The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-12-25
The Siege at Red Dog.

heQ Dog Is an uHpleIeuIIouS IoNn III
Texas that has suddenly been sprung
into fame by the strenuous actions of
the postmistress, who "does things. So
determined is she to make herself felt
in TIE community that few days ago
she "shot up the hat Of the mayor" be-
cause that digritary did not lift his
headgear when he called for his mail.
Now the residents of Red Dog are not
averse to the establishment of code of
etiquette, but they don't like the manner
in which it is being introduced. The
sheriff of the county in which Red Dog
is located is somewhat broken up over
the ''gun play" of the postmistress and
he is of the opinion that she should be
''toned down some" So this official
wrote to the authorities at Washington
requesting that an inspector be sent at
once to Red Dog to investigate the at
tack upon His Honor, the chief high
functionary of all that pertains to the
Texas town. 1t seems that the first
letter brought no response, so he penned
another, which to say the least is
"peach," and should cause the postmaster
general to cease bothering his head about
the postoffice scandal and devote all his
time and energy to Strengthening out the
trouble in Red Dog. The sheriff's letter
reads as follows:
'sThere amt no inspector showed up
in these parts>yet, and we'd like to know
| if one is coming. When l wrote you last
week things wasn't exactly calm and
peaceful, and since then the situation
has sure become acute and unsatisfac-
tory. This lady postmaster here found
out in some wayne amt yet decided
how-that the mayor and me was some
vexed and annoyed with her, and since
then the postoffice amt done any bust
ness to speak Of If it was a man deal
ing out stamps and handing over our mail
YOU can rest easy we wouldn't have ask
ed for help, and as it is we certainly are
sorry to bother you. But we amt max
ing war on women, including this one,
which can handle her armament quite
casual and fippant; so we want you to
do something"
Even the sheriff is not inclined to
make war upon woman-especially one
who can .'handle her armament quite
casual and flippant." The second portion
of his letter is not written in that 'tip-
pant" manner which so often character
ICES men of a wild and woolly section
1t is inclined to be argumentative and
not little diplomatic:
''This town respectfully protests to
you against the way in which this ac-
credited postmistress is urging her views
on politeness; this town respectfully pro,
tests that it amt got time to leave its
hat outside the door when getting its
mail; this town respectfully protests
that it's duly elected mayor is important
in the eyes of it's citizens and that there
amt no call for him to act humble when
he's getting his mail"
1t is a cinch that the mayor of Red
Dog now hides his hat behind woodpile
before he enters the postoffice, and he is
more than respectful to the little woman
who handles Uncle Sans mail. And
why shouldn't he be? No man cares tt
take chances on having his head lifted
off his shoulders, revolver bullet act
ing as the elevator. The concluding sec
ton of the sheriff's epistle goes on tt
say:
"This mayor amt felt right since hi
skipped out of the postoffice last week
some undignifed and risky, owing to thu
fact he forgot to take off his hat ant
, bow, and he is going to resign if some
thing amt done. Please attend to it
for we are getting snippish and fretfu
) in our tempers and are liable to do some
ching we might regret. Tell the inspect
or he'd better come to see me first. Sh
: heard he's coming and there amt no us
Of his being rash and careless"
That sheriff's heart is in the RICH
. place. He does not wish harm to com
to the inspector and he is kind enough t
issue TO him warning. The inspecto