The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-07
LOST BAGGAGE MAN"
An Important Parsonage Connected
With Leading Railway Lines.
How drop Baggage Men" and the
''Check Charmers" Work.
Travellers Should Be Careful Not to
Leave vaIise Alone.
Tips to Those Who Are About to Start
on a Journey.
From Fridays Daily.

FROM fridays Daily.
There are but comparatively few of the
great number of travellers passing in and
out of the Mankato union station who
have the slightest conception of the vast
amount of money, time and thought
which is expended upon the expeditions
forwarding of their baggage, and more
than that its protection against bag
bage thieves who are especially active
at this particular season of the year
when travel is heaviest. And it is eX-
tremely doubtful if any among these
travellers have ever heard of the "Lost
Baggage Man." who at present is per-
haps the busiest OF the railroad officials.
Attached to each of the great railway
systems of this country there is ''lost
baggage man" who must possess an alb
solute knowledge of the methods of these
baggage thieves and be thoroughly capa-
able to follow and detect them at their
nefarious work, bring them to punish
ment and wherever possible recover the
stolen property. He must be perfectly
informed not only about all the stations
on his own line but also have a general
idea of the railroad routes which cross
or connect with it. On account of his
peculiar duties there are but few of
the officials or attaches of the railroad
who know him except those directly con-
nected with the ''claim department"
When a traveller finds his baggage has
been mis- sent, lost or stolen he must i'm
mediately send in a description of the
property to the claim department along
with bill for the payment of his valua-
ton of the same. This description is
furnished the lost baggage man and it is
now his duty to trace the lost property
and arrest the thieves who have stolen
it, if such proves to have been the rea-
son for its disappearance.
Among these purloiners of baggage
the class that give the railroad COM
panies the greatest amount of trouble
and who are the most difficult to detect
are the drop bag men, and the ''check
charmers."
The drop bag man usually works alone
and usually makes up" as farm hand.
After procuring an old, second hand, oil
cloth valise he cuts the bottom clean
away from the sides and ends by aid of
a keen-edged knife. Inside of the four
corners of this valise he fixes four sharp
spring hooks. A false bottom of the
thinnest tissue paper is pasted in. Enter
ing a railroad station during the hours
while it is crowded with travellers he
watches for an opportunity when some
careless person has left fine bag on
seat or the station floor while purchas-
ing tickets, consulting the time chart or
bidding farewell to friends. Qnick as
flash of lightning the old valise is drop
ped over the valuable travelling bag, the
false paper bottom of the valise parts
noiselessly inward and the hooks hold the
bag securely out of view. Should the
owner turn to look for the bag and find
ING it missing a search will be made for
the thief but he will discover nothing
more suspicious than farm hand walk
ING away down the depot platform with
a rather dilapidated black vallse in his
hand.
The ''checl charmers" work in pairs
and it is their method of securing booty
to dress in overalls, jumper and caps,
rent small transfer wagon, obtain
cheap trunk and after loading it with
bricks and straw, to give it weight, drive
hurriedly up to the baggage room during
the hours when the baggage master and
his assistants are busiest, check the
trunk and drive away. They go but
short distance when one. returns with
the trunk check and with the excuse that
he wishes to assure himself that he
brought the right trunk, asks the privi-
lege of entering the baggage room to ex-
anime it. While there and while the bag
gag men are busy he changes the checks
between his bogus trunk and the fine
Saratoga trunk of some travelling So
ciety BELLE The "check charmers" now
follow the fine trunk to its destination
and obtain it through bogus duplicate
check which they quickly make by aid
of few stamping tools and a piece of
BRASS The trunk is taken to room and
rifed of its contents which may consist
of number of fine costumes, hats and
jewelry.