New-York tribune., 1878-07-06
the United States Supreme Court celebrated tho hneth
anniversary Of his marriage here yesterday.
TREASURES IN PAWN-SHOPR
CURIOUS PLEDGES UNREDEEMED.

CURIOUS PLEDGES UNREDEEMED.
TESTIMONIALS TO ARMY AND NAVY OFFICERS, PoLI-
TICIANs, PUGTIsTs, OARsNES, FIREMES, OFF,
GERS OF SECRET SOCIETIES AND OTHERS
WILLIAM NJ TwEED's AMEmCUs CLUB BADGE
MICHAEL COBURNs CHAMPION BEiT-JosHUt
WARDS MEDAL-JOHN MORRIssEY's OLD TO-
BACCO-BOX--A CURIOUS FIELD FOR INvEsIIGA
TIoS.
from The HtclIg Tribunal
The pawn-shOps of the city present an IN
teresng field for research by lovers of curoses and
relics. These places unusually full, and contain
large collections Of quaint and interesting objects OF
many kinds and classes. The Of the shops. how
ever, not In a happy mood They complain
that the hard times have a tendency 10 drain them Of
their funds and that only pledges b'ngrcdremed
During the holiday business at the pawn shops
is especially brisk far as receiving pledges II con
cemed The propetors say that persons who rc by no
means destitute and frequent instances those In good
circumstances pawn their jcwery and other valuable
articles order raise money for holiday purposes and
keep appearances in the circles in which they move
In the majority Of the articles paw ned are not
redeemed aud in accordance with the nyarahe custom
among pawn-brokers, after being kept one day over
year. they are disposed OF at public auction.
Most Of the purchases these sales made by class
OF men who make unrcdeemed pledges a speciality ana
who purchase iewclry and silver al about % price OF the
old metal Frequently these articles, when polished re-
veal the owners and many Of them possess pc
cuar interest from the associations connected WIN
them. that often slyerware pledged by
the descendants o. wcllDown families had fallen int"
his hands and had been redeemed at handsome proht
over the original cost had been rcmOdccd and dis
posed OF to dealers Broadway as new ware lhe VIII
dows aud show OF the buyers Of pledges
are now filled with memcnto4, testimonials ana relics
OF all sorts formerly treasured by men prominent IN the
professions in the army the navy. the mercantile marine
politics the drama, and many other fields Of activity.
one Of the most interesting OF uurcdecmcd pledges
now on exhibition identified with the yaor OF one Of
the heroes OF the OF 1872 TT sword of Dana'
Gus steel with solid geld mOuntngs and upon the scao
bard is inscribed on gold plate Presented 10 Captain
Samuel Chester Reid 10y the Legislature of the state OF
Ncw-York" This mark OF honor was awarded for gal
liant defence Of the pryatccr Armstrong at Fayal IN
1911 The presentation took place April Il, lsl3'
Governor Daniel d. Tompkins representing the
state, and Captain John Ferguson acting Tor
Tammany Hall, which gave Captain Reid "a SILVER
tea.sct In 1860, Captnn Reid died In reduced Clfcon
stances and II Is believed that the testimonials were
pawucd after his death The silver service was pug.
chased few years ago, by q son-u law oi Captain Rem
spanish gentleman who disposed NJ cargo Of curo-.
,tis m tie civ NJ a urott of $50 900 When asked ohy
he did not purchase the sword he stat that tnr sous,
who r" stili living Intended 10 buy ut some future
time, aud To retain IL iu the family.
Captain william Jas Murphy. ot this city, Was ih,
former owner OF a solid silver tomahawk which WAS
gin from \ Governor John swan. Of Baltimore; Inc
handle was made out wooden suuil box and cane,
which were helrlooms IN the swan family, Now 'lA'
gtft r. displayed a. AN unrcdccmod pledge.
The New York state Horse Artillery was among The
carly regiments oi Ncw-Nork militia. and n l~2' was
rceurded as one Of the "cack" regiments. At c con-
cuson Of dress parade June !, ot that year. tho OF
hccrs presented 10 tleir Colonel, Henry AleuIarus,
SILVER service appropriately inscribed. The affair trmi-
mated with supper and ball Colonel Arcnoriu- hecnmc
Impoverished. sud hually parted with uls testimonial
service the pieces ~ which have become scattered
pitcher was put pawn and was never ukcn out sur.
yiyors Of the old regiment may take smc,auchoy inter
est ~ looking ON this memorial Oi htiy years ago
The late civil war r. represented among the nm r.
ieemed pledges by watches, medals badges and other
tributes 10 bravery, gold chrouowcrI-laancc watch
valued at $500, was Cit trpm the lc ourc 10 Colo
mel A. ". Taylor, of the ih Regiment y Y T. Nol., ~
1862 II was presented while the regiment was drawn
up al drcs-p parade shortly afteran engagement Ia which
Colonel Taylor exhibited great aantry. The ceremony
took place at suffolk, VA Army badges have found
their way TO the pawn-shOps IN considerable numbers
and represent many divisions of the Arns Of the Poto
mac and T,nucssce Among these badges one awarded
asa prize for locuGg service ny the I'm R"glmeut O
this city 70 sergeant william j. knight badge when
is very elegant In finish and design, was given 10 Adam
schaeler by Lieut,uant-Coone +. A Schiug iu lS73
other reg mental badges show IN what high esteem Com
pauy b, 10th Regiment, held Private William Robertson
and sergeant NEG Stewart.
The mercantile marine is represented among the
pawncd Testimonials which have passed into strangers
hands and which are now exposed 10 public view.
Some Of these are very handsone Ibe most conspcu
ous II a solid gold medal valued at $50, and In
scrbed Presented 70 Daniel r. Caukin., mas.
Ter of the ship Centurion. for rCscuiug seven
men from the British bark Drcmaar, watcrlog gged 20
sea January o, ls50." Il was q gt from Queen Vic.
ora to captain CuulEus. who was master Of hn AlgH'
san pucket and Il must have been pa"ned shortly after
IL WI received, II has not lost itS polish ana look.
fresh ana new silver pitcher With shlNci und -nui,s,
witch was presented 10 Captain Thomas s. Budi by the
passengers of the steamship Union IS worthy Of men
tou. TINS COMMUNICATED hls sklIiel c",cl IuIhE -
pcriou. voyage from NcW-Nork To NcwOrleans In ~5l
There Is no clg4s moro COusliCuuuai} rcpIc-'utcd
among unrcdccmed pledges than poliiicans-inen who
IN the past have been prominent IN Federal ana cN poll
cs These relies Of fallen leaders include every variety
of ucmcut0s and are generally Of The best class Of
workmanship pair ~ heavy gold su@pondcr buckles
man man letters. A massive gold badge little worm
with the National coat ~ arms enamrllcd iu red Witt
and blue has raised letters, special Inspector Uutre
States Treasury Department" handsomely cmbel-
lshed gold badge, Weighing six ounces, shows the owner
70 have been William Walsh sergcaut-at-Atm BOurd
of Aldermen 1870" Another, not quite 80 elaborate, Is
engraved John HOughtal'n, With Counclnanic Dis
,ct sG9 md still another nearly uright when
issuSd 10 the owner Is engraved "NNllIh Disric aid
ermou)" with the Of Its holder erased An elaborate
Amc rlcus Club badge. suOuuted by an eagle In gold
and having tigers head IN the centre cut from agate,
hears the suggestive initials ". NJ. T." and iS believed
10 have once been the property OF william u Tweed,
from whom t probably stolen. silver TOBACCO bOh
of rather antdue STYLE and showing from constant
nae Is engraved with plain letters on top, John Morris
sew champion" The Fire Department Is represented by
silver trumpet claims attention rs having been present
10 Francis Hart, of Empire Fire Company, No H. OF
New York, from committee OF Franklin company, or
Pbilodelpha This testimonial Of the days or the
Voluntrer Department when fraternal visits and nns
were frequent solid 0old badg'. weighing over 100
pennywciChts. presented to James r. Mount, ot
Atlantic Hose Company No TO- lt Is elegantly embossed
and carved and manufactured after an original de-
sign by Ball. Black & Co.. OF this city.
Among the curiosities which have come from the pawn
shOps Ii an old and diapldHted BOlc, worn by age ana
se and now held together by twuc t OF the FIRST
subscription Bibles published In this city and was printed
nj the old Washington Headquarters IN Bowling Green
ON 1yca the signatures Of the subscribers appear.
All were representatives Of the old knickerbOcker
families Another curious relic Is au antique cross
surmOunted by crown studded with small diamond
The back covered with religious inscriptions IN Latin
This l. believed have been at one time the property OF