The Washington times., 1906-04-11
RED FLAG WAVED
OVER WAR OFFICE
Department Relics Sold at
Spirited Auction.
BIDDERS OF ALL SORTS
Women Wanted Carpets and Rugs
While the Men Bought Up
Amy Old Thing.

Going, going. gone-once twice. three
times. sold!' exclaimed the auctioner.
and Georgetown woman suddenly
found herself the proud possessor of
large. once handsome rug. at the rem
S1ant sale at auction OF War Depart
snent Office furniture and furnishings.
held In the north court of the State.
War. and Navy Building yesterday.
When the sun came out warm and
seductive, large number OF persons
made their way 10 the scene of the
sale OF cast-of Government property.
Captain Thorpe. Of the Bureau OF Sup
pplies and Accounts, had his force OF
assistants and helpers out early. and
they were kept busy
In. the crowd there was a liberal
sprinkling of women. a scattering of
Government clerks, and a large number
OF secondhand dealers
L AuctiOneer Opens Up.
After consuming half a lemon, the
auctionecr suddenly opened up the bust
ness. Article after article was kEock-
edd own right and left many for "a
song and sing it yourself" and others
stIl lower-for "A song not worth sing
ing or hearing either. Office desks. from
which innocent mice had been deprived
OF their homes: rugs and carpets OF va
fious varieties and patterns tables.
chairs, typewriters, and a score of
other kinds of articles went one after
a.nother
Work was quick till it came to rugs
and carpets. Then the women pushed
forward. and the typical secondhand
dealer fought for front position with
them. The women bid slowly. but they
were aggressive. Scarcely would thev
mention price when a dealer would
boost IL I'D. ana so 6he battle Of bidding
would continue, encouraged by the
READY and witty tongue of the auction
-DcrSCaSlNe where Dursuasion was
needed, and commanding when
ChaISe o. tactics was necessary to ex-
Idct II higher sum-
Prices again We're doomed on tyne
writers. OF Ihe score OF machines Of
Tered, every one had been condemned
,nfeH ,atst distlnct times by inspectors as
totally worthless. and they brought
from SL59 70 81. The War Departnent
clerk who paid Sl-JO for an old Rening-
10n undoubtedly got his moneys worth
" nile an expert appraiser might say the
smith OF ancient design wasn't worth
SiO even Tor . novice, no one can estl-
mate It's value To the ambitious clerk
who WAS attracted BY the labels of
hotels on the leather case sufficiently 10
exchange four ''buffaloes'' for IL
Here. here. See this army wagon?
Come all the way through a fire and
never leased it, exclaimed the auc-
tloHeer as he mounted a wagon that
barely escaped cremation In the fire in
th1e War Department stables recently.
Here : genuine 'FoTty-niner-the
nome o. the ancient mariner, who an
this craft as a prairie schooner sailed
er the lea, with the tide of adversity
against hIm. And it's as good as new.
today-eNcept the woodwork slightly
scOrched- How much? Make a good
coal wagon. anyway"
Charcoal Wagon.
Its charcoal wagon, now" remark
ed the wag of the crowd. and this was
the key TO lively spirits and a good
start on the bidding From 81 the
price was boosted up to S3s The
buyer had scarcely realized he WAS
the owner OF the old wagon. and had
not vet reached down for his money
When an enthusiastic newcomer crowd
co in and paid him s45 in cold cash
10 TelinqUiSh all claim on II.
SO the sale continued till late in the
afternoon.
The appraised value of the property
was slightly above s1.000. and on the
average ii brought all IL was worth
The prices were boosted up mostly by
the uninitiated who take it for granted
Ghat the articles are good and original
1y were the best because they were
Government property. The women
particularly paid good prices for rugs
and carpets because they think they
came from some foreign country when
as a matter Of fact. many of them
were bought years ago from the sec
ond-hand dealers who bid on them to-
day, remarked an old-time clerk, who
has seen auctions and women bidders
come and go.
considerable amount Of carpets.
rugs. and furniture. belonging to the
Navy department will be sold tomor-
row in the south court of the State
War and Navy building