The Princeton union., 1880-06-24

WarQ. 1Q0 S0Ot WAS 1dGA I'd 0uSdT
Foot's predatory excursions, for, while
his companions fled, he crawled into
miners cabin and gave up his sinful
ghost.
There are other stories told Of Park
hurst to show the daring conduct of the
man in the face Of difficulties and dan
gers. It is told that once, while driving
a fractious four n-hand from Oakland to
San Jose, the n ran away so suddenly |
as to throw Parkhurst from the box.
Still retaining his grasp on the lines, he
was dragged along until he succeeded in
turning the runaways into the chaparral,
where they caught among the bushes and
stopped. To show their admiration of |
the drivers pluck, the passengers made
up and presented him with purse
of $40.
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.
During 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 Oak
land and San Jose stage road, where, as
on the Calaveras line, he made himself a
favorite with all who travelled with him
by his pleasant, quiet behavior and cool
resolution. He added to his 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 aban-
doned his petty throne when the steam
horse invaded his province and he saw
that Ichabod was written over the
driving, Parkhurst had occasionally in
winter time varied his employment by
following the trade Of lumberman. In
the woods. as behind his skin 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. woodman. Farm
ing, too, was a calling which he seemed
at home in, SO 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.
About the year 1858 he dropped the
whip and reins, and opened a station and
saloon on the road between Watsonville
and Santa Cruz, at a point about half
way between the Aptos Laguna and the
first heavy sand hill as you go toward
Watsonville. At this place he furnished
the hay and grain for the stage horses
on contract, got also fair wages per
month for taking care of the teams, ETC.,
and kept his bar and stopping-place be-
side. He smoked, chewed tobacco,
drank moderately, played a social game
of cards or dice for the drinks. and was
"one Of the boys" Parkhurst, however,
was never addicted to loose life.
Though usually CHEEKY and agreeable
with those into whose society he was
thrown, he was always inclined to be
reticent about his affairs. That is, he
was social, but never communicative; a
| pleasant but never q joyful companion.
He had no particular friends either on
| the roads on in the fields. and was not
disposed to be what is known as chum-
my. Especially was he not a love-mak
er; and petticoats, even when surmount
ed by trim bodice and pretty face,
were without special attractions. There
was, at one time, an owner Of both pet
| ticoat and face who seemed to have made
a little deeper impression than the rest
of her sex. Near the ranch on which
Parkhurst first settled lived widow
with an only daughter. Somehow or
other they did not prosper, and misfort-
une at last overlook them in the shape
of Sheriff's sale. Parkhurst bought
the place and gave it back to the widow;
and, though it was said at the time that
| the good deed was promoted by the
daughters good looks, the report is null
lifted by the fact that soon after he left
the neighborhood and settled near Wat.
sonyille.
Parkhurst's ceibacy was not enforced
by poverty, as the neighbors very well
knew, for, being Of a saving disposition,
he had amassed a comfortable fortune oi
some thousands of dollars; that is, :
comfortable fortune inasmuch as it was
sufficient to insure him competency
In course of time he rented out his sta
tion, and went into the cattle-ralsins
business. After raising quite herd o
cattle, he sold out of that business, and
| being sufferer from sciatic rheumatism
| he sought less laborious avocation, ant
went to raising chickens in the hills bacl
Of Aptos. In this last occupation h
continued for some years, but fnall..
yielded to his rheumatic troubles, sol,
his ranch to Porting deposited tn
proceeds, or part Of them, in the Banl
Of Watsonville, and retired from activ
life to live on the interest Of the money
Near the Seyen-Mile House. out of Wat
sonyille, is a little cabin, and there. du,
ing the latter years Of his life, Parkhurs
has resided He was well known to th
} townspeople and those on the surround
5 ing farms as quiet little elderly gentle
, man Of about go years Of age, badl
$ afflicted with rheumatism; not given
talking much, but apparently contente
, to live unnoticed and alone. This rher
t matism was the natural result of the e,
treme exposure and hard work to whic
: lie had been subjected all his lifetime.
e The winters SHOWS In the woods, til
Q years passed with his face turned III
8 flinchingly to the wind and rain, and Ii
a general carelessAess as to results, playe
J. havoc with what must originally hay
i