The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1891-08-11
UNCLE SAINTS TREASURES.
How They Arc Secured Against
Pilfering Fingers.
Che Vast Riches of tho National MUSEUM,
Apparently at the Mercy of
Thieves, Yet Perfectly
Safe.

SdoCS nCd1 Ollc lllttlll Gtibl UNIV VI O4lN
National museum dream that any
material protection CARDS them from
burglarious and predatory paws, save
that watch is. kept as a matter OF
course by persons in charge, says the
Washington Star. Gold and silver By
the hundred weight are there exposed
to view, while the intrinsic and his
torical value of the exhibits mounts
up into the millions. Yet all is open,
with only thin sheets of crystal be-
tween the avaricious visitor and this
precious property of the American peo-
pie
Let the would-be robber try it then;
let him wait, and, when he is perfectly
certain the guard is not looking, lay
hands on SO much as one small copper
penny of historic date exposed behind
the glass. Lol an alarm rings through
the building, and from all sides the at
PENDANTS flock to the rescue. The
thief learns, too late for profitable in
formation, that each copper, silver, or
gold piece in every case has a separate
attachment to the burglar alarm in the
building. The accessibility of the cost
ly objects is only apparent; the entire
police of Washington is guarding them
day and night.
The United States cannot afford to
have these things stolen. Among The
treasures the museum contains of great
intrinsic value are the presents made to
Gen. Grant while he was abroad
Among them are three large casl1ets of
solid gold, each as big as an ordinary
four-pound confectionery box and very
massive, which were given by London,
Ayr and Glasgow, containing the free
dom of those cities. Besides these there
are four other boxes of solid silver.
very massive. One of the most valuable
of these gifts was a set of jade orna-
ments-a material much priced in China
which, being carved from such large
pieces, are worth many thousands of
dollars. They were presented by
Prince Kung. Gold cigar-cases and
knives are merely incidental, but a
most interesting and precious relic is
gold card of invitation sent to Gen.
Grant by friends in San Francisco in a
silver envelope with his address on the /
outside, an ordinary two-cent stamp af-
fixed, and request engraved upon the
envelope that the missive should be re-
turned to the sender if not delivered in
ten days. The invitation was to the
most superb ball ever given on the
Pacific coast, and Gen. Grant attended. |
But in addition to the Grant presents,
these glass cases at the museum hold |
ever SO many other treasures of value.
There are great number of gold-hilted |
swords, with solid gold scabbards.
Two of them were given to Gen.
Shields by the states of South Carolina
Ind Illinois, respectively, Ior services IN
he Mexican war. Others are mounted
With diamonds and studded with rubies
md other precious stones. Congress
Fought the two swords from Gen.
Shields family for ten thousand dollars.
golden scimitar, given by the emper-
II of Morocco to Thomas jefferson, is
ne of the most precious relics. Another
S a gold box, set with initials in dia-
bonds, presented to Francis, the inven-
or of the life-saving car, by Napoleon
III. One car after his model, which
aved two hundred men, women and
hildren from single wreck, is on ex-
ibitiop at the museum. With the box
J displayed a gold medal worth five {
thousand dollars, presented to Francis ;
y the congress of the United States. +
lso there is a reproduction in fac-sim- 7
e of the celebrated plate of solid gold, Z
nearly four pounds, which !
as dug up in Rome in the year 21O A. I
:, with sixteen golden coins set around t
S margin of different emperors. The +
'iginal of this plate was stolen from |
le Louvre in Paris, and was subse- n
lently fshed out of the Seine, into G
hich the thieves had thrown it. A +
election of japanese. gold coins in Il
uded in the same assemblage of Curl Y
titles has valuation of many thou b
nd dollars. There are in addition a
irnerous gold medals granted to the G.
institution and to the fish Ii
mmission. Besides, there are ever so ii
any presents of great value given by S
reign powers and poteDtates to presi- t,
nts of the United States and other of Iy
ials of this country, which by law a
ey were not permitted to accept.
nong these last We're q bottle of dia-
)ndS and bottle OF pearls, which are
t displayed in the collection of gems p
the museum. 81
)nce in two or three years the treas o
IS of the museum in the shape of S;
Id, silver and jewels are cleaned. The ri
Id objects, ineloscd as they are in A
ses almost air-tight, need very little Il
iching up. In the collection Of rare b
ms are some very extraordinary Curl "
ties. Among them is an original W
yptian silver piece with the head of N
opatra on one side and that of Marc ii
tony on the other. There arc also CT
'cimens of all the moneys mentioned la
the Bible, including the widows re
-e, y worth half farthing, of Judea, III
silver Roman tribute penny val m
at ten cents, the shekel of Jerusa- A
/, and the tetradrachm of Sidon and Pl