The evening times., 1899-08-17
A SAILORS WINDFALL.
The Treasury Redeems $500 When
Brown Claimed Only $17J.

u
Brown Claimed Only $17J.
James Brown, of 234 York Street,
Brooklyn, a former sailor in the United
States Navy, has just received from the
Treasury Department nearly $500 that ne
believed that he had blown in" after the
fashion of sailors when they return from
cruise and are given their discharges.
Connected with the restoration of this sum
to Brown is one of the most interesting
stories surrounding the redemption of mu-
tilated money by Uncle Sam.
Early in the present month Acting
Comptroller of Currency Kane received
from New York a package said to contain
greenbaeks and other lawful money 1t
was sent by Brown and seemed to be moth
ing but wad of dirty paper, although the
figures 100, 10, and 20 were noticeable. The
wad was gummed as if with mucilage and
could not be separated without tearing the
alleged bills into fragments. Accompany
ing the package was a letter from Brown
stating that the package represented his
savings while sailor and that he believed
the amount to be SITS. He had carried the
money in a belt around his body
While in Cuba last year, during the
Spanish war, Brown had often
a safe place in which to leave his money,
he wore his belt into the water. AS 4
consequence, the salt water and glue in his
belt had changed his money into the almost
compact wad of dirty paper. The letter
presented such an apparently honest story
that Acting Chief Clerk Shreiner, OF the
Currency Bureau, determined to have
everything possible done to separate the
bills SO that they could be redeemed. One
nf ba lad pkC
task and after soaking the wad with warm
water and working carefully with it she
proudced bills that have an aggregate
value of $3.50. all in lawful money and
which, of course, could be redeemed at its
face value.
AS Sailor Brown, however, only claimed
S115, the bills could not be redeemed for
him without further explanation. One o.
the mutilated bills was S. national bank
note and the others were silver certifi-
safes Treasury notes. etc. After con-
ference with Treasurer Roberts. it was
decided to ask Brown to give better ex-
PLANTATION of the matter and to satisfy the
officials that the money belonged to him.
On being notified, Brown came here i'm
mediately and saw the officials His
story, in substance was that he was d
seaman on the United States gunboat
Petrol until June, 1896, when he was given
his discharge. He received from the pa
master $1,000, the savings of several en-
listments- Saiiorlike, he started out To
have 4 good time, after first placing the
entire amount in his belt. When he
wanted money he would open the belt and
take out bill. but he kept no track o
| his expenses. For two months he had a
rollicking good time. He then re-ehtisted
| in the navy and served until .Jqne. q. oi
| the present year when he was again dis
| charged
The money that he had saved during tbs
! last cruise was also placed in his be. I
and when he reached New York was ii
| good condition and was accepted readily
! but no one would accept any portion, o.
| the gummed wad of money. He therefore
! had sent it on for redemption: Under
date OF August IA (Monday iasD Brown
made an affidavit to his story and he was
| given new bills for the $500 in the gum
med wad. He returned to Brooklyn re
| joicing. or, at least. started in that direc-
ton, when he bade Treasurer Roberts
/ good-by.