The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-16
EXPIRED EPISTLES.
Interesting Statements and Stories
Concerning the Epistolary
Morgue at Wash
ington.
ROMANCE AND REALITY.

ROMANCE AND REALITY.
SECRETS OF THE DEAD LETTER oFFICE-ITs
HUMoRs AND IT'S soRRows-woRKINes OF
THE OFFICE.
A special correspondent of the Chicago
Inter-Ocean, writing from Washington, let's
little light in upon the
mysteries OF the dead letter Office:
The reports of the last year show that the
dead letter Office handled 1900, 900 dead lei
ters. Frequently after being sent to several
different postoffices, and being returned
each time with information regarding the
writer, the letter with its valuable, or in
\ valuable, it may be, contents, finally reaches
lis nomadic writer. Letters have been
known TO travel around year
or more in this way. When the
writer is found, the receipt is returned with
his signature; the fact is recorded on the
books with the other record. Often it hap
pens that neither the writer nor the person
to whom a letter containing money is ad-
dressed can be found, and in this case, after
a reasonable search, the letter is numbered
and filed, and the money is deposited in the
United States treasury TO the account of the
dead letter office, from which it can be re-
claimed by the sender any time within four
years, providing satisfactory evidence can
be shown that the claimant is entitled TO the
| same. After four years, an act of congress
only can restore it to its original p0Ssessor.
The same Is done with checks, drafts, bills
of exchange and commercial paper OF this
character, although these are more easily
traceable because of the signatures, indorse-
menis, etc. Very frequently large sums of
money are found to have strsyed into this
"pOund" for Migrants, almost always be-
cause of
THE CARELEssNEss OF THE SENDER.
The other dsy check for $40, 900 was found
in a partially directed envelope. The
drawer of the check was easily known from
his signature and the letter-head used, and
he has receipted for his valuable Enclosure,
| il is to be hoped, by this time. Several
months ago check for S25, 900, drawn to
bearer, came to light when an unstamped
| envelope was opened, but the owner was
easily found. The largest piece OF com
mercial paper ever known to come into the
dead letter office was bill of exchange from
a San Francisco bank on a Chicago bank for
about S3,000000. This was in 1878, and il
will be noticed that the value of the dead
letters that year was somewhat larger than
it ever was before. But perhaps the most
remarkable incident in the history of the
dead letter service occurred the other dav.
There lives in Brooklyn an eminent clergy
man, whose name has been very promi-
nently before the public for the last year.
This clergyman has wealthy friend in the
w 6sO. LIS wealthy Odu OeCdslO0 To
Gently to SEM the prominent Clergy
man some money, whether q
donation, or a loan, or as the
payment of a debt, could not ascer-
tain, but he sent it in the form of a draft,
payable to the prominent clergyman
order, and enclosed it in very friendly
letter. Singularly, he forgot to put on the
usual stamp, and the friendly letter, with
its remarkable enclosure, came to the dead
.etter office. One of the clerks into whose
hands 1t came, is an ardent admire If the
prominent clergyman, and swear by the
Inter Oceans defense of him in recent
attempt to destroy his reputation and ruin
bis usefulness. At the instance of this
clerk the letter did not take the usual
course of being sent with circular through
the Brooklyn postmaster, but was enclosed
with an explanatory note to the BROOKLYN
pastor, who has written from his temporary
resort in the mountains polite and CRATE
tul acknowledgment.
THE PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
is quite as curious as any, but the young
man who has the duty of opening the
numberless packages that come into his
| hands must have his curiosity very much
bluuted by this time. Every package is re-
corded, as is the case in the other branches
with the names of the sender and intended
receiver, If possible the contents, etc. etc
agiDable article comes 10 the surface in theii
Investigations. All liquids, all imham ole
or explosive substances, or articles of any
character that can in any way injuTe those
with whom they come in contact, or amsgeo
other articles that may be with them in the
msil bag or elsewhere, are what are
called unavailable, and are always destroyed
Also, all improper books, pictures or a,
ticles of any kind. There is large cabinet
OF these curiosiLies OF the mails kept on ex
hibition in the dead-letter Office, and its con-
tents are worth an examination. There are
several snakes preserved in alcohol that
were taken alive from the mails, grasshopperS
and potato bugs, frogs and horned toads, liz
ards and reptiles of all sorts. These were
being mailed from the West to some German
paid, they came into the dead-letter Office
where their contraband character was dis
covered. There is an old-fashioned apple
parer, which is historical for having come
into the postofice under the frank OF Con
gresham Plstt several years ago. Jew
eiry is abundant. Several hand
some gold watches are on exhi.
bition, diamond ring, priced by an exper
at 5000, and other varieties of jewelry to
large extent. Perhaps there is more o
, jewelry than of any other single class
There is a bottle of holy water, a lump o
opium weighing eleven ounces, and variou
f other drugs. Fancy work of all character
false hair, undergarments, gloves, wells
neckties, ribbons, stockings. etc, too nu
merous for description. A bushel or NOR,
| of valentines and specimen letters and en-
velopes to show the tchirography and styl
! of some Of our countrymen and country
i. women. One envelope in
PARTICULAR Is WORTHY OF ATTENTION
: 1t is illustrated in water colors, and iron
! the letter 1t contained, an interprets
ion of the following design was found
SAMPLE ENVELOPE.