Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-09
TREASURY TREASURES.
Some Valuable Articles in Uncle
Sans Strong Box.

Not long ago, says the Washington
Star, there were certain treasures of con
siderable value in the Treasury in the
shape Of articles made of gold and sill
yer and precious stones, which had to be
tho money. Most of these things were
presents which had been made to vari-
ous Presidents of the United States and
to other officers of the government by
foreign powers and potentates, and
which they could not accept on account
Of the existing law forbidding the re-
cepton of such favors. Among them
was bottle of altar of roses, given to
President Grant by the Imaun Of Mus
cat, which held pint of this valuable
fluid; also a bottle of pearls, another
bottle OF diamonds, gold sword scab-
bard, diamond snuff box, ten beauti-
full sabers from Ala Pashi, Bey of Egypt,
and lots of other such trifies.
The patent office was a sort of mu-
scum of curiosities, and these gifts and
other valuables were deposited there. A
large part of them were stolen twice.
aud on the occasion Of the second rob
berry the thieves got away with nearly all
of them that were worth taking. They
secured the bottle of pearls ana the bot
tic of diamonds, as we'll as the diamond
snuff box, the scabbard of the gold
sword and number of medals. Not
even the pint bottle of altar of roses
did they leave behind. A reward Of
81, 500 was offered for the capture of the
goods and the burglars. The latter
were traced to New York where the
treasures were recovered, although the
precious articles of gold and silver had
been melted down, after removing the
gems with which they were set, for
pawning separately. Later on it was
thought desirable to hand over the
whole business to the care CT the Treas
ury, which was done in 1888. The col
lection remained in its hands for some
years. until while ago it was turned
over to the National Museum.
There were some curiosities among
these valuables which are rather difficult
TO account tor. For example two Rio
de la Plate dollars, shotgun with gold
mountings, seven gold coins from ancient
Rome, pair of pistols and gol neck
lace. There were ever so many medals
of all sorts in gold and silver. One box
there was full of diamonds aud pearls,
which had been presented by the EN-
peror of Japan TO President Monroe
The gems were not of the very finest
kind, being intended for the decoration
of sword hilts and purposes of that sort;
but nevertheless they were worth good
deal of money. For years that box of
Jewels gave great annoyance to the Off
cials at the treasury. Every time there
was count of the assets of that institu-
ton President Monroe's cssket would
turn up, and eager Washington cores
pondents with noses preternaturally alert
for news, would send out ali over the
country reports of the discovery in an
FIJI OF 81 precious stones belonging to the
family of Mr.. Monroe. WhereupOn ed
itorials would appear in papers opposed
to the administration condemning this
neglect, and demanding that the treas
ure be turned over to the INDECENT de-
scendants of the author of the famous
doctrine. Between whites charges would
be printed to the effect that the pearls
and diamonds in question, having been
unheard of for some time, had presum-
ably been distributed among the heelers
of'the wicked party in power Congress
never passed an act permitting Mr. Mon
roe to accept the gift in question, and SO
it was transferred to the National MI
scum, together with the rest.
There were other valuables also given
into the hands of the treasury which
were captured aud confscated during, the
war. Among them were 24O watches,
eiphtv-five chains. eleven rings, six
lockets, one bracelet and one pair OF
,compasses. Most of these were secured
at one haul from the person of southern
banker, with whom they had been de-
posted for safe-keeping. He fed with
them on his D, rson and was so unfor-
tunate as to be caught.