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RUN IS MADE ON GERMAN NATIONAL Little Rock's Big Financial Institution Is Besieged by Thousands of Depositors BIG BANK IS SAFEJ. D. Goldman SSends It One Million Dollars and Tenders Five Million More. Little Rock, Jan. 20.-A run started on the German National Bank, the strongest financial institution in Arkansas, Tuesday just before noon, and, as the hours passed the crowd of eager depositors grew until a line extended into the street. The force of tellers was increased from two to six before the bank closed its doors at midnight. Payment will be resumed Wednesday morning and will continue as long as depositors demand their money. It was estimated hat $50,000 had been paid out during the first days' run. How the run started is a mystery, but the rumor that it started in Argenta is given most credance. The bank officials are making an effort to locate the guilty party, and if found he will be punished as severely as the state laws will permit. According to report, a boilermaker in the Iron Mountain shops applied to the bank for a loan, and was declined, the customary reason, "all funds being required to carry regular customers," being given. The offended mechanic is alleged to have gone to the Argenta shops and remarked that he had been to the German National Bank for money and it was unable to pay him. Argenta has had failures recently, and the of the was remark two bank boilermaker passed from lip to lip until in a short time a stream of humanity was neaued for the bank. As soon as it was evident that a rui. was on, the bank officials added TO the clerical force, and invited depositors in to get their money. They stated that there was plenty of cash on hand to pay all who desired it, and hundreds of red faced women, who had rushed for blocks to reach the banking institution. Shop girls, bootblacks, Mechanics, and varied other small depositors, availed themselves of the opportunity While the bank was in no way embarassed by the run of the small depositors, every other bank in the city tendered assistance, and the bankers mingled with the crowd to assure the frenzied depositors that there was no chance for them to lose their money. J. D. Goldman, the St. Louis cotton financier, who is the president of the institution, was communicated with, and stated that he would immediately start $1,000,000 in cash from St. Louis banks, to assure all depositors their money if they wante.l it. He stated that $5,000,000 would be forthcoming if needed. The first shipment will arrive Wednesday rooming. At the same time the frightened were for savings, many esmall their depositors merchants clamoring were patronizing the rewindow, ceiving of the city depositing thousands faith of dollars, thus showing their in the institution. Several times as much was deposited as was paid out, though there was little fuss about it. One depositor, evidently desiring to assist the bankers, drew $20,000 in cash from another local bank with which he does business, to place it with the German National.
