The Thanksgiving Miracle at the Post Office
After eight months of silence, a Tacoma woman finds her missing husband in the most routine of places: the general delivery window.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Annie Baum gave thanks yesterday for her husband, George Baum, a miner and prospector, who was given up for dead. He returned safe and sound from the mountains. For several months his wife lost all trace of him. Although no letters ever came, she went regularly to the post office at a certain hour and inquired for a letter. Others agreed that George Baum was dead, but she never missed going to the post office and hoping for his return. In the meantime she had changed her residence, so when Baum did return he could not find her. He went to the post office, seemingly led by some invisible force, and inquired for his wife's address. It was about the hour for Mrs. Baum to appear for the letter that never came. Mrs. Baum entered promptly at the usual hour, and in taking her place in the line before the general delivery window she caught sight of George. After the first shock she moved forward rapidly as if walking on thin ice, and slipped her arm under her husband's.
“Mrs. Baum entered promptly at the usual hour, and in taking her place in the line before the general delivery window she caught sight of George.”
In an era before instant connectivity, the post office served as the vital, beating heart of the community. This story highlights the isolation of mining life and the immense relief of reunion during the holiday season.
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