The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-02
Lost Articles on Railroad Trains. ana
How They are Recovered.

kOHr ATtttIe<s OH n0ItEOu4i chtN
How They are Recovered.
Few persons, except railroad employees,
have any idea OF the number and variety
Of articles lost by travellers on the trains
during the year, and which find their way
into the receptacle for lost articles at the
terminus OF every road. Most OF them
are but triiles, yet in some cases they are
Of considerable value. In the depots
OF the various railroads there arc depart
mcnts for the preservation OF articles found
on the trains. The Pennsylvania railroad
and its branches have system by which
they return yearly tO owners many Valua-
BILE articles. For example, ut the calvert
station, IN the depOt-masler's quarters, are
receptaccs for lost articles, among which
NAV be noticed most every Kind OF wearing
apparel, toilet articles, books, baskets,
wlips, harness, umbrellas, and even ag-
ricultural implements. Hundreds OF UNI
brelas are found on the trains during the
wear. II costs sometimes almost the value
of an article to recover il. Not long ago a
porter, while cleaning out Northern Gen.
tral railroad coach at Calvert station, iouhd
a dilaDidated narasol, which was taken into
the stOreroOm and put away 10 be called
for. 1t was OF poor quality, and worth
when new about seyeniy-fiyc cents, yet the
owner wrote from Grand Rapids, Michl-
gan, and insisted on having it returned,
although she had to pay S2cXpreSs charges.
A few weeks since one Of the New York
express trains for Washington and the
South had among the passengerStwo young
couples, who sat very near each other.
one lady was in the possession OF very
expensive and beautiful fur muff. AS the
train neers Union depot those who wish to
stop in this city change cars. One couple,
desiring to leave the train, arose from
their seat and proceeded 10 for
ward car, while the posscssor OF inc
muif, who was going to Washington,
placed the article on the seat lately
occupied by The other parties and went TO
look out OF window at the opposite s,de
Of the car. The escort Of the first young
lady looked back to see ii his companion
had LEFT anything, and seeing the muil,
supposed she had forgotten il. lie took 1t
from the seat, and accompanied by the
lady, left the car Just as The train was start
ing. lie handed il to his companion, but
was much surprised when she told him the
muif did not belong TO her. itwas too late
10 return it, as the ears were on their way
to Washington, 80 The young man left
the article at the depot. About IN hour
airerWard a dispatch was received at
the cOmDany's Office from Washington
saving that d muff had been stolen from
the cars OF the express train while stop
ping at Union depot. The dispatch
also gave correct description Of the un-
fortunate and innocent gallant as the cul-
prit. and ordered his arrest and the return
of the article. A few DAYS later the friend
OF the owner of the mu!f came on to Balti-
more, and hearing at the depot the facts in
the case regarding its disappearance, was
much amused, and upon obtaining possess
sion Of il sent it by express to Rochester,
y. Y, the home OF the young lady.
Another case is even more singular
Several wears ago an ordinary-loOking
brown satchel was found on train and
stored away. Two years later the clerk OF
the court OF Prince George county was in
Calvert station awaiting the departure OF u
train to take him home, and happening TO
become acquainted with the depOt-master,
he entered into z conversation with him,
during which he mentioned the loss OF
his sstche, containing some important
legal papers. The depot-master looked
uD the records, ana, seeing a men,
Uranium Oh sAtNHAs
ing been found about the time mentioned,
soon brought il forward. 1t was recog-
nized at once and returned to its owner.
Not long since an elderly gentleman rushed
in the depot and up TO the officer in charge,
and hulriedly inquired where the cars
of certain train were which had just az
rived. He said he had been a passenger
ON the train, and had lot in one OF the
cars very valuable but small roll Of papers.
The ears. which had been placed upon
side track, were found, and two women
were observed sweeping them out. Upon
inouiring OF them il they had seen q
small piece OF paper lying on the floor,
one Of them said ''IeS," and that she had
thrown il into the coal-boX. just at that
moment brakeman entered the ear and
began fixing the fire In the stove. The
dep0t-mastcr told him to look in the box
and sec If he could find the paper the old
gentleman had lost. IL was not in the
coal-box, but Just as The gentlemen were
about leaving the brakeman noticed roll
OF paper sticking 10 the shovel he was
using, and upon unrolling it found
United States bond for several thousand
dollars, which was the valuable paper the
old gentleman was In search o. B0timort
Gazette.