Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-09-23
A STAGE DRIVERS STORY.


Danbury to Littlcton, a distance of
forty-two miles, and us | had to
await the arrival of two or three
coaches, and | did not start until
after dinner, | very often had a
good distance to dive after dark
1t was in the dead of winter and
the season had been very rough
one. A great deal of snow had
fallen, aud the drifts were plenty
and oeep. The mail that | carried
was not due at Littleton until 1
O'Clock in the morning, and that
winter the postmaster was obliged
to be up little later than that hour
for me.
One day in January when l drove
mp with my mail at Danbnry, the
postmaster ca led me into his office
"Pete,' said he, with an im-
portant, serious look, "there's some
pretty heavy money packages in
that bag" and ne pointed TO it as
he spoke. He said the money was
from Boston to some land agents
up near the Canada lire. Then be
asked me if | had any passengers
who were going through to Little
ton. told INN | did not know,
"Bnt suppose | have not p says |.
"Whv," said he, "the agent of
the lower route came in to-day,
and he said that there were two
suspicious characters on the stage
that came up last night, and he
suspects that that they have an eye
on this mail, so it will stand you in
hand to be u little careful this even
ing.
He said the agent had described
one of them as Il short, thick set
fellow, about 40 years Of age, with
long hair, and thick, heavy clunip
OF beard under his chin, bnt none
on the side OF his face: [ did not
know anything about the other. l
told him | guessed there wasn't
much danger.
ooh, no, not if you have got
passengers all the way through, bnt
| only told you this 60 that you
might look out for your mail and
also look out sharp when you
change horses"
l answered that | should do SO,
and then took the bag under my
arm and left the office. slowed
the mail away under my scat a
little more carefully than usual,
placing it so that | could keep my
!cet against it, but beyond that |
did not feel any conccrn. 1t was
past one when we started, and ]
had four passengers, two OF whom
rode only to my first stopping
place. l reached Gowan's Mills at
dark, when we stopped for supper,
and where my other two passengers
concluded to stop for the night.
About 6 O'Clock in the evening
| left Gowan's Mills alone, having
two horses and pug.
| had seventeen miles to 90. and
a hard seventeen it was too. The
night was quite clear, but the wind
was sharp and cold, the loose snow
flying in every direction, while the
drifts were deep and closely packed
1t was slow, tedions work, and my
horses soon became leg weary and
Festive. At the distance OF six miles
came to little settlement called
Bulls Corner, where | took fresh
horses: I'd been two hours going
that distance. As [ was gcing t,
start a man came and asked me if
was going TO LittIeton. i told him
l should go through if the thing
could possibly be done. lie saio
he was very anxions to 60, and az
he had no baggage | told hin, to
jump in and make himself as COM
Portable as possible, ] was gather.
ing IN my lines when the hostile
came up and asked me if | knew
that one of my horses had cnt him
self badly. ] jumped out and ~en
with him, found that one of thu
animals had got a deep cork cut OF