Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-31
L0rrhRY OF oURIoUs pnIzns.
sale OF Accumulated Unclaimed
Goods by tho Adams Eek press Conn


Goods by tho Adams Ex press Com
pauy.
Auctioneer Frank o. Stidham sold be
tween 800 and 400 packages OF unclalmef
goods for the Adams Express Company
Friday night, at Sudham q Sons auction
rooms, No. Ill East Fourth street. Their
has not been a sale OF unclaimed exprea
matter In this city for two years and som,
OF the packages had laid In the express Of
hces for longer time. The goods were
gathered from all over the Peninsula, and
were promi5ouous assortment which In,
ciuded almost everything. There was moi
much OF value and the prices obtained, ii
averaged, would probably be all that the
whole collection was worth,
The goods were piled up behind the
counter wrapped In their original PACK.
ages, and bidding on them was ike buying
lottery ticket with about the same
chances OF luck. There were boxes
punales ana packages OF ali sizss and
Shapes, a trunk, several valises and cabnas
and q few articles without covers. Among
the latter was stringless banjo, a crutch,
the mould board OF pillow and an old
sewing machine.
About 80 men and number OF boys were
present when Auctiopeer Stidham began to
sell. They were mostly working men, AS
the sale progressed others dropped In and
IN an hour the room was full, aud the faces
OF several well-known men, drawn thither
by curiosity, were seen in the crowd. The
low room soon grew hot and fetid and the
good natured auctioneer, VINO had started
fuliy dressed, gradually removed his cuffs
and coat, unbuttoned his vest, united his
necktis, and let the ends OF his collar loose.
The packages were knocked of rapidly and
most purchasers walked home without
opening them.
Agent Samuel F. Belts said that since
they had been advertised a number OF
haA IL
away from the office.
The nrst package sold was a mattress
wrapped In burlap covering. II brought
nv9 cents. The purchaser OF the next paid
10 cents for it,aud when he opened 1t found
lot OF iabAls to put on the ends Of -four
barrels. Another paid 40 cents for lot OF
1887 almanscs, and similar prices were
paid for bundles OF circulars, shipping
cards. tags, 40. A big, black vallse, which
was very heavy, brought 40 cents. The
purchaser at once walked away With IT,
small package, for which 10 cents was
paid. contained q set OF bed castors. An.
other man found printing wheel, and an. |
other black Derby hat In fair Condition. !
which cost him so cents.
Tnere was shouts OF laughter as a |
woman's RED pettteoat was waved by pur. |
chaser, who had paid 20 cents for the |
package. A boy got coat, an old black |
dress and pair of shoes for as cent?.
~NANhAfoA poSAhSu ooAthlucu tulfl, unOtner
wrapping pap r, still another carriage
curtain. well known undertaken found |
In bis package, a new pair of ribbed stock
ings and skirt for a little girl The crutch
Drought 10 eentsi the trunk $110. Tho
purchaser OF the latter, an Italian, lugged
y away with two other bulky packages.
Another valise was knocked down nj I'll
and third one at 80 cents. Book sam
Plies OF paint, oil and other things. bottles
Of mysterious looking and queer smelling
compounds and an infinite variety OF
trash was sold. A boy on OPEN
Ing his package found bottle of medicine
and a letter OF coincidence from the sender
70 his friend.
man bought big package of light
weight, and excttedly opened 1t while the
,rowd looked on. He found dozen sam
1les OF women's straw hats which the boys
u once seized upon and wore. A half dozen
Pieces OF roofing slate, which could bs
zen, brought one cent. A working man
lot a good suit OF clothes for 4l10. He
hought IL was clock. Auctioneer Stidham
Fought In fan at 90 cents. It. turned out
o De nne feather fan OF considerable
'alue. small, but heavy box, was knocked
pen by sleei hammer purchased for 80
ents found to contain four samples OF
sphalt paving blocks. bundle which
ooked ltse framed painting was sold for !
2.lO and found to contain leather.
There was much amusement and many {
urious nndsa as the packages were opened
I'd every one, whether they had the yslus ]
their money or not, took 1t good natir- {
Oily. Very few packages sold for less than .
, cents. The average was from 20 to IS or
oeuts each. q