The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-19
A PosrAL-sERvICE EXPERT.

Death of "a Man Whose Work in the Post.
office Department Was Very Valuable.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. ia few months ago
Fl. w. Gurley. who had been for . great many
years chief OF the free delivery sersicerof the
Postofice Department. passed away. On the
morning after his death talked with Mr.. Henry
L. Johnson. who the chief clerk of the
equipment division of the -Postoffcs Depart
mert Mr. johnson said:
81 have seen, during the many years have
been in this department, officials come and GO
Nearly all those who have been honored with
the portfolio of the department in the Cabinet
in the past thirty forty years have been called
70 their last account. There are very few
clerks and employees left Mr.. Gurley was one
of the oldest, and with myself and Judge Law
renson formed trio who seem to have come
down from pa ct generation. suppose it will
be my turn next"
Mr. johnson was hea1thful and hearty man,
to whom disease seemed to be stranger. He
had been in the Postofics Department for thirty
seven years. He was filed with "reminiscences
of the men who have built up the greatest postal
service in the world. He had fund of interest
ing stories of the public men of the ante bellum
period He knew intimately Presidents
Supreme Court judges, members of the Cabinet,
and officials of les ser degree. and his face would
beam out benignly when q visitor called for a
chat with him about men he had known. Mr..
johnson died quite suddenly on Tuesday morn
ing last. johnson has, perhaps. blasted the
hopes of more invento rs of nail supplies than
any other man in the country. He was keen
observer. quick to grasp the usefulness of any
thing presented for the consideration of his
any other man, the advantage and faults of
anything that was offered as addition to the
equipment of the United States mail. At
certain periods it was his duty TO ad-
vertise for new devices in the way
of locks ties pouches and all such parapherna-
liza. Three or four years ago it was propos ed to
secure 3 new system of tying canvas mail -saeks
in which the mails are transmitted to foreign
countries Ons man was positive that he had
invented just the very thing needed. He called
on Mr.. johnson. and showed him his device. Il
consisted in common rope. drawn through
rings and connected to the bag, and sealed in
such manner as to be absolutely safe from pee
the seal. according to the inventor. Mr.. john
son did not want to take the poor fellow down
too rapidly, as he had invested great deal of
time and about all bis money in providing and
patenting his device, and in coming to Washing
ton to secure its adoption. He told him to tie
bag and leave it sealed, and that the departments
would notify him whether or not it would be
adopted. Two weeks afterwards Mr. johnson
deftly removed tho tie from the bag. and with
out in the least disturbing the SEAL inserted il
the sack piece of strawboard about
six inches wide by twelve inches long and
onefourth of an inch thick, on which
was written the word: ..Postoffice
Department" and the date. This was sect back
10 the inventor, and he has never since been
heard from. Mr.. johnson was an expert vito
the lock. He could open almost any contrivance
devised for the safety of the mails by turn Of
the hand. AS q burglar he would have been
eminent success, but he turned his talents to
the benefit of the government, and it 10 doubt
less due 10 his ability in this direction that tho
locks of the United States mails much
better than those employed by any other gov
eminent that Mexico. Cuba, and a number of
other countries have adopted them. Mr.. John
son a man whose place it will be difficult to
fill He had the good will of every ono with
whom be came in contact, except the disap-
pointed inventors They never could under
stand why he was so particular ia minor mat
ters, and many a one has learned to his sorrow
that even shining gold was not key to Mr..
Johrson's heart