Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-08-18
AUCTION STORIES
Unexpected Prizes That Have
Been Won by Bidders.
Ia GREAT BARGAIN in EGGS.

How Two Specimens of tho Great AUX
Species Were Bought For 50 and
Sold For S2,ooo-An Old Picture That
Had a Valuable Lining.
''Of course have met with a good
many interesting experiences during
my career as an auctioneer," relates
Henry Stevens In a London magazine.
''but the most striking Of them all oc-
tcurred, | think. in connection with a
great auk's egg.
Some years ago young fellow rode
tover to an obscure furniture sale at
Hhe country village in the hope of Sc
curing a bargain TO help in furnishing
a home in view of his intended mar
iriage. And a bargain he did get.
though not of the kind he originally
Thought of.
"One Of the lots put up for sale was
IA basketful Of shells. eggs and other
ornaments which had attracted the at-
Fention of an old lady who happened to
be present. Just as they were on the
point of being knocked down to her
the young man was struck by the ap-
pearance of two large eggs in the bas-
ket. and. thinking be might as well
have them as curiosities. he started to
bid. with the result that the lot was
Knocked down to him for 50.
Upon examining the eggs it oc-
Icurred to him that he might be able
mn hofr oil To
fcordingly wrapped them up in a hand
Rerchief and brought them to me.
AS soon as they had washed off the
CRIME which covered them discovered
that they were eggs of no less a bird
than the great aux. and as a result of
their sale a few weeks later l handed
the astute young bargain hunter a
check for $1,000
AT another sale which / conducted
there was an old picture so covered
with dirt and CRIME that it was almost
impossible TO see what it was like.
This was hung upon the wall in a
prominent position. but did not appar-
Iently find favor in the eyes of any of
the dealers who were present. No re
serve price was placed upon this pic
Fure. which had been put into the sale
by local pawnbroker to whom it had
been pledged and not redeemed.
I'm spite of every effort on the part
Iof the auctioneer. it was eventually
knocked down to a young man who
had looked into the sale quite casually
lin order to waste half an hour during
(which he had to wait for a train. TAX
hng great fancy to the frame which |
twas of oak. bIackened with age he
lhazarded bid OF $5, at which price |
1T was knocked down to him without |
ANY competition.
''As he did not want the picture. he |
asked the auctioneer whether he would
ymind trying to get bid for it if he
icut it out of the frame. and, being an
iswered in the affirmative. he took out
this knife and neatly cut through the
canvas all round the edge
Imagine the astonishment of him
self and all present when. hidden be-
bind the canvas, he discovered FIVE
bills for 800 each. Evidently the pic
lture had been used to conceal the saw
engs Of some previous owner. who had
Idied without disclosing the secret and
sFhose hard won fortune thus came
rnto the hands Of total stranger.
Il should quote as very interesting
"a sale at Rutland Gate. where there
were only the remains of the furnI-
ture. a firm having been allowed to
ltake what they chose to their rooms.
ut was accordingly after the nature Of
IA rummage sale, but In one cupboard !
which had been overlooked were what
the junior clerk described as three
silver cups. The auctioneer was sit
ting in his Office when a gentleman
drove up in hanson cab. anxious to 9
speak about these cups. for which he
offered no less than $500. '
The -auctioneer was SO much sur r
have some reason for this high bid, r
and he wisely determined not to take '
the first offer he received. oh. don't I
think they will take that he said. and -
with this answer the gentleman had to I
be content. An expert was called on 4
10 examine the so called cups. and he
discovered them TO be in reality six
teenth century chalices. for which he
himself made an offer of 50. The Il
three cups were subsequently sold for q
s.. 100 but it was only by the slightest 3
chance that they had not gone for a g
mere song. n
Il shall never forget an incident n
which occurred in connection with the h
sale of some valuable Shells The bid y
ding for one large shell in particular II
was much more brisk than | bad an N
iicipated, but the reason for this be- :,
came apparent when at last it was -
knocked down to a gentleman in a :,
very excited condition. who directly :,
Il was handed TO him flung it upon the q
ground and trampled It to atoms. at
the same time shouting out in a loud
voice that now that one was destroyed
be possessed the only specimen in the .,
world"