The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-11

hog ranches" and at first consisted OF
Iean-to Ia long room. one man, two or
three tin cups and one or two four-gal-
Ion jugs OF vile whisky
Within three months they were en-
larged to two or more rooms, held a bar
that had behind it whisky BY the barrel,
and in the room outside Of the bar we're
two or three card tables. and possibly
faro layout
Within the next three months there were
two or three bedrooms built on to the
ranch and two or three Of the most
wretched and lowest class of abandoned
women (for none other could be induced
to come out TO such surroundings could
be seen standing in the doorway or heard
singing and shouting at the bar. 1t was
the development of the order forbdding
the sale OF whisky to enlisted men.
As class. the men did not wish whis-
ky-they preferred beer; but they deter
mined, that they would not be deprived of
their legal right to purchase whisky with
their own money II they wished to do so.
Now they had within reach whisky.
cards. faro, women, and the vilest frontier
company.
The writer was ordered to take COM
mand Of Fort Cummings. New Mexico,
when this was the state OF affairs
1t was probably the most undesirable
post at that time in the whole country.
The garrison consisted of three troops OF
cavalry Zone colored) and two companies
Of inf,,.try. The soldiers were in tents.
the officers generally had a room each in
an old formerly abandoned adobe build
ing. although some of them occupied tents.
1t was located on the great runway of
the Apaches, who generally came up
north through Cooks Canon-just beyond
the post. The place had been abandoned
by the army no less than three consecu-
tive times. and yet it had been always
found necessary to reoccupy it.
The officers were thoroughly capable
men. and the troops as a general thing
exceedingly good soldiers. The weekly in
spection OF the post hospital however. de-
velopsd the fact that a certain heavy per-
centage of the men were suffering from
infectious diseases. Enquiry established
another fact, and that was that. on the
outskirts of the reservation and outside Of
and beyond military Jurisdiction. within
radius Of from three to six miles of the
post, were number of hog ranches" Of
the yilest sort
Between taps 90 p. MI and reveille (4:30
a. M the men would steal out of camp,
run the post guard in the dark visit these
places, and return before daylight. AS a
matter of course, they were heavy-eyed,
stupid, and net up to their work the next
day. but this could have been borne if the
result had not been that in the course of
time they were on the sick list. and pos
sibly infected for life, to say nothing of
having to be discharged from the service
as incapable of further duty in the army.
My surgeon was one of the oldest acting
assistant surgeons of the army a most
capable man and man of sound sense
whom l had known for many years After
a conversation with him on the subject. I
sent for my post trader, Mr.. Carpenter. and
told him l wished him to send to Ken
lucky for some good whisky for sale to
the men. But the Secretary of War will
cancel my appointment as post trader"
was his reply. Send" was my response
Il will stand between you and harm. l
wish to try an experiment" In due time
three barrels OF whisky arrived from
Louisville. Ky. 1t was analysed by the
surgeon and pronounced pure. What can
you sell it for" was asked of the post
trader. Two drinks fer twenty five cents.
single drinks fifteen cent?" Very well,
place it on sale" Which accordingly was
done. | had during the first ten days to
punish two men for drunkenness; that was
all. In six weeks one of the hog ranches"
in three months two others
pulled up stakes and left Inside of five !
months the last one. the one over at the |
railway station. from which the women |
had departed weeks before, was for sale i
with no bidders.
Mr.. Carpenter" said the surgeon one |
day at monthly inspection. "how much |
whisky do the men buy?" Mighty little" |
was the reply; they drink beer The |
miners are about my only whisky custom |
ers. Why. blank it, soldiers don't really |
care for whisky when they can get it, |
They prefer beer