The Washington times., 1894-08-07
TREASURES OF A LIFETIME.
People Bewailing the Loss Of Articles in
the Knox Fire That Can Never
BE Replaced

Among the many losers of valuables by tht
recent Knox warehouse fire. who stood neal
the ruins yesterday and watched the work
men as they removed the debris. there wa;
none more disconsolate than Rev. DR.. Corey
formerly pastor of Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal Church. II feel" said he to a
TINES representative, las though | had suf-
fered heavy personal bereavement by this
fire. All my books are gone. Not trace Oi
them is left. | do not eXpec, to get anything
of value from the ruins. still am hoping to
get few articles of bric-a-brac that | may
send as souvenirs to my sick wife al Clifton
Springs. \. Y. For twenty-five years / lived
with my books-th hey were rare treasures.
many of which could not be replaced if had
S20. 600 with which to get others. and | had
become as familiar with them as l had with
the faces of my children. There were sets of
works which cost as much as $500 cash. and
the set of Carlyles works alone was worth
5000. The working side of my library was
very often consulted by scholars and / had
more works relating to the Renaissance and
German Reformation periods than there were
on those two subjects in .he Astor library in
New York.
MY loss outside OF my library will be
nearly $4,000, which was invested in fine
dishes. bric-a-brac. and similar articles for
out of all we possessed only few articles OF
silver with some knives and small number
of dishes have been found"
A few feet from where DR.. Corey stood as
he talked to The TINES man was 1Ir NJ. b.
Hatch. He was rejoicing in the fact that a
silver and gold mounted sword belonging to
his father. Gen John P. Hatch. [. $. A., had
been found. Il would rather have recovered
that sword" said he. than to have been pre-
sented with $500. My father was placed on
sl,ar al lfa. in -ha, 30 -
New York. where he now resides. Before
leaving the city he deposited the sword in the
Knox building for safe keeping. 1t was pre-
sented to him by the members of the Fifth
New York and First Vermont Cavalry in 1853
When taken from the debris the end of the
blade had been damaged by the fire and it
and the handle were somewhat disilgured
but the engraving on the hilt was plainly dis
tinguishable, and piece Of Grape that had
been tied on the handle nearly ten years ago
was uniniured. Mr.. Hatch also recovered an
album OF photographs OF Union generals dur
ing the war-a present from the various gem
erals. and one Of which bore the following il
the handwriting Of the late Gen. George b.
Mcclellan: "To Mrs. Hatch from George
B. Mcclellan" The album was ruined. but
the pictures, beyond having been little
dampened by water. were in excellent condi-
ton. Mr.. Hatch also recovered number of
letters written to him by his mother over
twenty years ago and which he priced very
highly.
Capt. J. T. II. Hall, one-armed veteran of
the late war, was made happy by recovering
the service sword which he used while a men,
ber Of the First Long Island Regiment The
sword can be restored to its original cordi-
ton without much difficulty He also recov-
cred small safe and one book-his quarter
masters issue book of 1S64-out of his entire
collection. The safe had not up to last night
been opened so that it is not yet known what
is the condition of the contents.
A large quantity of china and queensware
which had been packed in blankets was taken
out of the ruins yesterday in q good state of
preservation, but somewhat smoked A box
containing pile of baby's blocks, wax doll
a little prayer-book, and several little tin
soldiers was also found.
Many persons are greatly dissatified because
their books and similar articles which have
been taken from the debris from time to time
since the clearing away began are piled up on
an open lot where they are exposed to all
sorts of weather.