New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09

York office He was born on October 2S 1872. and
on October 90 he will have completed a period OF
fifty years OF continuous service In New York's Of
fee He Is still; hale and hearty except for frequent
attacks OF rheumatism. and as regularly as the sun
rises and sets he makes three daily trips with his
mailbag TO Governors Island. which has been his
route for fifteen years.
AN EARLY START
"Old Charlie" first delivered mail when he
a youth of fourteen years. The Postofiice was then
in City Hall Park. at Centre-st His father was
clerk in the office but eight years later the son be-
came carrier. Mr.. Tyler tells the story Of his
first years in poaofiice work in these words
yes ! guess ! am about old any OF them.
] have been the road. as the drummers say. for
about hfty-hve years. and during fifty years have
given all OF my time 10 postoffce work When |
was lad | used TO deliver newspapers and maya
zines for the publishers. I remember delivering
Noahs Evening star The Christian Advocate and
Journal The Home Journal Hunts Magazine
and others. most OF which are no longer Issued
tried to get appointment from Horace Greeley az
one OF The Trbunes carriers. but didn't succeed.
All the carriers liked The Tribune pretty we'll and
they tried so hard to do their work In good shape
that there was no vacancy for me. Horace Greeley
was a good friend OF mine from the time first net
him until he died. and he was always ready to dc
anything he could for me. ! think 1t was his rec
ommendatlon that helped more than anything
else to get my first appointment In the Posoffice.
never priced any gift more highly than copy OF
the first issue OF The Tribune. which my father once
gave
II began work on October 90 1915. as an assistant
carrier under my father. He and were the only
carriers in our district. which was bounded by the
City Hall Broadway the Bowery and Grand-st
There are nearly nfty carriers In this same
territory The postmen represented nearly every
calling that was then known There were In the
clor arfIgt aCfO ar
took I'D the work to get the exercise. Robert H.
Morris. who once Recorder. was postmaster
when began He always ready TO take on his
and help us out in rush. Among my COM
panions in the carrying department were Frederick
r. Spencer. a well-known insrumentalist and band
leader: Captain Cairns. OF the Independence Guard
Jackson an old time Bowery actor. who made one
Of tho best Shyocks the stage, and Bou-
vier. artist. z
81 was an assistant carrier until 1S.a. when the
discovery OF gold In California allured many Of the
employees In the Office to the Pacific Coast, and I
was appointed to a vacancy an inside assist
ant. Between 1si9 and 1880 held fifteen different
places some OF which In the office but most
of them carrier on various routes In the
early days we received two cents on every letter
and newspaper we delivered and the Government
received the same amount. 1t never occurred TO
people that four cents was big price to pay. The
carriers who had the downtown business routes
often made from so to sl2 day from the two-cent
collections. They allowed 10 sell stamps and
received per cent commission Deliveries did not
extend much beyond Twenty-ffth-st Routes were
then called districts. and at one time there were
only twenty-three carriers for all New-Yorf. But
each carrier the work increased was assisted by
two or three subordinates Before the sub stations
were established the carriers met their assistants
at drugstores and gave them their mall for dellv-
cry"
WARTIME EXPERIENCES
There is little variety in the life Of etter-carrier
but Mr. Tyler has had a few interesting expert
ences mo, did not enlist in the Union Army"
said he. but before the over had con-
| ributed my part to the restoring OF peace right
here in New-York During the duty
in what was then the Fifth Ward. When the draft
riots broke out in 1863 compelled to shout
der Springfield rifles 10 help defend the Office
against the mob. Seven different incendiary fires
started by the mob could be from the roof of
the Postofiice Building. Two Of our number were
killed and others wounded. The way the pistol
balls and slungshots whizzed around our heads
showed that the rioters In dead earnest
fortunately escaped the danger Of those dreadful
nights with no injury serious than wound
my wrist"
I The veteran has a vivid remembrance Of the re-
mova from the old church edihce where ne had
toed thirty years 10 the present building. On Au-
gust %. 1875. the carriers department was moved
AT O'Clock IN the afternoon the carriers marched
ont OF the old place with their bags slung across
their shoulders and passed around the building sing
ing Aud Lang Syne"
Fourteen posmasters nave been IN Office since
Mr.. Tyler began his work and he can tell Interest
ing anecdotes about each OF them. When Isaac y
Fowler was postmaster his office In the old Dutch
Church In Nassau-st. was the rendezvous Of The
Nations biggest politicians. stephen A. Douglas IRE
quently paid his respects to Mr.. Fowler. After Mr.
Fowler had been accused OF defalcaton and had
siyen his attention 10 silver mining IN Mexico he
offered the veteran carrier place In his mine tina,
Mr.. Tyler remained true 10 his first love. II Gen
era Hancock had been placed ia the Presidential
chair In 1850. Mr. Tyler might have received good
appointment. Ia 1850 General Hancock who wa.
the Commander !n-chef OF the Atlantic Division OF
the United States Army, made an application FOL
the appointment OF carrier TO take the mail q
Governors Island. and Charlie" was selected fol
the route In addition TO stacks OF letters Genera
Hancock would receive by every mail copies OF
many newspapers. BY his faithfulness and patience