Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-03-13
CEIARREED TREASURES.

1t Will De TeiDSlDUtIeu, say 81 w ASH
ington letter writer, that about four or
five weeks ago a northern express car
was burned near Washington. The
Government alone had s5,750,O0O in
it and the private property amounted
to nearly half as much, including Jewel
ry-enough to ill seven safes.
Up in one of the sunny, well light
ened rooms OF the Treasury Depart
ment, four ladies from the Treasurer 5
office are at work on the charred traS-
ures, and their process is one of the
most interesting features OF the service.
All the safes were transferred from the
cars to the Treasury, and committee
were selected from those most expert
at such work First the privates safes
were opened, and in these were found
about 100000 worth of diamonds. 4
hundred watches, old gold and silver
coins, and-aaS for the course OF true
love-a package of love letters and 4
tress OF pretty brown hair. Picking
ont the valuableS was comparatively
easy work, for though many of the
stones had fallen from their settings 1t
was not hard TO find them. The gold
was blackened.
Jewels and watches were returned to
the express company. The letters
were not read, though they presented q
great temptation to some members Oi
the committee. They AID the curley
lock were sent together to the Dead
Letter Office, where they will be burn
ed. Perhaps it was all for the best;
they may have been returned in the
heat Of a lovers quarrel, which now
will have time TO cool.
The money in the Government safes
is so charred that ut 4 breath it crum-
bles; and yet it is expected that four
ftths of it will be deciphered. Each
little shriyelpiecc is detached with 4
thin knife and laid on rough blot,ing
paper. There the ladies' examine 1t
with magnifying glasses, and after de
ciphering as much rs possible they
paste it, face up, on strip OF thin pa
per; and so, bit by bit, 4 whole note Is
pieccd out. 1t is such trying exercise
for the ewes those engaged i'll 1t can
work only three hours at time and on
bright days. The trust reposed IN
them is great, for the money Is dcIlr-
cred directly to them, and remittance
made OH their reports without further
questioning After the terrible fire OF
October, 1871, Chicago sent 2O3 cases
of burnt money, ageregating, at owner s
valuation, Sl64,997,9S. 1t came in
sheets, in bundles, in tiny packages
rump}ed and crushed rs careless hands
had pushed them into side pockets or
purses. Each little parole was was
swathed in cotton as carefully rs II 1t
were the most precious jeweiry, aud rs
the black, brittle packages were unroll-
ed it seemed really impossible that any
thinr could be made Of such cinders.
Yet ont of that Sl64, 4,997,9S, Sl26,14l, |,
33 was redeemed and returned TO the
owners OF banks. Boston profted by
Chicago's experience, and packed hei
burnt money so carefully that nearly
all of it was redeemed, Eighty-thret
cases, containing SSS,Sl2 80, came
from Boston, and $SS,2O0 90 were re
turned to her, besides number OF
policies, notes, bills and othe valuable
papers. The most skilful person on
this committee is lady who has had
much experience in such work; Once
she dcciphered SlS5,oOo out of 5000
600 that had been in the hold OF 4
burned ship for three years, aud Adams
Express Company, which was RESPONSE
bic for the amount, gave her 500 III
acknowledgment for her services.