The Unknown Bank Robber

One of the most unusual bank robberies of the 20th century happened in Skagway, Alaska.

Seems that during a robbery attempt in 1902 a man walked into the bank concealing a gun and several sticks of dynamite under his coat. He told the teller he had them, and the teller ran away from the window in fear.

The robber, wanting to stop the teller, tried to pull the pistol from under his coat. Unfortunately, it got caught and went off, causing the dynamite to explode.

There wasn't enough of him left to identify, so they never found out who he was! His grave in Skagway is marked the "Unknown Man".

Copyright © 1999 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 9, No. 9, 10/99