, 1884-08-21
CATS IN BAGS.
The Sale of Unclaimed Pacific Ex-
press Goods Yesterday.
Some of the Developments After
the Packages We're Opened.

The sale of unclaimed Pacific express
matter at Kline's auction rooms ON Six
tenth street yesterday held a large crowd
from 2 o'clock until 7 o'clock. The goods
sold generally for more than their value,
the entire sale netting about one thousand
dollars. Many amusing incidents occurred
during the sale. None of the packages
were opened, and, with the exception of
gun or two, the buyers purchased a ''cat
in a bag each time a sale was made.
The possibility that a package, valise,
or trunk might contain valuables, fired
speculation and added a zest to the bid
ding. The spirit of competition develop
ed a speculative feeling that became con
%tagious, and an old carpet bag, of the
ancient style of distorted proportions, was
sufficient to call out a spirited contest.
None of the goods were delivered until
after the sale, but the revelations then
made were often amusing to everyone but
to the one who had bought a chance in
the lottery or so-called sale.
Two young men pooled their purses and
bought an old trunk worth about thirteen
cents. Excited with %sanguine hopes they
broke open the treasure box, and, at last
accounts, were discussing the possibility of
dividing equally a lot Of east of clothing,
several fossilized socks, a clothes brush and
a bundle of wretchedly written letters of
the style which commence with Il take
my pen in my hand" etc.
A certain gentleman paid 81 for a trunk
which had been expressed C. O. D..
$3.50 He had struck it rich. With a
party of expectant friends and spectators
he broke open his treasure, and became
the owner of mine of bills announcing
the attractions some defunct show pro-
claimed to a trusting people.
A carefully prepared box of large pro-
portions marked C. o. D. S45, was sold
to another Spectator for So. An eager
crowd witnessed the opening of the fort at
Schweickert's store. It contained two
bottles, one of which was broken in open
ing the box. A LABEL on the other bottle
gave directions how to use the medicine
in certain cases ola rather delicate nature.
Mr.. Alexander McGregor purchased,
for Sl.75, a pistol which was so wrapped
in paper that il was bought with a sort of
vague idea that it was a weapon of ordi-
nary value 1t proved to be a powder
and-ball toy which, like the gun Mark
Twain's Arab carried, would not throw as
far nor as accurately as a brick-bat.
A bundle that sold for $3.S o contained
a new orsseoat worth $50 and an old
worn out valise which sold for a song CON
tanned a gold watch, besides a lot of good
clothes. Those were prizes.
One trunk sold for Sl1, another brought
Sl3. so and another went for SIG.
Sheriff Sharpless got sample box of
cigars, and Mr.. Sachs obtained a real trea-
azure. a box directed to Charles Country
man was offered and Mr.. Sachs paid a
good price for it, He is now the bashful
possessor of lot of star fish which long
ago out-lived their usefulness. Mr..
Sachs will be known henceforth as the
ancient mariner. His piscatorial posses
sions are certainly ancient enough to war
rant his title.
A bundle of blotting paper was pounced
upon by A gentleman for 80 50, while a
rich and varied assortment of decidedly
unlaundried underwear, the uses OF
which a lady would understand, was bid
in by a gentleman for 81. 25.
A number of ladies attended the sale
and returned home with arms full Of
plumber which was first cousin to Thompson
door plate.
The express charges on the entire lot
were about one hundred and fifty dollars,
while the.money obtained for the goods
was, as stated, about one thousand dol
lars.
The LADIES annrove of vnur smokinp