily pay out could be obtained. The business men are generally disposed to think this true, but will be seriously embarrassed in the meantime. Small depositors are still very much excited. the aggregate savings of the whole city being tied up indefinitely. According to their last statement the banks' assets are largely in the form of real estate and farm securities, which, though safe, will be slow of realization. Several Sioux City capitalists, who had scattered their deposits among smaller towas, were caught in the crash.
