Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1916 — WAR RELICS HELD OF VALUE [ARTICLE]

WAR RELICS HELD OF VALUE

Gruesome Mementoes That Have Brought High Prices When Dis. posed Of at Auction Sales. There was sold by auction a few years ago the spear that was used by a rebel dervish to kill General Gon don. On another occasion the sword used by Lord Cardigan in the battle of Balaclava was disposed of at the same auction mart. A very different war relic realized a very different price. This was the silver-gilt table service used by Napoleon in the course of bls many campaigns, and it went for $3,250. A really extraordinary war relic was brought to light in an English court some years ago. A woman applied to the magistrate for a summons against a pawnbroker for damage to a hearthrug. She explained that during a campaign on the Indian frontier, her son had made a large hearthrug out of the garments of bis slain coiprades, and sent it home to her. A few years ago a relic of the siege ot Paris was discovered in a windmill near Besancon. This was the mummified body of a pigeon, to ode of the wings of which a quill was attached. Inside this was a brief message, dated 1870, which read: “Darling—All well, but starving,-. P. P. G." The pigeon was one of the homers which had been released during the siege, and maybe shot by the Germans. :