The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-27
The Old Ark.


OF OLD ODDS AND ENDS-THE PIANOS OF YE
OLDEN TIMES-AN ANCIENT ENGINE AND
CARRIAGE-OLD BOOKS, &C. .....-
One OF the largest gatherings that ever
attended an auction sale in this city was that
in attendance upon the anction at Noah's
Ark Yesterday morning on the occasion OF
the sale of the effects of the late Mr.. Dest-
Ter, late proprietor OF that well-known es-
tablisment. $751;. $3.50
The old building, it will be remembered,
is situated on the extreme end Of Main
street, near the James-River Brewery, over
looking the river, and from the top OF this
quaint old house is presented one OF the
most attractive views of the surrounding
country, and especially of the river, obtaina-
BILE from any other elevated point in this
city. :.
the old place derived the name OF Noah's
Ark on account of the curious collection
within its dusty old boards, and has borne
that name for many years.
Long before the hour appointed for the
sale to commence yesterday, many persons
were on the ground, including number OF
ladies Of this city, and several buyers from
Petersburg, Manchester, aDd elsewhere.
Some were led there more through idle Gu
riosity than through desire to purchase.
The curioSity-seeker and the antiquarian
had an excellent field from which to select
rare articles and relies.
It was curious old sale indeed, and there
were many suggestions as to the best mode
of conducting it. One person suggested
that the most convenient way to dispose OF
the property would be to sell by the acre,
whilst another insisted that it would be bet
ter to sell by the wagon-load. This ques-
|
tioneer, who at 10 O'Clock began to dispose
Of the articles in small lots, and the prices
obtained were better than was at first ex-
pected.
Among the many very rare articles that
will soon be offered for sale is an old family
carriage, said to have been the one used by
President Tyler. It is very much after the
order of the modern French deEigence, and
has blinds to the sides similar TO the inside
blinds used in many Of the houses in the
city, but has the pivots OF the stats at the
edge instead of in the centre, and they work
without rods. The inside of The old carriage
was we'll upholstered, but the effect Of time
upon it is marked, and now it is fast going
10 decay. The carriage and the old fire.
engine. (said to be the first used in Rich
mond) seemed to be the chief attraction.
| The engine appears to be but mere box,
|
twelve inches deep. The machinery is Of
very plain construction, and lies hidden
within, and is worked by two levers eX-
tending from the centre. 1t is stationed
upon four small iron wheels, and weighs
several hundred pounds, and when new
was drawn by hand.
There are also several old pianos in the
Ark OF ancient construction, and, Judging
from the hideous noises made by them Us
they were banged upon by many OF the boys
present, appeared to be horribly out OF
Time. The most striking OF these pianos
was one made by John Broadwood d Son,
Of London, England, makers to the Queen
and Princess; and bears the date OF 1906
seyenty-three years old.
MANY comments were made upon this Gu
rious old instrument. An old man from
| Manchester said he knew that it was the
same one that pealed forth in melodious
tstrs;n the wedding-march for the Father oil
his Country. i 1t Is built upon the same
plan as those Of q much more modern date.
j &. Lone relic Of the past, like the days o!
auld tang sype, it is mouldering to decay,
and soon will be numbered among the
ruins Of the past.
The Ark was closed, and none will be
allowed to enter until the many articles
outside ean be disposed Of. H.. e. :.
There are many useful and valuable arti.
eles inside the Ark. Among them old books
bearing dates from 1920 up to the present
time. Many of them are in fine state Of
preservation, being works upon theology,
\ iaw, science, and philosophy, together with
fnnuuerable text books for schools. There
are numerous other articles OF less note.
| It "a thought by many that 1t will take more
than two months to complete the sale, as IL
consumed that time 10 selling about the
same quantity tcn years ago. Such another
collection Of odds and ends will hardly be