Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-13
MIR. GREELEY'S RIDE.

tEEAsCf g
An Incident OF His Visit 10 CalifOrni.
When Mr.. Greeley was in California ova
tons awaited him at every town. He bat
written powerful leaders in the Tribune il
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 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. --a--. s.se,fa 81
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 &C.
count delayed and did not leave Folsom
until late In the afternoon. Mr.. Greeley
was to be teted at 7 o'clock that evening
by the citizens Of Placerville, and 1t 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 great man must be there by
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, "you are aware
that must be In Placerville at 7 O'Clock to-
night?"
"TVe got my orders!" laconicslly return
ed Henry Monk. ~
Still the coach dragged slowly forward.
"Sir," said Mr.. Greeley, '.this is not q
tri1iDo rnrrsf ho thora aa1ax, %
Again came the answer, T've got my or
ders!'
But the speed was not Increased, and Mr..
Greeley chafed away another half hour,
when, as he was again about to remon-
strate with the driver, the horses suddenly
started into furious run, and all sorts of
encouraging yells filed the air from the
throat Of Henry Monk.
That is right, my good fellow said Mr..
Greeley. Tll give you ten dollars when we
get to Placerville. Now we are goingp
They were, indeed, and at terrible speed.
Crack! crack! went the whip, and again
that voice split the air: "Git up! hi ii! g'longl
yip-yip."
And on they tore, over ruts and stones,
up and down, at a rate of speed never be-
fore achieved by stage horses.
Mr.. Greeley, who had been bouncing
from one end of the coach to the other, like
an India rubber ball, managed to get his
head out Of the window, and said:
D-on't-on't yOu-u-u--think-e
shall get there by seven IL we don't go
SO fast?'
I've got my orders That was all
Henry Monk said. And on tore the
coach.
1t was becoming serious. Already the |
journalist was becoming extremely sore |
from the Jolting, and again his head might |
have been seen at the window.
Sir he said, Il don't care-are-are if |
we don't get there at seven
I've got my orders
Fresh horses forward again, faster than
before; over rocks and stumps, on one Of
which the coach narrowly escaped turning
summersault.
See herer shrieked Mr.. Greeley, Il don't
ARE If We don't get there at all
I've got my orders. work for the Cali
ornia Stage Company, do; that's wot
work for They said, Cit this man
through by seven sAn' this mans goin'
through, you bet! Gerlang! whoopr
Another frightful jolt, and Mr.. Greeley's
aid head suddenly found It's waJ through
he roof of the coach, amid the crash Of
imbers and the ripping Of strong canvas.
"Stop, you-maniac!" he roarsd.
Again answered Henry Monk: give got
ny ordersl Keep your seat, Horace,m
At Mud Springs, a village a few miles
'om Placeryille, they met large delega-
on OF citizens Of Placervills, who had
ONE out to meet the celebrated editor and
scort him into town. There was a mill
Try company, brass hand, and a six ;
Orse wagon-load OF beautiful damsels In :
lilk-white dresses, representing all the
tates in the Union. 1t was nearly dark I
ow, but the delegation was amply provid-
/ with torches and bonfires all along the
lad to Placerville.
The citizens met the coach on the outside
Mud Springs, and Mr.. Monk refined In bis ,
aiming steeds.
ais Mr.. Greeley on board?r asked the
lairman of the committee.
"He was few miles back" said Mr..
onk. "My orders are as follow: Get
IN there by seven. 1t wants a quarter to
ven. Stand out of the way" .
"But, sir" exclaimed the committee
en-, Selling the off-leader by the reins,
Vi. Monk, we are to escort him into
wn. Look at the procession, sir, and the
ass band and the people, and the young 7
omen sir" !
"rve got my ordersw screamed Mr..
onk. "My orders don't say nothing
out no brass bands and young women. :
y orders says, Git him there by seven.
st go them lines. Clear the way there.
oo-ep! Keep your seat, Horacel" and
coach dashed wildly through the pro- A,
ssion, upsetting portion of the brass
nd and violently grazing the wagon
lich contained the beautiful young 81
omen In white.
Years hence gray-haired men who were
this procession, will tell their grandchil-
en- how the stage tore through Mud
rings, and how Horacs Greeley's bald
ad ever and anon showed itself. like a >.
Id appsrition, above the coach roof. %
Mr. Monk was on time. There is a ira
ion that Mr.. Greeley was very indignant
: while; then laughed, and finally pre-
1ted Mr.. Monk with a bran.new suit of
thes.
Mr.. Monk himself Is still in the employ
the California Stage company, and is
her fond of telling story that has made
n famous all over the Pacific coast. But
saws he Yislds to no man In bis adnira