Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-10
Horace Greeley's Ride to
Placerville.


every town. He had written pow
erfui leaders in the Tribune, in IA
vor of 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 pieces
home to remember him by.
The citizens of Placerville pre-
pared to fete the great journalist,
and an extra coach, with extra re-
lays of horses, was chartered OF
the California Stage Company to
carry him from Folsom to Placer
ville-distance forty miles. The
extra was in some way delayed.
and did not leave Folsom until
late in the afternoon. Mr.. Gree
lev was to be feted at seven
o'clock that evening by the citl-
zens of Placerville, and it was al
together necessary that he should
be there by that hour. So the
Stage Company 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, care
you aware that | must be at Pla
cerville at seven o'clock to-night?'
Owe got my orders" laconical
ly returned Henry Monk.
Still the coach dragged SLOWLY
forward.
Sir, SAID Mr.. Greeley, this !
not a trihing matter. | must b
there at seven
Again came the answer: DIV
got my orders"
But the speed was not increased
aud Mr.. Greeley chafed away al
other half hour; then, as he wa
again about to demonstrate wit
the driver, the horses started int
a furious run, and all sorts of Ell
couraging yells filled the air fror
the throat of Henry Monk.
"That's all right, my good fel
low!" said Mr.. Greeley. "Tll Civ
you ten dollars when we arrive a
PIacerville. Now we are going
They were, indeed, and at tel
rible speed.
Crack! crack! went the whiI
and again that voice split the all
"Git up! Hi vi! G'long, Zip zip!
And on they tore, over stone
and over ruts, up hill and down
at rate never before achieved b
stage horses.
Mr.. Greeley, who had been bour
cling from one end of the coach t
the other like an india-rubber bal
managed to get his head out of tn
window, when he said:
"Don't-on't-on't you-u-u thin
we shall get there by seven if W
don't-on't go so fast?'
GIVE got my orders!" Tha
was all Henry Monk said. An
so on tore the coach.
1t was becoming serious. A
ready the journalist was severel
sore from the terrible jolting, an
again his head "might have bee
seen" at the window.
"Sir," he said, 81 don't car
if we don't get there at seven!"
81 have got my orders!" Fres
horses. Forward again, taste
than before. Over rocks an
stumps, OH one of which the coacl
narrowly escaped turning sum
merset.
"See herel" shrieked Mr.. Gree
ley, 81 don't care if we don't ge
there at ALL"
"Pve got my orders! / worl
for the Californy Stage Company
l do. That's what 1 work for
They said, git this man througl
by sewing An this mans goir
through. You bet! Ger long
Whoo ep!"
Another frightful jolt, and MI
Greeley's bald head suddenl..
found its way through the roof of
the coach, amidst the crash o.
small timbers and the ripping Of
strong canvas.
"Stop, youmaniac!" h
roared.