New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
4 VETERAN POSTMAN.
CHARLES \. TYLERS LONG RECORD


has one passenger on several trips every day to
whom the condition of the weather makes
difference Rain or shine are alike to Charles
A. Tyler. the veteran postman. who has carried
the corr, spondence. private and public official
and personal. to and from the Army post every
day since April |, 1850 He is a fine looking
old man. proud If the six service stripes which
decorate his sleeve. and regrets that the law
which permits postman to stripe for
every five years service not passed when
he entered the postal service. IF it had been"
be said. Il should he wearing at least two add-
tonal stripes. Since | made my first delivery
here have carried mail to and from Hancock
Schoiield Howard. Miles. Kruger. Merritt and
Frank and have had talks with all OF them
many times. | remember one day when Gen
eral Hancock introduced me to General Sherman
and said ! the veteran lctter-carrier of the
world General sherman asked me how long
had been in the service. and when told him
he said. That's long time. but beat you by
nine years Well. General sherman is gone
and am still working" and the venerable let
ter-carrier gave a hitch to the heavy bag. which
looked doubly burdensome on his old shoulder.
Mr. Tyler was born October %. ISL in
Greenwich-st.. between Barrow and Christie
phcr SITS His father was one of the deputy
St when Henry Roome. father of Charles
Roome, of the Metropolitan Gas Company.
the head keeper. He carried papers and Served
the news Offices" when he was fourteen years
old and tells with pride that among the papers
which he delivered were Horace Greeey's
"NewY Yorker" The Journal of Commerce."
"Thc Evening Star" Hunts Merchants Maya
zine" and The Protestant Churchman."
he he al n
York and Brooklyn and net many people who
became we'll known throughout the land. But
after | entered the service of the Government
had more opportunities to meet people. l be
came acquainted with Nathaniel T. and Fred
erick a. Tamadge; used TO meet Stephen
Whitney. the father OF William c. Whitney.
Philip Hone. b. Bowditch Blunt. the lifelong
friend Of Henry Clay; Sas Wright and his
sister Fanny. and many OF the people who be-
longed 10 the society Of those days. But
made another acquaintance in the postofce
which played an important part In my life A
fellow clerk introduced me to young woman
who stood on the outside Of the stamp window
when ] duty there. That young woman
became my wife in 1876 and her grandson Is
now clerk in the Registry Department. Of
which ] was one of the original six clerks"
One story brought on another Mr.. Tyler said
that he should always remember one political
meeting which he attended long before he had
vote 1T in $50" he said and Henry
Clay was on visit to New York and was the
guest Of Alderman Benson. Of the Third Ward.
The Alderman lived on Murray st. between
Broadway and Church st. and there were
business houses in Murray-st. in those days.
ihe Wings arranged meeting to take place
III front Of The Alderman's house and invited
The Min Boy TO speak There mus, have been
fifteen hundred persons present. and that was a
pretty good sized crowd for those days. The
niaht VAS dark and the lamps were poor. and
IN order that all might the speaker we got
four torches from the engine house and | was
fortunate enough to be appointed one OF the
torch-bearcrs
"District-AttOrney Blunt made few remarks
and when he introduced Mr.. Clay | lifted my
torch high as ! could so that everybody
might see him. Before he began his talk he
turned round. and laying his hand kindly on
my head asked me 10 step "A little back. as the
smoke went into his face. You may set it down
now that was the proudcst boy in the Third
Ward that night. and I'm proud Of it still"
The veteran was brought to "A realization OF
the fact that h. had grown older and the bur
dcns heavier when he picked up the letter bag
to go on his rounds. He told OF the small let
ter mail that used to come to Governors Is
land. and how il had increased threefold in the
last few months.
Most people feel pleased" he said, with
smile. when their business Increases, but It's
Different when yOu are sovcnty-Gve years old
and your business that Of letter-carrer"
Many people who have known Mr.. Tyler for
years and have watched his faithful service