The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-01-29

hoarse command to throw out the treas
ure-box. Parkhurst had not long been
running when such an interruption &C.
CURED. The choice was offered HIM
in the cleaning of a certain evening
between receiving the contents of two
double-barreled shotguns and deliver
ing up the contents of strong chest.
Parkhurst looked at the figures dis
guised with hideous looking caps and
MASKS made out of the legs of drawers
pulled down over the face, with two
holes cut in them for eyes, and was dis
posed to parley. The ominous finger.
ing of two triggers, and the knowledge
that his little gun was inaccessible, very
nearly decided him, while a pistol bar
rel inserted in the near leaders, off ear
afforded him convincing proof that for
the once discretion would be the better
part of valor. The box was dropped,
but with it Parkhurst gave the robbers
a warning that he would not let mat
tiers stop there, and that some time or
other the same gentlemen, or any of
the kind should hear from him in a less
pleasant way. After that Parkhurst
was not only forever on his guard, but
Was always on the lookout for chance
to get even with the road agents. The
chance was not long in coming. There
was at the time a noted desperate
known as Sugar Foot. Going here and
there, terrorizing the passengers on q
dozen routes, Sugar Foot at last decided
to change his base of operations to the
Calaveras road. It is probable that he
had heard of Parkhurst's threat, for he
associated with himself for the enter
prise quite posse of highwaymen. The
moment of attack was chosen, the
choice being influenced by the report
of . heavy booty to be obtained, and
while Parkhurst was one day driving
back home from Mariposa to Stockton,
Sugar Foot and his band leaped into the
road. There was the usual demand,
the usual tactics OF wicked muzzles
pointing at the driver, and rough hand
at the leaders heads. But there was a
change from the usual programme
when Parkhurst, drawing a pistol, let fly
right and left, and with q pull on the
reins and call to the horses sent them
flying through the discounted robbers.
Charley had aimed at the man who ap-
peared to head the gang, and had the
pleasure of seeing him clap his hand to
his breast and tumble backward.
THE SHOT WAS FATAL
to Sugar Foot's predatory excursions,
for while his companions fled he
crawled into a miners cabin and gave
up his sinful ghost. There are other
stories told of Parkhurst to show the
daring conduct of the man in the face
of difficulties and dangers. It is told
that once, while driving fractious
four,in-hand from Oakland to San Jose,
the team ran away so suddenly as to
throw Parkhurst from the box. Still re-
tanning his grasp. on the lines he was
dragged along until he succeeded in
turning the runaways into the chap
paral, where they caught among the
bushes and stopped, Toshow their ad-
miration of the drivers pluck the pas
sengers made up and presented him
with a purse Of 500. Again, when
drivers were scarce he did double duty
by driving both ways over the road,
keeping on the box night and day, and
earning double pay for months. Dur
ing his career as stage driver he was
kicked by frisky horse in the left eye
so violently as to destroy the sight. It
was from the loss Of this organ that he
received the nickname "One-Eyed
Charley" by which he was commonly
called. Leaving the Calaveras road he
took the position of boss driver on the
Oakland and San Jose stageroad, where,
as on the Calaveras line, he made him
self favorite with all who travelled
with him by his pleasant, quiet be-.
havior and cool resolution. He added
to this reputation on the San Juan and
Santa Cruz road, where he was known
as one of the crack drivers and best
whips in California. Altogether he sat
on the stage-coach seat for fifteen years,
and only abandoned his petty throne
when the steam-horse invaded his
province, and he saw that Ichabod was
written over the palmy days of staging.
Even while driving Parkhurst had
occasionally in winter time varied his
employment by following the trade of
lumberman. In the woods, as behind
his six.in-hand, he gained the name
Of being expert and thoroughly reliable.
The heaviest work was never Stunned.
He welded the ak with such vigor and
skill that he was reckoned
AN "A NO. / WooDsIAN. r.
Farming, too, was q calling which. he
seemed at home in, 80 when he stepped
down from the stage coach for the last
time, It was not to be shiftless and idle
for want Of any other employment.
NJ 5ss .5 "a