The morning call., 1894-08-19
GRABBED BY BOYS.
Youngsters Carry Off the
Box of CuriOs.
Wnat Was Found in the Corner
stone of an Old Engine
House.

An old lead box and a few dollars in
coin have caused great amount of COM
ment In the past few DAYS among people
OF ali classes, sizes and descriptions resid-
ing anywhere in the vicinity of the old
tre-engine house on Sixteenth street, near
Valencia. 10 fact, the whole neighbor-
hood was thrown into a state of excite
ment such as it has never before expert
enced since the Sullivan-Corbettt fight.
A gang of men has been tearing down
the old hOsehouse during the past week,
and the moment the first brick was
loosened some aged resid ent circulated the
report that there was box In the corner
stone which secreted great nuggets OF
gold, old papers and other curios.
The discussion of This mysterious box
became so intense that It attracted the al
tention Of Second Assistant Chief Ken
Dard OF the Fire Department, who mas
charge of the tearing down of the build
ing.
MIR. Kennard had heard so much about
the box that his curiosity was aroused To
the highest pitch, and in order to deter
mine where it was and what it contained
he directed the men who were removing
the bricks TO be on the lockout for it. No
one seemed to know just where il was To-
Gated, and so every one held different
opinion. 1t was unearthed yesterday,
however, and Mr.. KennaId was sum-
mOned by telephone TO appear at the hose
house at once. When he arrived he found
the cornerstone. but the cap-stone had
been removed and the box taken. One of
the bystanders stated that he saw two
boys carry the box away with its contents
lie Immediately dispatched two men in
search of the Youngsters. and after an
hours hunt they were found. All of the
money was recovered except a 1O-cent
piece. which had gone for two packages
of cigarettes.
Mr.. kennard undertook to recover the
piece of money, as il was a c1rio in its
way, but the merchant had given it out
with other change.
The fireman feels quite confident that
he has recovered all OF the contents, as
gentleman who was present at the laying
of the cornerstone assures him that SIS
was about all the coin that was placed In
the box.
When the finder, Tot" Kelly, was first
asked to give his version OF The discovery
hs looked up with a rather "look out or |
will smash you one" expression on his
face, and asked. Are We detective. or is
it news ye are after"
When informed that it was only little
newspaper information that was desired
Tots" fHce assumed a more human eX-
preston and he continued: Me aud NV
chum, 'Bullhead,' were up TO the hose
house last night and an old duck stood
looking at de brick. He said if We boys
will raise up that big rock yes will find
lot of money. So we did. but de dust we
found didn't ray US for our time. | guess
dere was a couple of iwO-bit and fOur-bit
pieces. Anyhow l gives them all up TO
old KennArd. Now you have all | know
about dat box" and "Toi" hurried away
to meet his chum "Bullhead.'
The box was seen al tie old City Hall
yesterday afternoon. 1t was made of lead.
On the cover was stamped the number
"l3' in laTge-sZed characters. The fol-
lowing monogram was roughly scratched
on the inside of the lid: - ohm c. COrbett,
second assistant, 13." The contents con-
sisted of a SIS gold piece, dated 1854; two
25-cent pieces, one was coined in 1885, the
other "a; two hall dollars. which bore the
dates of 80 and "a; two scent pieces. one
made lie the year 80 and the other in "a
one great large copper cent, which was
coined in 'j3, and a 10-cent piece which
Tot" Kelly spent for cigarettes. The
total amounted to ST II. majority of
the pieces looked as IL they were fresh
from the mint.
1t Is thought that there were some papers
put In with the money, but IL there were
the air, which freely circulated through
the box. had destroyed them.
The Exempt Firemen's Association
claim this little old curiosity box and its
contents, and they will be placed among
the other relics of the association.