New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-02
Missing Mails.

have been made at the postoffice here in re-
lation to letters mailed on the twenty-third
instant for New York city, which had tailed
to reach 'their destinations. For the infor-
nation of persons interested, there is pub
lished below telelekrsphic correspondence
between Postmae ter Parker and the post
master at New York on the subject:
New ORLEANS, November 80, 1876.
Postmaster, New York City:
Have you received evening mail of
twenty.third from this ofice7 Several let
ters reported missing were forwarded by
said mail.
JOHN M. G. PARKER, Postmaster.
John NJ. g. Parker, Postmaster, New Orleans,
Loui4ians:
Your twenty third mail was probably
burnt at PAtuxent Station, Baltimore and
Patomac railway, with baggage car, on tho
morning Of the twenty-six h.
T. L. JAMES, Postmaster.
The Washington Star gives this account
of the catastrophe:
When the train came in from the South.
q very large quantity of express mat
ter, in charge of Mr.. BslleBger.
was transferred from one car to the
baggage, car, and, being pressed for
was loaded promiscuously, while in the
other end was the regular baggage of
the passengere, in charge of Mr.. Peter
Doyle. As the train was few mintues be-
hind time when BDwie was passed it was
going at the rate of forty or forty five miles
Der hour. and Messrs. Bsllenger and Doyle
at the time the fire broke out were both
busy in checking of their baggage and
bills. one at each end of the car. Mr. Doyle
- No 1oA hiv7ov hn
but the oil being low and the lamp smOk-
ing, he supposed that the smell might come
from the lamp. As the train was going up the
grade at Pstuxent Bslleuger called to Doyle
to look to his lamp. and just at that mo-
ment Doyle saw the flames leap up from
the pile Of express matter. In this matter
were quite number of packages of cotton,
not packed, but put up as loosely as pos
sible to improve their appearance as speci-
mems, and these we're but few feet from
the stove. Doyle exclaiming, 'Look, Tom,
the car is on fire." pulled the bell cord to
signal the engineer to stop, and opening
both doors, commenced to throw out the
baggage along the line of the road.
On reaching the station the rest of the
train was cut loose, and the burning car
was run in the SWITCH but the heat was SO
intense that but little assistance could be
afforded the baggage or express agent.
Both of them remained in the car until it
was impossible to remain longer without
danger, and Mr.. Doyle in his efforts to get
heavy block trunk ont of the end door,
had his hands burned.
As stated yesterday twenty-one pieces OF
baggage were saved, but unfortunately
ably all the others combined. The most
valusble of the express mstter-in the three
safes and two "P p" trunks-was saved,
but there were some other very valuable
separate pieces lost.
The mail matter on this train was from
the South, and tor Baltimore, Philadelphia
and New York, and part of that for the two
former places was saved, while the New
York mail was entirely lost. Among the
passengers was Mr.. G. r. Howe, of New
York, travelling salesman of the Wholesale
iewelry house Of Carter. Hawkins & Sloan,
who had been on an extended business trip
West and South, and was on his return.
His trunk was in the baggage car, contain
q valuable set Of samples. estimated to be
worth from &c, 900 to e25, eco, and he oc-
cupied berth in one of the sleeping oars,
unaware of the danger OF his valuablee,
until too late to look after them. Mr..
Howe at once notified his firm, and Mr..
Sloan, the Junior member, came down
yesterday, and, accompanied by Colonel
Joseph Wood, engineer of the rail
road, and Mr.. Howe, visited the scene in
| the hope of recovering some OF the prop
erty. Several pieces of melted metal, ag
gregating in value probably 5000 OF $500.
were recovered. Mr.. Sloan states that he
will probably collect the ashes and debiis
from the immediate vicinity of the fire, and
have it assayed, with view of the possible
recovery of more of the gold. In the mean
time no one is allowed to search in the
debris except the employed of the COM
pany, and watchman is kept constantly
on the spot.