The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-14
A MYSTERIOUS BOX.
It Lies Unclaimed and Unopened I'm the
Treasury.

It Lies Unclaimed and Unopened I'm the
Treasury.
A Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Tribune writes In the vaults
OF the treasury department there is a
box which was placed there over thirty
years ago for safe keeping. No one
knows who it belongs to, or what is to
be done with it. 1t has been the sub
ject Of several investigations by officers
OF the treasury department. On vari-
Gus occasions resolutions have been in
troduced in Congress making inquiries,
ETC., as to its value and ownership. But
no satisfactory conclusion has even been
had as to its true history. Its contents
are worth perhaps $4,000 or $4,000.
The box remains in the treasury vaults,
tightly sealed and covered with dust.
No one can touch it unless Congress
passes a resolution to that effect. Sew
eral United States treasurers who have
found the box in their possession, when
taking charge of the Office, have recon-
mended that the articles be sold at auc-
tion and the proceeds given to some
charitable object or monument associa-
tion.
There are several stories told as to the
origin of the box. One is that the con-
tents were present to President Andrew
jackson from the Khedive of Egypt,
and were placed in the patent office,
and atterward placed in the treasury for
safe keeping. Another and probably q
more correct history of the box is found
in a report made by Secretary McCul-
loch in answer to a resolution of the
House of Representatives. His letter is
dated March 10. 1858, and he says:
In answer to your resolution of the
9th inst, inquiring as to the contents of
certain box in the vaults of the treas
ury, sealed with the seal of the patent
office and marked "jewels," an examin
alton has been made by the treasurer
and copy of his report is herewith
submitted. 1t is understood that the
articles are remnants of the objects of
an extensive robbery committed num-
ber of years since at the patent office.
They have been in the treasury vaults
since 1851. | can see no reason for re-
tanning them longer They certainly
subserve no good purpose in their pres
ent condition, and respectfully recon-
mend that they be sold at auction and
the proceeds covered into the treasury.
Respectfully, ETC.,
HUGH MCCULLOCH,
Secretary of the Treasury"
"SIR-In pursuance to your direction
endorsed upon an attested resolution
of the House of Representatives passed
March 8. 1868, have the honor to re-
port that the box in the vaults of the
| treasury, sealed with the seal of the
| patent Office, and marked "iewels." ."
was opened by me in the presence of the
| cashier. There was found therein a
memorandum in writing, of which the
following is correct copy. to wit:
Bottle said to contain altar of roses.
One vial containing pearls.
One vial containing diamonds.
One gold plate-inside hinge of a
snuff. box.
One paper containing gold orna-
ment and u silk tassel belonging to a
necklace.
A paper containing thirteen diamonds
and four pearls.
| Two Jumps of gold.
The vial containing pearls and the
one containing the diamonds are both
sealed and were not opened. | should
judge that the pearls numbered from
200 to 300. They are pretty uniform in
size, being about as large as a small pea,
except two, which are quite large and
pearly formed. The diamonds are
small and about 100 in number. The
two Jumps of gold, if of mint fineness-
and they seem to be-are worth some
what over $500. The altar of roses is
probably worth twice as much. The
diamonds and pearls are, of course,
quite valuable.
Very respectfully,
F. +. SPINNER,
Treasurer of the United States"
The box, of course, is of no earthly
use to any one. If the contents had
been sold and the proceeds placed on in
terest, their value would have more
than doubled itself by this time. 1t is
taken down once year when the treas
ury officials are making an examination
of the Office. 1t is busted, looked over
and placed back on the shelf awaiting
an owner. There is a chance for some
of Andrew Jackson's heirs to have an
act passed by Congress giving them 8
title to its valuable contents.
ugt- a n