The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-19
ATTIC FULL OF NAIL.
LETTERS HELD BY MISS MoTTWElLER
AT GEORGETOWN, IND.

on the Floor of the Postonlce Many
Carloads of Mail Matter Found.
Another chapter in the poor conduct
of the postoffice at Georgetown, Floyd
county, Ind, by its late mistress has re-
Gently come to light A letter received
a few days ago at the Office of the postof-
foe inspector in charge, George Holden,
tells the details. Readers will remem.
her that about two years ago complaint
came to the inspectors Office stating
that there was mismanagement of the
postoffice at Georgetown and that it
was believed that not one-tenth of the
mail received there during the previous
wear had been delivered. Postoffice In
spector W. T. Fletcher was detailed to
look into the matter at once. He had no
little trouble in making the investiga-
ton.
The Office for fully 90 years had been
in charge of the Mottweiler family For
nearly ten years old man Mottweiler
was the postmaster, and upon his death,
dozen years ago. his daughter Louisa,
maiden lady we'll in the fifties, sue
oeeded him. She remained in charge I'M
I'll her removal two years ago. The post
office during all these years was located
inal5 story frame house owned by the
Mottweilers. The front part of the house
was devoted to the postoffice, the room
back of this was used as a sleeping
apartment and attached to the rear of
the house was shed used for kitchen.
In the front room the letter boxes were
arranged in an 81" form, leaving a
small square space in front for inquirers
after mail Back of the boxes there had
been hung pieces of dark material to pre-
vent any one gazing into the room.
There was a small sized aperture,
through which the business of the Office
was transacted.
None of the oldest inhabitants of
Georgetown can remember ever having
seen the interior of this Office, except
the slight glimpses that may have been
caught through the wicker window So
it was no wonder that when Inspector
Fletcher demanded admittance it was
refused He showed his credentials, but
Postmistress Mottweiler declined to rec.
ognize them. Seeing that nothing was
to be gained by argument, Inspector
Fletcher said that if he was not admit
ted forthwith he would make forcible
entrance. This had the desired effect.
1t was indeed sight that met his
gaze after he got back of the partition.
On the floor, with scrupulous nicely,
were piled letters to the depth of fully
foot with the appearance of being so
much cordwood. The letters had been
packed tightly as the postmistress for
years had walked thereon in attending
to the wants of the public. On top Of
this at one side Of the room, were bar
rels, boxes and articles of wearing APP
parel, all filled with mail matter. In
spector Fletcher did not like the appear
ance of things by any means, as he did
not relish the idea of taking off his coat
and going to work at asserting the dirty
and musty stuff. He swore in two clerks,
aId they were ordered to take all except
the first class matter and dump it under
the trestle of the Louisville, Evansville
and st. Louis railroad, where the In.
habitants of Georgetown were told to 60
to pick out their mail. AS this made
of the place ordered the stuff burned.
The first class matter was assorted, and
much of it given to the persons to whom
1t was addressed. Many of the addresses
had long ago departed this world, while
in many instances old residents were
given letters sent them years and years
before Long looked for letters from
lovers were found, and the mysterious
fate that had separated such persons
was explained at last but all too late.
One doctor received 257 letters.
On Aug. 10, 1876, @. Jay French,
then superintendent of the Fifth divi-
sion railway mail service, with head
quarters in this city, sent an order to
the Georgetown postoffice to do up and
forward certain package of mail. The
envelope containing the order was found
unopened. Mr.. French is now general
manager of the Bell Telephone COM
pany. with headquarters at Boston. In
all there were about IA carloads of mail
matter that had never been delivered.
Inspector Fletcher was glad on finish
ing his task, as he thought he had. But
1t now turns out, after lapse of two
years, that he had not. This, however,
must not be taken as reflection on
him, as he is considered one of the most
thorough and painstaking officers Of the
country. The letter received at division
headquarters explains itself The letter
was written by John II. Sims, the pres
ent postmaster. The postmaster says
That he pulled nail from door lead
Ing to stairway to garrett above the
Old postoffice and found that place al
most completely filled with undelivered
mail matter that had become moldy.
postmaster Sims says that the sight was
an astonishing one, for there are GER
tainly four wagon loads of mail matter
stored there. He says that he, in COM
pany with Postmaster Clipp and David
nelly and John III. Thombs, the last
TWO being Miss Mottweiler's bondsmen,
visited the place and will endeavor to
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