Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-14
MANY BUYERS "SOLD"
AT "OLE HOSS" SALE
Sight Auction of p.
r. R. Unclaimed Baggage
Reveals Spirited Bidding

The annual "olc hoss" sale of un-
claimed baggage left In Its possession
was held today by the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad at the storeroom at 1910 Fill
bert street The room was pocked TO
its capacity. and then some. with a
crowd that was nine too good -natured
Rut the bidding was spirited.
1t woudVDt interesting 10 relate how
the young Tady with a pink bow in her
haii bid In an important-looking paclSl
age for Ss.9S. only to find that II com
tained the second-best suit of overalls
left by husky "IIunky" from the coal
mines how the man who was willing
to take n sporting chance kicked in with
half dollar just to see what was on
the inside Of a very insignifcant-lo look
ing bundle and found II contained q
fortune In interest hearing bonds: how
the old maid put her hand in the grab
bag and drew an infants layottc, or
how important diplomatic secrets left
behind by - frightened German spy
were brought to light IL the purchase cf
battered suitcase for a hollar-six-bits
only nothing Of the sort happened
Before the sale hegan the auctionecr
announced that no deliveries would he
made until tomorrow, and that bidders
living out Of town had hest make ur
else lay off. What may he dsc, scd
when the opening-up process begins to-
morrow Is II story that may never c
told
The bidding apparently was done
mostly by merchants who deal in second
hand stuff of "A miscellaneous nature and
who were willing t. take u chance by
buying n pig in n poke. Most VI the
sales were made to few individuals
who did not stop to make Inquiries and
who were not backward in getting things
started when package was put ur for
sale. Packages that had been left in
the parcel TCom foi months and that
had frayed edges about the wrapping
and a generally disreputahle appearance
went for prices ranging from two to
seven dollars. There was never n lul
in the bidding.
Everything was sold sight unseen"
and any attempt on the part of a pros
pective bidder to edge n little closer and
try To find out what he was bidding On
was quickly repealed Ivy the aucti"ncer,
pausine in the midst If Il syllable
during an excited bit of bidding over a
packaSe that might have been either a
strong-box full of securities or pack
age Of soiled laundry. the master of
ceremonies pointed stern finger of re-
buke at man who had gone little
over the dead-line and yelled:
You git back there, Jimmy-git back
right this minute. And let me tell you
that I'm running this sale. and not you -
Jimmy got back.
There were many women Of varying
compilations and stations in life present
at the sale. but they had little Oppor-
tunity to hid. The secondhand men
beat them 20 IT and all they could do
was 10 sit and try to make up their
minds about the next piece to be auc-
toned.
cit oifa my toe, YOU hound " yelled
n six-footer wedged into the mass of
humanity near the door at one stage
of the proceedings. cit offa my toe,
tell yer. or I'll paste you one in the jaw"
Jaw SC chase yerself" replied a dim
inutive man with spectaces who stood
next to him What did yer come here
for--to git reserved seat? Paste me
In the jaw? I'd like to see yer. Yer
can't get yer arm up from yer side"
And he couldn't.