The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-12-21
Horace Greeley's Ride to Pfaceryille

had written powerful leaders in the Tri-
bune, in favor of the Pacific Railroad
which had greatly endeared him to the cit.
izens of the Golden State. And therefore
they made much of him when he went to
see them. lavtEs &vTC4fN.I
Atone town the enthusiastic populaoe
tore his celebrated white coat to pieces, and
carried the pieces home to remember him
by. rsE- e.. "a
The citizens of Placerville prepared to
fete the greet Journalist, and an extra
coach, with extra relays of horses, was
chartered of the California Stage Company
to carry him from Folsom to Placerville--
distance forty miles. The extra was in
some way delayed, and did not leave Fol.
som until late in the afternoon. Mr.. Gree.
| ley was to be feted at seven o'clock that
levening by the citizens of Placervlle. aud
l. was altogether necessary that he should
be there by that hour. So the Stage Com
pany said to Henry Monk, the driver of
the extra, "Henry, this man must be there
by seven o'clock tonight" And Henry
| answered, "The great man shall be there
The roads were in an awful state, and
during the first Few miles out of Folsom
slow progress was made."
"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, ,''are you aware
that must be at Placerville at seven
o'clock to-night?'
"I've got my ORDERS" laconically re-
turned Henry Monk. - -. ss.a ~
Still the coach dragged slowly forward.
"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, "this is not a
trifling matter. I must be there at
seven!'
Again came the answer: "I've got my
orders.'' --~
But the speed was not increased, and
Mr.. Greeley chafcd away another half
hour; then, as he was again about to re-
monstrate with the driver, the horses start
ed into furious run. and all sorts Of en-
couraging yells filed the air from the
throat of Henry Monk. ~.
"That's right, my good fellowv'r said
Mr.. Greeley. "Tll give You ten dollars
when we arrive at Placerville. Now we
are goingv'
They were, indeed, and at a terrible
speed.
Crack crack went the whip, and agnin
that voice split the air. ''Git up! Hi vi!
Glong! Yip-yip!'
And on they tore, over stones and ruts,
up hill and down. at rate never before
achieved by stage horses.
Mr.. Greeley, who had been bouncing
from one end of the coach to the other like
an india-rubber hall. managed to get his
head out of the window. when he said:
Acknowledgements think ,we-e-e
shall get there by seven il we do-on't go
so fast? ?'' ...... n
''I've got my orders?' That was all
Henry Monk said. And on tore the
coach.
-.-~-,sy-- The
Arrible iolting, and again his head might
have been secn nj the window. , a. %,
''ir," he said. don't care-care-air, il we
don't get there at seven!'
"Ihare got my orders - Fresh horses.
Forward again, faster than before. Over
rocks and stumps, on one of which the
coach narrowly escaped turning sum
merset. "A
"Sen hernv shrieked NJ. Gren'ev, 81
don't care il we don't get there at a'l!" 4
"Ive got mv'orders work forthe Cal
iforny Stage Company, do. That's what
I work for. They said. "cit this man
through by sewing" Nm this mans goin.
through. You bet Gor-long! whoo epv'
Another frir,trul ,olt, and Mr. G Grenlev's
bald head suddenly found its wav through
the roof of the coach, amidst the crash Of
small tinbers and the ripping of strong
cnnvass.
"Stop. Won - ma,,iac" he ro:irnd
'tT'vn "ot my orders! Keep your Seat
HOrdrp!' e..
At Mud Springs. q village a few miles
from Plaserville. they met a large delega-
tinn Of citizens of Plac"rville, who had
come on to meet the celebrated editor and
escort him into town. Thcre was mill
tary company, a brass band, and n six
horse wagon load ofbeautiful damsnls in
milk white dresses. representing all the
Statos in the Union. IT. was nearly dark
now. but the delegation were amplv pro-
videi with torches. and bonfires all along
the road to Placerville.
The citizens met the coach in the ont
skirts of Mud Springs, and Mr.. Monk
reined in his foaming steeds.
"Is Mr.. Greeley on board?' asked the
chairman of the committee. .rs
'He was few miles back?" said Mr..
Monk. "yes." he added. looking down
through the hole which the fearful jolting
had made i'm the coach rOof-"yes, can
see him! lie is therer'
"Mr. Greeley" said the chairman Of the
committee, presenting himself at the win
dow Of the coach, ''Mr. Greeley, sir ! We
have come to most cordially welcome Won
why. God bless me, sir, you are bleed
ing Mt the nose.' .p...s.. ....#
"Tve got my orders. cried Mr.. Monk.
"My orders is as follers: Git him there
by sewing. II wants a quarter Of sewing.
Stand ont ofthe way,
"But sir" exclaimed the committeeman
sezing the off leader by the reins, "Mr.
Monk. we are come to escort him to town.
Look at the procession, sir, and the bras.
band, and the people, and the young wo-
men, sir!'
"Tve got my orders,'' screamed Mr..
Monk. "My orders don't say nothin'
about brass band and young women. My
orders say. Git him there by sewing Let
60 them lines. Clear the way there
Whoo-ep! Keep your seat Horace!' and
the coach dashed wildly through the pro-
cession, upsettinga portion OF the brass
band. and violently grazing the wagon
which contained the beautiful young wo-
men in white.
Years hence, gray-haired men, who