Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-01-01

.Dbto Stattsrlr,art.
Horace GreeIey's hide 10 Placer
From Artemus Wards New volume.l

when Mr. Greeley was IN CaliIOrnla
ovations awaited him at every town. lie
had written powerful leaders in the Tribune
in favor 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 there to see
them. .,-. ,........ .....t,
At one town the enthusiastic populace
tore his celebrated white coat To pieces, and
carried the pieces home to remember him
by. ~ .,t.r
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
10 carry hilnrfrOm 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..
Greeley was to be feted at 7 o'clock that
evening by the citizens of Placerville, and
it 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 great man mustbe there
by 7to-night." And Henry answered,
"The great man shall be there" Ii =
The roads were in an awful state, and
during the first few miles out of Folsom
slow progress was made. -,....... 49,. ..
"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, "are you aware
that must be at Placerville at O'Clock to-
night?" les7Iy hsfil s. .9
"Pve gotmy orders!" laconieally return
ed Monk. ,-,.. .t, t.-.
. Stin the coach dragged slowly forward.
-i"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, ''this Is not a
trifling matter. must be there at n"
, Again came the reply, i've got my
orders J"
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 start
ed into a furious run. and all sorts of en-
couraging yells filed the air from the throat
of Henry Monk.
"That is right, my good fellow !" cried
Mr.. Greeley. "I'll give you ten dollars
when we get to Placerville. Now we are
gOingw
They were indeed, and at a terrible speed.
Crack, crack went the whip, and again
"that voice" split the air, "Git up there!
Hi vi! G'long! Yip-yip"
And on they tore, over stones and ruts,
up hill and down, at rate Of speed never
before achieved by stage horses.
Mr.. Greeley, who had been bouncing
from one end of the coach to the other like
an Indian-rubber ball, managed to get his
head out of the window, when he said:
"Do-on't-On't-on' think
we-e-e-e shall get there by seven il we
do-on't-on't go quite so fastw
"I've got my orders !" That was all
Henry Monk said And on tore the'coach.
It was becoming serious. Already the
journalist was extremely sore from the ter
rible jolting, and again his head "migbt
have been seen" at the window.
tsSir," ne said, Il don't care-care-dir, if
we don't get there at seven" l.
IL have got my orders !" Fresh horses.
Forward again, faster than before. Oyer
rocks and stumps, on one of which the
coach narrowly escaped turning asummer-
set.
"See here! =" shrieked Mr.. Greeley, 81
don't care if we don't get there at all !"
"Tve got my orders! work for the
Californy Stage Company, l do. That's
wot ,cork for. They said, git this man
through by sewing. An this mans going
through. You bet Gerlong! Whoo-ep!"
Another frightful jolt; and Mr.. Greeley's
bald head suddenly found its way through
the roof of the coach, amidst the crash of
small timbers and the ripping of strong
canvas.
stop, you-maniacw ~ he roared.
'l'v got my orders Keep your seat, Hor-
dcem
At Mud Springs, a village few miles
from Plaeeryille, they met large delega-
tion ofthe citizens of Placerville, who had
come out to meet the celebrated editor, and
escort him to town. There was military
company, brass band, and six horse
wagon load of beautiful damsels in milk
white dresses, representing All the States
in the Union. 1t was nearly dark now,
but the delegation were amply provided
uyifh tOrchac aO1 hnnfirnc hlozad oil olann
the road to Placerville.
The citizens met the coach in the out
skirts of Mud Springs, and Mr.. Monk rein
ed in his foam-cOvered steeds.
sis Mr.. Greeley aboard?" asked the
chairman of the committee.
He aoas feD miles back said Mr.. Monk;
"yes," he added, alter looking down
through the hole which the fearful jolting
had made in the coach-roof-"yes, can see
him! He is there "
''Mr. Greeley" said the chairman of the
committee, presenting himself at the win
dow of the coach, "Mr. Greeley, sir! We
are come to most cordially welcome you,
sir!-why, God bless me, sir, you are bleed
ing at the nosew .,g
"I've got my orders!" cried Mr.. Monk.
"My orders is as follows: Git him there
by seving? 1t wants quarter to seviugr
DGduu OuGOl-CIl6 way .t.. aa ... f....t. .... q.
=."But, sir" exclaimed the committeeman,
seizing the off leader by the reins--"Mr.
Monk, we are come here to escort him into
ltownl Look at the procession, sir, and the
brass band, and the people, and the young
women, STRIP r
"I've got n,g orderS1" screamed Mr.. Monk.
my orders don't say nothin' about no brass
band and young women. My orders says,
Cit him there by sewing = Let go them
linesl Clear the way there! Whoo-ep !!
KEEP YOUR SEAT, HoRACRlm and the coach
dashed wildly through the procession, up
setting portion Of the brass band, and
violently grazing the wagon which con-
tained the beautiful young women in white.
Years hence, gray haired men, who were
little boys in this procession, will tell their
grand children how this stage tore through
Mud Springs, and how Horace Greeley's
bald head ever and anon showed ITSELF like
"a white apparition, above the coach-roof.
Mr.. Monk was ON time. There is a ira
dition that Mr.. Greeley was very indignant
for awhile; then he laughed, and finally
presented Mr.. Monk with a bran new suit Of
clothes. Nul ea 10 ia'HW 4@a .t
Mr.. Monk himself Is still In the employ
OF the California Stage Company, and is
rather fond Of relating story that has made
him famous all over the Pacific coast. But
he says he yields to no man In his admira-