Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-03
THE DEAD-LETTER OFFICE.

THE DEAD-LETTER OFFICE.
freaks and Eumors of Those Who Use
tho Mails-Tho Museum at tho Dead
Letter Onicc-A Rare and Curious Col
Iection--Droil Franks of Letter Writers.
The greatest attraction to visitors, OF
whom there are hundreds daily, is the
"muscum," where are displayed, in
glass cases, q very large collection of
strange and curious articles that have
been taken from the mails. Few of
those who are accustomed to patroniZc
the post-oflice in the usual way would
believe that many of the articles here
shown could ever have found their way
into the mails, but we have the assur-
ancc of the officials that everything in
the museum was sent, or tried TO be
sent, by post, and we do not feel at lib
erty to doubt their word. Some of
them found permanent resting place
on these shelves by reason of their be-
ing "dead' matter, others because they
exceeded the limit of weight allowed by
law TO be carried in the mails, or for
non-paymcnt of postagc-not enough
or none at all-while many como under
the class of articles excluded by the
regulations of the Department. 1t may
be said, in general way, that the
transmission by mail is prohibited of
anything that is of perishable nature,
or that can iniure other mail matter or
is liable to harm those who handle the
mails. Liquids of every kind, anything
that can produce combustion, loaded
weapons and vegetable and animal mat
ter, except under certain harmless con-
ditions, may be cited rs examples of
the excluded class. No one can fail to
see the necessity of strictly enforcing
these regulations. Doubtless many
packages containing unlawful articles
are daily received and delivered, in all
parts Of the country, but if by any ac-
cident or other means the contents of
such parcels become known they are ut
once taken from the mail and carefully
forwarded to Washington.
A very pleasant lady OF ffty-iive is in
charge Of the museum. She knows the
history of every article, and answers q
thousand questions aday, more OF less.
Our attention is first attracted to
SEVENTEEN SNAKES
of different sorts and sizes, one of them
n rationale between two and three
feet long. Although we have been told
in general way that everything in
sight was taken from the mails, shade
of doubt as TO the snakes involuntarily
crosses our mind and we inquire: Ibid
those reptiles really come in as mail
matterP'
Certainly, they did," she replies.
"That large RATHER and five or six 9TH
ers arrived in one lot, and they were all
alive, too! They were coiled in tin
cans, with holes to let in the air. be-
lieve they were mailed in Florida. OF
course if their contents had been known
they would not have been forwarded.
The big one got out of the can into the
mail pouch, and his loud rafting re-
vcalcd his presence to the man who
was handling the bags. The others
have arrived at different times during
the past three or four years"
The snakes are all picked In alcohol.
II happened that while We were talking
clerk came i'm with n bottle contain
ING small snake that had just been
found in opening dead packages. 1t
was Immediately placed on the shelf be-
side its fellows.
There is also quite large assortment
of tarantulas, ccntipcdes- the boys
in the army used to call Texas bed
fellows'-horned toads, lizards and
scorpions, and several juvenile alliga-
tors, nearly all of which were alive
when they reached Washington. There
are several very fine cards of butterflies
and insects, and an assortment of stuffed
birds and small animals. Near these Is
o very large
HUMAN SKULL
which was mailed 10 doctor in Phila-
delphia, but for some reason Inc refused
TO receive il and il was sent here.
Among other curious things on this
shelf are n cows hoof, o petrifiod hui
man ear, the talons of an eagle, and,
hanging from nail, an old "grip-
sack. On another shelf are several
punches of fire crackers and two boxes
of matches that were all in the same
package, large specimen from the
once famous Modoc lava beds, the in
side works of n clock, and a general
variety of pipes, from the primitive
corn-cob 10 THO mecrschaum. Among
these arc several Indian pipes, very
curiously wrought Noxt to those arc
several tambourines, accordions and
musical instruments of various kinds.
Above these is an almost complete
IIoRsEMAN's OUTFIT,
in ,luding bride, curry-comb and
bu.h, saddle blanket, halter, stir
rups, tenders, riding gloves Sail
except tho saddlo-and o string OF
sleigh bells. Those articles arrived al
different times. There is also a small
iron hitching-post, which was not car
ried to its destination, on account of its
overweight. The other day the Super
jntendent of the Dead Letter Division
was sho3ipg this iron post to a lady
visitor, who was somewhat inctedHlQus,
She could scarcely believe that anybody
would put such u thing into the mail.
He assured her that such was the case,
when she kcd, with q sly twinkle;
"And was the horse hitchcd to IL when
II came hcro?" Alb ut year ago a
dead package was opened and found to
contain 2
REVOLVER, LOADED AND COOKED,
IL was addressed to young woman In
some Western town, and IL supposed 10
have been intended to do her harm.
The package did not find her and In due
time arrived here, no accident, fort.
gnately, resulting from the very dan
gcrous condition Of the weapon. II was
placed In tho museum. and uusuccess-