Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-21
LOOK OUT FOR THEIR HAMMER.
Two Well-known Auction Men Form . New
Business Firm.

Two Wel1-known AuctiOu Men Form = New
Business Firm.
The name Of Mark Latimer ID one Of the land.
marks-without any intention to pun-of Wash
ington's auction business. He has for many
and many years been connected with the his
tori: southwest corner of 11th and Pennsyl-
vania avenue. in the building in which The
STAR had its headquarters for long time. The
rusty gilt sign over the door and the sound
of his hearty, incisive voice rafting of goods
of every description have formed an important
part of the trade Of this city ever since the war
Latimer is regarded by men who know as one
OF the best auctioncers in the. country, having
sound voice, quick tongue and a keen
knowledge Of values and of human nature. He
and one Of his associates in tho business that
has been conducted across the street from here
for so long are now about to go ahead IN the
general selling line for themselves. and he is to
be transferred to new place and the merry
voice OF the famous salesman will be heard from
other benches.
The new firm is to be known as Latimer
Sloan, and their new place of business will be
at 1409 G street, where they will continue to
get rid Of all sorts of goods to the highest bid
der. They have made announcement of this
fact for several days past in a notice i'll the
special columns of THE STAR, and they are pro-
crossing so well with their arrangements that
thcy CApcCt W keb W WOIk III tuclF new
quarters before the day they have named. the
LIST OF April. They are going to have an out
mt of voice and skill that will enable them to
sell all sorts of things, s1ch real estate,
stocks, bonds. libraries. interior decorations,
paintings, works of art. furniture and house.
hold effects of every description, general mer-
chandise, horses carriages, &C.. and they will
likewise be qualified to pat appraisements OF
value upon real estate and personal property
for all purposes. This enumeration of their
abilities and lines of work is taken from a neat
circular which they have just issued to their
friends. single phrase from this same docu-
ment might be quoted with good effect: No
goods bought or sold on our own account; only
O strictly legitimate auction and commission
business conducted" This is and has been
the keynote OF the success that has attended
Mark Lstimer in his work on the selling plat
form and this will be the war cry that will
float from the new establishment on street.
There will be special department for the
sale OF horses and carriages at 1881 and 1888 II
street, next to Widdicombes stables. near the
Langham Hotel whore all sorts of good horse
flesh will be reelcd off to the man who pipes
the topmost figure.
Marcus b. Latimer, or, as his very many
friends always call him. Mark" is "a we'll
known figure among Washingtonians. His
short, stout figure, trim and neat. and his
sharp. shrewd and yet good-natuied face, have
become almost as great landmark as the old
building itself, although it must not be sup
posed that Mir Latimer is as old as the build
ing. Yet he is, next to Thomas bowling, the
oldest man In the business i'll this city. He en-
tered it in 1861 with Mcclure Il Co., and six
years afterward. having learned the business
thoroughly. he took advantage of the retire.
ment OF his employers from active business and
formed partnership with Bishop Cooper, Mr.
Latimer being the senior member. Ii was on
the famous corner that they took their stand in
1867, and for some years they drove thriving
trade, largely IN selling old government prop
erty. In 1871 Mr.. Latimers partner died and
under the new name of Latimer 4 Clearly
business was conducted until 1874. when Mr..
Bowling purchased the interests of all con-
cerned and assumed direction Of the business.
Mr. Latimer, however, remained with him.
Mr.. Latimers special forte is the valuation
and sale OF fine works of art. and many a high
grade painting has been knocked down undec
his hammer. He has also on a good many occa
sions conducted the sales of the dead letter col
lections that are annually worked of on the
public as mysteries and many other public
sales.
Mr.. Charles G. Sloan, the junior member of
the new firm, is thirty-three years of age. and
has lived in Washington practically all his life.
Soon after he left school he went into the auc-
ton business as hoy" and in 1875 he went
INTO Mr.. bowling employ in the same capacity.
with the exception Of two years, when he tried
his hand as a wholesale grocer, he has been en-
gagged III this line of work on the old corner.
He has risen through all of the grades that pre-
cede the evolution of the perfect auctioneer
and is today one of the best equipped men for
his work in the city. He is especially strong
III his keen sense OF business and his work lies
mostly on the outside, where he makes trade in
dull times and increases it in good ones He
rs very popular among the young men o. the
city, having for years been a member OF the
old Washington Light Infantry ana now being
prominent member of the Columbia Athletic
Club.