Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-03-01
Horace Greeley's Ride to. Plss~
cervflle.


cervflle.
From Artemus Wards Travels in California;
When Horace Greeley was in California
ovations awaited him at every town. He
had written powerful leaders in the N. Y.
Tribune in favor the Pacific railroad, which
had greatly endeared him to the citizens of
the golden State. And therefore they made
much of him when he went to see them.
At one town the enthusiastic populace
tore his celebrated white coat to pieces,
and carried the pieces home to remember
him by.
The citizens of Placerville prepared to
fete the great 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 on
some account delayed, and did, not leave
Folsom. until late in the afternoon. Mr..
Greeley was to be feted at o'clock that
evening at Placerville, and it was altogether
necessary that he should be there by that
hour. So the Stage Company said to Henry
Monk, the driver of the extra, "Henry. this
great man must be there by o'clock to-
night 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,
very slow progress was made.
"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, are you aware
that mast be at Placerville at o'clock to-
night ?'' ' - '''a"' -.'s''' /.
s'Tve got my orders - laconically re-
turned Henry Monk.
Still the coach dragged slowly forward.
"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, " this is not a
trifing matter. must be there at seven p
Again came the answer, GIVE got my
orders :"
But the speed was not increased, and Mr..
Greeley chafed away another half hour,
when, as he was again about to demonstrate
with the driver, the horses suddenly started
into furious run, and all sorts of encour-
aging yells filed the air from the throat of
Henry Monk.
g That is right my good fellow!" said
Mr.. Greeley, "In give you ten dollars
when we get to Placerville. Now we are
going /" eH.a 3sh
They were, indeed, and at a terrible
speed. 2y@al aad' aa
|. Crack, crack! went the whip, and again
& that voice" split the air. "Git ur Iii
vi! G'long! Yip-yip!"
And on they tore, over ruts and stones,
up hill and down, at rate of speed never
achieved BY stage horses.
Mr.. Greeley, who had been bouncing
from one end Of the stage to the other, like
an India rubber ball, managed to get his
head out of the window, when he said
"D-on't-on't you-u-u-u think we-e-e
shall get there by seven if we do-on't-on't
go so fast? :"
GIVE got my orders!i" &. That was al
Henry Monk said And on tore the coach
1t was becoming serious. Already the
journalist was becoming extremely sore
from the terrible jolting, and again his heao
g might have been seen at the window
SIR he said, &c don't care-care-are
if we don't get there at seven.. .
81 have got my orders -
Fresh horses; forward again faster thar
before over rocks and stumps; on ont
which the coach narrowly escaped turning
summerset.
"see here - shrieked Mr. Greeley, g
dom care if we don't get there at all ,
GIVE got my orders I work for thu
California Stage Company, I do. That
wot I work for, They said git this mar
through by sewing. An this mans agoin
through. You bet G'long Whoe-ep!
Another frightful jolt, and Mr.. Greeley
/ bald head suddenly found its way through
the roof of the COACH amidst the crash o
small timbers and the ripping of strons
canvass. A3@ @@stss-
"Stop, you-maniac he roared.
Again answered Henry Monk
GIVE got my orders Keep your seat
| Horace!"
AT Mud Springs, village few mile
from Placerville, they met a large delega
ton of citizens from Placerville, who ha(
come out to meet the celebrated editor, AM
escort him into town There was mill
tary company, brass hand, and six
horse wagon load of beautiful damsels il
milk white dresses, representing all tn
States in the Union. 1t was nearly darl
now, but the delegation was simply provid
ed with torches and bonfres all along tn
road to Placeryille.
The citizens met the coach in the out
gg-irts of Mud Springs, and Mr.. Monk rein
ed in his foaming steeds.
~. Is Mr.. Greeley on board 2" asked tn
Chairman Of the Committee.
q. He was few miles back I" said Nj
Monk; asHyes," he added, looking dow
through the hole the fearful jolting ha
made in the coach roof yes, can Sc
him He is there."
~ Mr. Greeley" said the chairman Of tn
committee, presenting himself at the win
dow of the coach-s' Mr.. Greeley, sir! W
are come to most cordially welcome you
sir--why, God bless me, sir, you ar
bleeding at the nose"
"Ive got my orders." cried Mr.. Monl
My orders are as follows:
"Git him there by sewing. Stand out
, the way"
"But, sir" exclaimed the committee mai
selling the. off leader by the. reins-" MI
Monk, we are to escort him into town
Look at the procession, sir, and brass ban
and people, and the young women, sir"
"rye got my orders.!" screamed Nj
Monk {" My orders don't say nothin' abor
no brass bands and young women. Ny OF
d4rs says get him there by sewing. Let G
. them lines! clear the way there! Woo-ep
Keep your seat, Horace" and the coac
, dashed wildly through the procession, VI
| setting portion of the brass band, and viz
lently grazing the wagon which containe
, the beautiful young women in white.
Years hence gray haired men, who wei
little boys in this procession, will tel thei