The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23
AN OLD WOMAN IN BLACK WHO
BOUGHT A GRINNING SKELETON.
tured by a Girl with Fiji
teen-Cent Bid.

here from year to year. We have an auc-
ton sale each year that assists in dispos-
Ing OF nearly all OF II. If stranger should
go through the warerooms cellars of any
of the big express companies he would find
many piles Of boxes and packages that look
as though they were waiting for their turn
on the shelf OF some big department store.
Often times such is the case. and the big
department store is the auction room where
these goods are carted and knocked down
TO the highest bidder.
In indianapolis this sort of auction is not
heard OF much, but the small storekeepers,
who practically operate an exchange on
small scale. keep in close touch with the
officials OF the freight departments and ex-
press companies and carefully note the ac-
emulation of uncalled for goods. 1t is
rule with nearly all the railroad companies
and express companies that goods left un-
called for one year are sold TO pay the ex-
penses of storage.
The companies mentioned are not the
only corporations engaged i'm this bust
ness. there is municipal institution
which holds its auction in May of each
year. at which many odd packages are dis
posed of.
AUCTIONS ARE A GAMBLE.
These auctions are a gamble, as many
have already found out. They enter the
auction room and listen to the stentorian
voice OF the auctoneer calling out for bids
for the package that lays beside him on
table. All goods taken from any of the
big corporations and sold at auction are
carefully done up either I'm boxes or heavy
paper. and the purchaser never sees what
ne has purchased until his money has
passed to the cashier
There has not been one of the big auction
sales in this city since last February Since
that time uncalled-for goods have beeen
accommodating to a large degree in several
of the big freight houses and there prom
ises to be big sale next year. With the
express companies the goods are not so
bulky as those seen and taken from the
railroad freighthouses, but the packages are
more alluring.
railroad man who devotes part of his
Time each year in arranging the uncalled-
for packages 10 be taken to the auction
room said that it has become a great bust
ness among certain brokers over the coun-
try to watch for such sales Oftentimes
he said he has communications from heads
of these firms who desire to keep in touch
with the dates of the sales, so that they
bid in on some of the most promising stuff.
These people, he said have often made
big offers 10 be informed beforehand as to
the contents of certain packages that they
might have no difficulty in getting good
bargains. This feature of the sale, he said.
would never be tolerated and at every sale
each prospective purchaser has the same
privileges any other.
The same railroad man in talking of tha
affairs OF the dead freight" said that
within year or two another company will
enter the auction business. The interurban
companies are now beginning to handle
freight and express in large quantities. and
sooner or later will have a lot of dead
freight to auction off.
THE OFFICIAL AUCTIONEER
Another man who is always deeply con-
cerned in the annual auctions of old freight
is s. Lew Shank. well-known auctioneer
on East Washington street, who occupies
the office or county recorder for pastime.
Lew" Shank. as he is Familiarity known in
the city and county. is always placed in
charge OF the sale OF uncalled-for freight
and express. Much OF the stuff is carted to
his place of business on East Washington
street and there disposed Of The heavy
packages at the freighthouses are kept
there and these are auctioned off in the
building.
Shank Is a close observer of human ma
ture. as most auctioneers are. and invaria-
bly, sees the humorous side of the business
In talking one day OF the manner in which
the old freight is sold Shank DISPLAYED a
fund OF "reminiscences in relating his expert
eHces.
I'm recent years. he said 1--WE do not
come In contact with the anxious house
wives that We formerly did at those sales
Some years ago we were greatly bothered
by women hunting for carpets and pieces
OF furniture and when they bought bulky
package and found IL to contain straw
mating or wood pulp they would become
angry and call US cheats and thieves Those
strenuous days are past and l am thankful
they are. Now we come i'm contact with
little secondhand merchants from this city
and several cities outside INDIANAPOLIS.
These men take chances on buying good
stuff at these auctions.
NIGHT GET PRIZE.
II have seen men stand before me for
hours at time waiting until l called their
attention to certain packages that they had
had their eyes on during the day. One man
might start the bidding at brisk rate. his
competitor follow with one higher. and
they would see-saw until one or the other
was forced TO take the package Sometimes
Il might be good purchase; other times 1t
might be the fractured head of a bisaue doll
being sent by some fond father for re-
pairs that Il might gladden. the heart of
his daughter. The purchaser again might
start the bidding and run the prices up
so high that IL he were TO have any COM
petitors they would be appalled, at his ap-
parent extravaganza. This time the man
might fare better. IL might be valuable
on:A stand or lamp. or something for which
the man might be properly repaid for his
outlay OF money.
The sights that greet ones eyes on the
opening OF these mysterious packages are
both humorous and pathetic. A little.
white-haired woman came 10 one OF these
auctions recently. She was dressed i'm
black and the expression her face told
that her helpmeet had long since passed
away. The careworn look on her face told
that Il was strussis for her to make ends