Chubb safe, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Beijing
Collection
Identifier
NA03-35
Copyright
© Crown copyright 2011
Notes
University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: NA03-35. From an album (C0 1069/423. CHINA 3. European, American and Japanese troops engaged in putting down Boxer Rebellion, 1900) in The National Archives. Crown copyright image reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England. The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of the information provided. This image may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, UK. Telephone: 020 8392 5225. Fax: 020 8392 5266. Infringement of the above condition may result in legal action. Two months prior to the start of the Siege of the Legations in Peking, the Bank's premises had burned down and the Chubb safe was the only item to survive. When the Siege began, it was decided to move the safe into the Legation. A cart was hired and while Tweed (a young assistant temporarily in charge) whipped on the camel, Brent (the other assistant) ran along behind and picked up the dollars or bullion that fell out of holes made by snipers' bullets. When Guy Hillier, the Peking agent, who was absent in England during the Siege, having treatment for his glaucoma, returned, he wrote to the Chubb Safe Company to congratulate them on a product which had withstood a fire and the Boxers with the contents undisturbed. Source: Frank H.H. King, 'The History of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation', Volume 2, pp.316-7.
Caption in album or on mount
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank safe which went through the fire, and resisted attempts of the Chinese to open; the contents were eventually found intact.
Caption on photograph
83
Location
Material
Paper
Media
Black and white photograph
Repository
The National Archives, London
