New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-18

TALK WITH AN OLD POST-OFFICE CLERK
"REMINISCENCES OF A MAN WHOSE FATHER WAS IN
THE POsT-OFFICE BEFORE HIM-CHANGEs WHICH
HAS sem

TALK WITH AN OLD POST-OFFICE CLERK
"REMINISCENCES OF A MAN WHOSE FATHER WAS IN
THE POsr-oFFICE BEFORE HIM-CHANGEs WHICH
HE SEM.
Anyone familiar with the New York Post Onico
or its employees, is either acquainted with or has
heard of Charles Forester, Old Uncle Cballicn
as he is tamiliary called. He is superintendent Of
the city newspaper department, and has been CON
nectcd with the Office for fifty six years
TRIBUNE reporter called Mr.. Forester at his
home in Hcnry-st. n short time ago. Although
over seventy years of age, Mr. ForrcSter's memory
is excellent, and he recollcct the most ninute
details connected with occurrences that happened
half century ago.
| entered the post-ofce as a carrier" said Mr.
Forester, in 1929. My father served in the
postoiiicc from lSOS to 1886. and my son Charlie
was there for twenty years. When | was
appointed, the post-oilicc was in a building
formerly occupied the schoolhouse Of the Collie
gate Dutch church in Garden-st. now EXCHANGE
place. between William and Broad-sts The post
Office was just opposite the old South Dutch Church.
of which the Rev. DIR. Mathews was then the pastor
The schoolhOuse was a one-story frame building
about thirty-two feet long and twenty-five feet
broad. The postmaster at that time was General
Ihcodorus Bailey, gentleman Of the old school
upright and honest in all his dealings Ie lived in
the house adjoining the office. and at about
O'Clock every morning would enter the Office scrupu-
lousy neatly attirod in blue dress coat with brass
buttons. satin vest ruiiled shirt and yellow nan
keen trousers.
"Thc working force of the Office at this time con-
sisted of six clerks, who boarded with the post
master, and obliged to In at their posts at
o'clock in the morning The carriers district ran
from the Battery to about Spring-st The carrier,
received no regular salary but were paid 2 cents
for each letter and cent for each newspaper de-
hYercd. Besides serving very large district they
were Obliged to perform clerical labor before start
ing out liz the morning Their duties became so
onerous that they petitioned Congress for relief
from clerical duties, and Gideon Lee, aftcrWard
Mayor OF tins city, had law passed in lS;}S, which
remains on the statute books to this dav forbid
Then stage-coachcs ran between this city and
Albany, and certain Captain Beach who was re-
putrd to have the best and fastest horses on the
road, had the contract for carrying the mail be-
tween these two points On the arrival Of a mail
coach at the office, in this city, the guard would
blow blast on his horn, and an eager crowd
anxious for letters, would always loudly greet this
welcome sound.
POST, PRESS AND POLITICS.
" In 1927 the post-of1ice was removed to the old
Merchants Exchange Building, situated at the
corner Of Garden and Hanover-sts. The office woo
iii the basement. Postmaster Bailey died soon
after and Samuel l.. Gouverncur, son-in law of
President Monroe, was appointed in his place
During Mr.. Gouverneurs misunderstanding an event
occurred which attracted general attention and
called forth general Indignation General James Wat
son WcDD OF me courier and LnIlPJey cnorUed
the Democratic postmaster with retaining mailed
copies of his Wing Journal. lie procured "A search
warrant and, in company with HIGH Sheriff Oliver
w. Lowndcs, ransacked the post-oliice But not
single paper did he find and he had to acknowlcdyc
lhe baselcssncss of his charge. The whole trouhlc
originated IN this way An employee who mailed
copies of The Courier and Enquirer presented n conv
OF the paper to clerk named Tompkins for for
warding the papers. when he really not obliged
to do so. THIS clerk, who personally known to
General Webb, afterward read the paper in The
streets, and was seen doing by him. he General
at once jumped to the conclusion that his paper WAS
retained. ~
Speaking about editors, there was always n num-
for their mail. There Major Noah of Tbc
Erening Star, Colonel Stone, of The Commercial 1J
rersr, David Hale. of The journal Of Commerce and
others, who would gather around the GLOWING
stove i'll which hickory logs burning TO dis
cusS the questions of the day. Other noted pcr,on-
ages calling for their mail were General Winfield
Scott and James buchanan and the British Consul.
" In 1881 a certain Captain Dodd had the contract
Tor carrying the mails across the North River from
this city to Pauus Hook Jersey City While
III the postoiice day accompanied by his assist
ant, negro named Harvey Jackson, waiting for his
mall the latter cOntrived to steal package con
tanning n large amount of money. The theft was
soon detected, the thief apprchendcd, and sen
fenced TO ten years in State Prison. The theft at
tracted much attention. and Southern Congressman
had law passed forbiddng the employment of
c0lored men to handle the United States mails
his law remained in force for many years till il
was at last repealed through the efforts of Charles