First National Bank of Southern Oregon

Episode Information

Episode UID: 96005871252
Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: private
Bank ID: 9600587 routing
Routing Number: 96-0058
Start Date: April 7, 1904
Location: Grants Pass, Oregon (42.439, -123.328)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest: 5d973a58eba023d1

Response Measures

None

Description

Run triggered by deliberately spread false telephone messages; perpetrators suspected to be local saloon element.

Events (1)

1. April 7, 1904 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: Telephone messages falsely claiming the bank had lost $40,000 were sent to nearby towns urging depositors to withdraw funds.
Random Run: Yes
Random Run Snippet: Telephone messages falsely claimed bank lost $40,000; warned depositors to withdraw
Measures: Published certified statement showing ample reserves and rebutting the false reports.
Newspaper Excerpt: An attempt was made this week to precipitate a run on the First National bank of this city.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. April 7, 1904 Rogue River Courier Grants Pass, OR

Article from Rogue River Courier, April 7, 1904

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Article Text

RUN ON THE 1ST NATIONAL Attempt to Break.the Bank Cre ated Little Excitement. An attempt was made this week to precipitate a run on the First National bank of this city. The effort was a failure most lamentable (to the promoters of the run. Little excitement was created. Funds were withdrawn to the extent of $1600. According to the bank's certified statement, published in another column, a withdrawal of nearly $130,000 could be met before drawing on the reserve funds. It will be seen, therefore that the bank was not greatly embarrassed in this case. The "run" was started by telephone messages sent out from Grants Pass and the attempt is credited to a certain element among the sailoon men, as a blow a! Mayor Gilkey, cashier of the bank. The hostility to the mayor is by no means general among the saloon men, though there is an element which his firm stand in the enforcement of the city laws has antagonized. Telephone messages were sent out to all the nearby towns in every direction, stating that the bank had lost $40,000 and warning depositors to withdraw their money, saying that the financial condition was precarious. Business men in Grants Pass received similar warnings. Though the attempted 'run" caused a little money to be withdrawn, the bank's accounts the next day following the attempt showed that the deposits of the same period excelled the withdrawals by $5000. It appears to have been a cold blooded and malicious, though. futile scheme to wreck the bank and if the guilty parities are apprehended they will probably discover that the results of the "run" are serious in a far difference manner from their original d anticipation.