The Washington times., 1901-08-04
WAITS OF THE MAIL BAGS.
Some of the CuriOsities of the Dead
Letter Office.
Remarkable Articles Adorning the
Shelves of n Unique Museum-Per-
ills of the Employees of the Or
fice-A True RnttIesnnke story.


fce-A True RattIesnnke story.
1t would be interesting TO know IL
any of the strange waits of the man
usually to be seen in the museum of
the Dead Letter Office on the second
floor of the City Postoffice Building,
but now sent in large part to the Ex-
position at Buffalo, have been recog-
nized by their senders, who might, con-
ceivabIy, be among the many thou
sands who visit the great fair from all
parts of the country. 1t is remark
able fact that no claim has so far been
made to any of the curiosities in the
Dead Letter Office museum. Many a
strange story, perhaps, clings around
some of the things received through the
mail which have never reached their
intended destination. When the Dead
Letter Office was located in the bsild-
ing now occupied by the Civil Service
Commission the bridge connecting that
structure with the then postofiice was
known as the Bridge of Signs, be-
cause over it passed all the letters
-ilat never came
received by the Postoffice was a per-
forated tin can containing three rattle
snakes alive and in active conditlon.
Upon their receipt the superintendent
sent to the Smithsonian Institution Tor
someone accustomed to handling rep
tiles to come and chloroform them. Inc
operation was performeG successfully
as was thought, and the dead snakes
left in the open can uNder the super
intendent's desk Two days later
lady happened to be standing near
talking to the superintendent
when she heard a peculiar sound
which she somehow associated with
danger. She turned her eyes to the
spot from where the sound proceeded
and started in terror as she saw rat
tlesnake coiled ready to spring. \ car
rier who CHANGED to be just entering
the room, with some presence of mind,
threw his full mail pouch upon the
snake and trampled upon it until some
one appeared with poker and put an
effectual quietus to the reptile, which,
with its two companions, was put into
a Jar of alcohol and upon the shelves
of the museum.
The clerks who open the packages
received by the Office have to exercise
q large degree OF caution, as bombs
and Internal machines are often sent
through the mail. Among the grue-
some objects to be seen in the museum
are skull, fingers, toes, and an ear.
all human. Whether these came as an
earnest that crime had been accom-
plished, a CHASTITY hoax, or whether
they were gifts sent an impecunious
medical student. will probably remain
forever a mystery.
The strangest variety ais1 incongru-
itv is to be noticed among the exhibits
of the museum, thus giving the later
quite unique character The motley
collection embraces shirts, teeth.
skulls, starfish, lamps, medicine, Chi
nese coins. eggs, dogs. bucksaw,
box of geological specimens, lemon
squeezer. candle snufers. bootjacks of
various sizes, miniature Chinese junk.
fans. hair flowers, stuffed birds, horned
toads from California, hand mirrors.
birds nests. models of Indian canoes,
a miniature skeleton, toy gondola
made in Venice, shells, watches, cheap
jewelry of all sorts, sets of false teeth.
door plates. valentines. painted fungi.
toys, ieweled daggers, and letter en-
dorsed, IF not delivered in thirty
years. return 10 Farallone Island"
A considerable amount of fanciful
If somewhat eccentric taste is dis
played in many of the articles on the
museum shelves. There is an orna-
mental alligator carry gaudy para
sol, and beside this geological curiosity
a little clay doll. There are several
kinds of explosives represented, from
the firecracker to the dynamite bomb.
A loaded revolver, half cooked. is also
displayed, being addressed to woman
In New York Among more harmless
objects are a washboard, a long-han-
died mop, punches of Easter candles
a cocoanut. and a card upon which is
inscribed the Lords Prayer in fifty
two languages.
A tragic memento is a mail pouch
covered with blood. This was found
with the body of the carrier who had
upon the plains. A card contains a
lock of hair cut from the head of Gui-
teau. the assassin of President Gar
field. There is also a copy of a mar
riage certificate, setting forth the in
teresting facr that Samuel Whitehead
and Jane Miller were married in the
parish church. Manchester. England,
Jrpp 4 TIara ara .saa1c 70 r,rnya-
erty, musical instruments, corn pop
pies. cups and saucers horns Of ami
mails, a cab drivers license, a taran-
tula (received aiive), bottle contain
ing what is claimed on the label to be
a sure cure for consumption, Chinese
curios. canvas needles, and a potato
bug exterinlnator.
Among the queer specimens Of art
may be noted the figure OF a negro
parson delivering a sermon from pull
pit. all being made of feathers. Be
meath this is a little work basket
woven by Indians, supported by the
figure of a bear. Side by side are
beautiful glass flower holder and an
old shoe.
The Dead Letter Office receives
multitude of articles, of which those in
Che museum are representative speci-
mems. every day in the year The la
Dor involved in handling such a mass
IS something enormous.
Many Of these articles" said an en-
ploye Of the office, 'are mailed through
ignorance of the postal regulations;
L.