The northwestern bulletin., 1923-12-22

IN 1911 by special confirmation Of the
national legislators. Pens, photographs,
rings, watches, pistols, wishing rings,
curious charms, lucky pocket pieces,
foreign coins, medals, trophies and
many other trinkets and keepsakes
were sold on that occasion, the pro
ceeds Of the novel auction amounting
to $5T0. Since that time the dead
mems shoes have been accumuiating IN
the State department storerooms.
keepsakes Of Dead Heroes.
II an American soldier or Navy de-
partment sailor dies on foreign soil or
water. the military and naval authori-
ties supervise the settlement Of his es-
tate and the disposition Of his personal
effects. In the general accounting Of
fees In Washington there Is a special
tomb room. a vault where the jewelry
and trinkets, treasured photographs,
Bibles, love letters. fountain pens, gold
pencils, rings, watches, stickpins. cuff
buttons, charms and curios Of deceased
soldiers are held In storage awaiting
the arrival Of relatives to take charge
Of the property. Five large steel lock
ers are full Of approximately 1000
sealed and indexed parcels, envelopes
and packages containing the personal
effects Of Civil war soldiers who served
In the Union army. These federal fight-
ers either were killed on the field Of
battle or died In camps or hospitals.
Their missing heirs have never claimed
the personal possessions. Uncle Sam
has held them in his safekeeping now
for about sixty years. Unless congress
authorizes their sale, the War depart
ment authorities will have to continue
TO act as their guardians.
In this same morgue Of dead mems
heirlooms and treasures are eight addl-
tional strongboxes Of steel crammed to
capacity with other parcels, the effects
Of soldiers Of the Spanish-American or
World war who died in the national
service and whose relatives have never
come forward to claim their keepsakes.
Approximately $500 Of these unclaimed
estates rest In Uncle Sans keeping be-
cause the kith and kin Of the deceased
boys in khaki have not advised the
War department Of their whereabouts.
Relies From Many 5attieHeIda
What tales Of courage and sacrifice
these keepsakes could tell. Many of
them were removed from the bodies Of
soldiers who we're killed on the battle
feld. With reverence and respect, the
writer examined the contents OF sew
eral Of these packages which had been
opened officially. One contained
dozen or more bloodstained, rusted
coins, mostly French money, and q
fountain pen with which, perhaps, the
soldier lad had written to his sweet
heart only the day before the battle In
which he lost his life. In another enve-
lope was a shattered watch Of gold.
II looked as II II had been wrecked by
bit Of shrapnel or q vagrant bullet.
It was blotted and splotched with
stains. 1t was owned by an American
soldier killed In France June Is, 1918.
These priced possessions of some OF
our bravest American soldiers are rest.
Ing almost forgotten IN storage when
they should be treasured keepsakes Of
the relatives Of the soldier boys who
gave their all that posterity might live
and prosper. Uncle Sam has exhausted
his resources In trying to find the heirs
Of these relics, which have been res
cued from dozens Of different battle
fields. 1t would be better to bury these
trinkets in some special national tomb
with official ceremonies or to distribute
them over the country for display In
public museums, rather than to ever
offer them for public sale. II they are
not claimed.