Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-18
OUR PosToFFlcE.
Its History, Past and Present.
SIX POsTMAsTfRs AND SEVEN LOCATIONS
IN NINE YEARS.
FACTS OF GENERAL AND PUBLIC
INTEREST.

Gay, - tnat the men who f1rst locate in q
new mining camp, are rarely the ones who
make any money out of it. The pioneers
will develop it sufficiently to attract
others, but somehow the rear guard man
ages to walk off with the spoils."
The SENTISEL's representative was about
convinced that this was the case, after list
ening to some Of the incidents connected
with Eureka's early days, and the personal
experience Of Dan Immel and Harvey Car
penter, and in the course of q long con-
versation, he learned some facts that in
duced him to look into the history Of our
Postofiice, and that Of the men who have
filed the position of Postmaster.
When the camp on which Eureka now
stands was developed sufficiently to rem
der the appointment Of a Postmaster
necessary, Harvey Carpenter. who was
then a merchant in Hamilton. suggested to
George Haskell, one Of his clerks, that he
should secure the appointment, aud grow
up with what promised to be a fo~urishing
town. Harvey had an influential friend in
Washington, to whom he wrote, requesting
him to secure the place for Haskell. This
was done, and the ~latter's commission soon
followed. He was one OF the number who
failed to profit by the advantages offered
TO early settlers, and while others who fol-
lowed him have grown rich, he till p,lrsues
fortunes tickle goddess a mong the mines
Of Bodie.
At this period the camp was not known
by any name, and for three weeks Haskell
racked his brain for a suitable one, and he
finally hit upon that Of 'Napias," which
in the Shoshone dialect means .'silyer."
To point in after years to what he had rea-
son to believe would become a noted place,
and say that he had baptized it, was doubt
less Haskells ambition, aud the cause OF
his solicitude. Yet how many to-day re-
member either Haskell or the name over
which he pondered so long? Like others,
he made no calculations for the uncertain
ties Of life, and had forgotten that
"The ambitious youth who fred the Ephesian
dome. ouilives in fame
The pious fool who reared it,"
The first office was opened ia the Parker
House. Mr.. Haskell held the place for
some months, and was succeeded by Mr..
John s. Whitton, who moved into the
old American Exchange. Geo. w. Merrill
was deputy under Mr. Wilton. and the
subsequent history OF both Postmaster
and deputy are well known. The former
has developed into a prosperous citizen,
and the latter into q District Attorney and
a staid Benedict.
Mr.. Wilton gave way. in 1872, to Jesse
Hammer, who moved the Office to the old
Eureka Hotel, afterwards occupied by Mr..
3. @. HUMPHREYS, as a drug store. Mr..
John Jones. who now keeps a fruit stand
above the Parker House, and j. +. Rooney,
now OF Typo, we're his assistants. Ham
mer eventually proved a defaulter, and is
new living in Southern California.
Mr.. John +. Ramsey was appointed
Hammers successor in October, 1873. and
held the place until December, 1874, when
he resigned. During his term the offic
was in the building now occupied by Mr..
Remington. He died in an Insane Asylum
In California, about one year ago.
Mr.. Cor. NJ. Wilson followed Mr.. Ram
sey. and bis Administrations Of the Office Is
familiar to every Eurekan. He was one
of the most popular officials that ever held
a commission from the Federal Govern
ment, and in circles, where integrity and
the ties OF friendship weigh down selfish
considerations he had no rival. He was
fortunate, too, in the selection Of his as
s~istants, aud during his incumbency such
men AS Bot ~Cavanaugh, Gid. Scanland,
John and /. j. Wilson, f. II. Hinckley
and Frank Durkee were employed. His
term expired in February last, and Mr..
". J. Smith was appointed his successor.
There are few men in this State who do
not know " Billy" Smith, and none are
more popular among friends and acquaint-
ances. During his short official career he
has demonstrated not only that he is an
active energetic man, and a competent
official, but that he appreciates the needs
OF the public. aud has promptly met them.
Although the fire was scarcely half an
hour in reaching tie building where the
Office was located, not a scrap Of paper of
value to the public or Government was
| lost, nor was the business of the Office
checked. as in a few hour he had secured
new quarters, and everything was in run
ming order.
The present location OF the Postoficesis
the best. so far as the interests of the COM
munity are concerned, il not in all other
respects, that could be secured. The build
ing is a substantial stone structure, the
room a large one, and a ire-proof cellar
immt diately in the rear will enable the
employees to move the fixtures and mails
into a place of safety in a few minutes.
The brief synopsis given above will fur
nish food for the thoughtful. OF the five
incumbents who preceded Mr.. Smith, one
died insane, another met with an acct
| dental death. one proved a defaulter, and
bat one yet remains in Eureka.
For six years Frank Durkee has been one
| OF the fixtures of the Office has followed
it in its wanderings, and shared its misfor-
| tunes. He is once more comfortably fixed
and prepared to meet the wants of custom
ers, either in the jewelry or literary line.
He is no longer, however, the solitary oc-
| cupant, as Messrs. Smith and CanavaD
have opened a stationery and blank book
stand on the opposite side OF the room,
| and have Supplied a want long felt in Eu-
| reka. 1t would delight any lady Of taste
| to examine their stock of initial and other
paper, and merchant, lawyer, accountant
| or clerk, will have no difficulty in selecting
| what they may need. The new firm starts
| out under suspicious circumstances, and
none wish them a prosperous career more
heartily than the SENTINEL.