The St. Johns herald., 1892-07-07
A New Mexico Post office.

the Chicago heraiu SIVes Gne Aoi lowing as New Mexico experience
 Some of an inspectors work Ii not of such sumbre and sRdden ing character. Much of it has a ludicrous phase which softens the hardships and relieves the strain which too constant mingling with the frail and unpatriotic of Uncle Sam's servants is apt to bring upon man. Such an instance was the matter of the Gallup, New Mexico, post office, berth that paid the in- cumbent S1,000 year, 'stealin's out;;" where the yoke was easy, the burden light and the social posi- ton fairly good, the rest of the citi- zens of Gallup being mainly miners and gamblers. When volunteers" were called for at certain time, 8 man named Swan boldly offered to hold the Gallup post office against any and all enemies of Uncle Sam, and as proof of his ability and sim cerity, brought inducements en- ough to secure his appointment to the court of St. James. Swan was a pioneer in New Mexico, and knew every one in the territory since that doubtful acquisition came into the union. He was recommended by the governor and all the ex-govern ors, by all the ra ilroad and mining authorities, as we'll as by all the ranchmen and army officers; and, moreover, he had in his possession letters from Abraham Lincoln at- testing the writer's friendship and faith in the latter's fidelity and abil- ity. Naturally, Swan was appoint ed, and made an excellent postmas- ter-so far as taking in money for stamps and money orders went but he failed to make reports of the fiscal operations of his office. A long life in an arid country and fre- quent recourse to the common cure for a dry climate, had made Mir. Swan less faithful and efficient than in his youth. So in due time an inspector was sent to make his ac- quaintance. Being near Gallup the necessary papers were sent me, and I went down to see if anything was due the government. I reached Gallup about three o'clock in the morning. It was cold, raw and in every way gloomy. The depot was closed and the town looked very uninyiting. At sight pronounced it the least picturesque mining set clement in the territory, if not in world. The only visible light came from a small frame building near the depot, to which I hastened to get warm. It was not the hotel, but a barroom, with a dozen or more professional customers on hand, more or less awake and busy. Three men were snoring On the bar and the others were playing faro or watching the game. They were all very "groggy," and all but the pro- prietor were hard-lOoking citizens. The drunkest and toughest was an old man, apparently 65. He was thick set, wore a greasy slouch hat, a blue flannel shirt, had big pis- tol in his belt and his pantaloons tucked in his boots; and had gen. orally such a grimy and "bad" look that if prize for "toughness" were offered he would have had no close competitors for it. He was a clumsy. stupid gambler, and was losing money fast, and his compan- ions were guying him. Come on, Wanamaker the ace has won twice ; copper it this time." "Dashed if I don't do it," said the old man, put. ting down his last $10 gold piece for chips. Boys, that's all I got here, but there's plenty O money in sight, plenty O money in sight" His chips were soon in the bank, with his S10, and about 4 o'clock he got up, stretched himself and