The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-07
A SINGULAR SALE.
UNCLAIMED GOODS AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE GO
ING BY AUCTION.

UNCLAIMED GOODS AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE Co
ING BY AUCTION.
From year to year 1t happens that vessels COM
ing 10 this port from abroad bring consignments
OF merchandise and Il vast variety of odos and
ends that ind their way into the United States
warehouses, where they lay unclaimed sometimes
lor veral years together Personal effects are
also frequently lett on the hands OF the Custom
House authorities. AT stated times there is u
general auction OF these packages, and among
merchants quite interest Is elt in the sale and
a large attendance may always be expected. The
goods are catalOgued ana the catalogues lib
orally distributed. Each lot is numbered,
the marks ON the outside beng given,
along with description OF the goods
and their foreign Valuation. The valuation,
hSwever, Is no guide 10 the price the articles may
bring AT auction. For instance, a barrel OF wine,
valuation twenty cents gallon, has frequently
brought at the auction sale 81 and IS gallon.
TWO DAYS are allowed Tor an inspection OF the
different commodities. Whoever fails to avail
himself of this privilege and attends the sale In
the hope OF finding a bargain must then trust TO
luck, ike the man buying pig in bag The
auction sale yesterday, at the rooms Nos 95 and
81 Water street. was Largely attended aud went
of with much spirit and with profitable results to
the government, the sale realizing about $50 900.
class and of all branches OF business. Every man
held his catalogue in one hand and pencil In
the other. 1t was
LIVELY PRACTICE
keeping up with the auctioneer, John Ii. Draper,
whose manner OF driving through the sale was
really marvellous in Its rapidity. His voice never
paused an instant for three successive hours, but
ratified along like the wheels OF locomotive
going at the rate Of sixty miles an hour In the
catalogue were articles representing every branch
OF trade, commerce and industry, and from every
cline under heaven. A man of fancy might Sit
down, and, running over the pages or The cata-
logue, lind abundant material Tor any speculation.
Here, under the head OF description OF goods" Is
seen tone ease or shrubbery,n ana In "a llnc with
1t the words mo value.n surely the traveller
who. from the valley OF the Arno exported these
products OF me SOIL OF sunny Italy,
deemed them of some value, at least.
Yet, directly under this, zone cask OF common
clayn has a valuation OF $40. Here Is lood Tor
lection. zone tub Of nshN Is marked OF 'no
valueu while zone keg OF tarr Is lifted into the
Importance OF beng marked 81. Here and there
the eye meets with entries like 1.-TWO Kegs,
empty" and Zone casK, empty" WHAT could
sells from far distant this land OF plentyP
Perhaps TO nave them flied and sent back.
Among other odd imports are lone bag or sweep
ings," mine grindstonesn zone barrel lamp
black" lone Dag ginger" and so on There
are purchasers found Tor everything on
the list Opticians are on hand TO bid
for the cases of steel spectacles, druggists
Tor the cases OF mineral waters, WINE merchants
Tor the wine and ginmill owners 1or the gin and
whskey Painters are present To look alter the
"cgnt cases and two barrels Of palnt;' musical
Instrument makers TO see II the 'hve cases
musical Instruments valued at 5000 can be mad
ut u bargain. There are ''OaleS OF tobacco" lOr
the cigar dealers and cone pail molassesp Tor
the corner grocery men; lone case printed
mattern ior the publishers, ana Two cases
decorated CHINA" Tor the queensware dealers.
There Is something Ior every DOdy-souVenlfs lOr
the curious ana medicine Tor the SICK mats Tor
the hattera and glass ior the glaciers sewing ma