Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-06-25
CHARLEY PARKHURST.

The story of Charley Parkhurst, the
noted California stage-driver, reads more
like romance than it does like verified
tale of real life. San Francisco papers
give us very interesting sketches Of
Charley. He first appeared on the box
seat of the stage-coach running from
Oakland to San Jose; after that, driving
from Stockton to Mariposa, and again
from San Juan to Santa Cruz. The stout,
compact figure of about five feet six
inches, broader across the hips than
across the shoulders, the sunbrowned
face, beardless save few struggling,
downy hairs, the bluish-gray eyes and
sharp, high-pitched voice, the set but
not unpleasant features, moved now and
then with a rare smile, the deliberate
movement which seems to be q fashion
OF the fraternity, were as familiar to the
passengers on these routes as the chuck
holes in summer. How he drifted to Cali
fornia in the first days of the gold-min-
ing fever is not exactly known, for in
that time Of hurry, hustle and struggle
tho ordinary unassuming man was very
likely to be overlooked. His true name,
even, in the light of present circumstan-
ces, has become matter OF conjecture.
The generally story of the late
Charles Parkhurst is, however, as fol-
lows:
He was born, it is stated, in New
Hampshire, and worked on a; farm with
his uncle until quarrel arose between
the two, when Charley moved to Provi-
dence, r. I. There he remained for
some time as coachman in the employ of
a Mr.. Childs. From Providence he went
to Georgia, and became stage-driver,
continuing in that State and occupation
for two years. He used further to state
that one Jim Birch, noticing his capabl-
ties as driver, brought him to Califor-
ma and placed him upon an opposition
line to drive from Oakland to San Jose.
Whatever question there may be about
this story, there is none as to his eff
cheney on the drivers perch, nor as to
the unfai;ing nerve that lay beneath his
ordinary exterior. An incident in his
early career as stage-driver will illus
trate this. Once in winter, when the
rain was coming down in sheets, Us it
had been for three days past, and the
coach was laboring along through mud
almost to the hubs, Parkhurst was
hailed by stray wayfarer and told that
the bridge across the Tuolumne river
was in a shaky condition, and that it
would not be wise to risk driving over it.
Parkhurst answered never q word. but.
gathering up the lines with one hand,
he cut the swings and wheelers across the
launches with the other. and pushed on.
Soon the swollen stream came in
sight It was smashing and roaring like
a mill-race. The brid &c was next seen,
and Parkhurst. clearing the rain from
his eyes, perceived that, IN very short
time, there would no longer be any
bridge, for it was already shaking on its
foundation. The solitary passenger
begged of Parkhurst not to venture ",
the creadng structure, but Charley,
setting his teeth together and gathering
the reins with q firm grip, sent the long
whiplash curling about the leaders, ears
and eyes with 80 VICIOUS q swing that,
giving a wild leap, they plunged for
ward on to the bridge. The planks
trembled under the horses hoofs and
rocked beneath the wheels, but, with q
final effort, cheering cry from Park
hurst and a flying lash, the opposite
shore was gained in safety gained only
just in time, though, for, looking back
at the turn of the road, the further end
OF the bridge was seen to sway over the
stream for moment and then 20 tum.
bling into the waters.
There were other dangers on this
Stockton and Mariposa road than those
of food, for highwaymen abounded, and
one could never tell where progress
might be stopped by leveled shotgun,
q masked man grabbing the leaders
headstall. and the hoarse command to
throw out the treasure-box. Parkhurst
had not long been running when such
an interruption occurred. The choice
was offered him, in the cleaning of
certain evening, between receiving the
contents of two double-barreled shot
guns and delivering up the contents of q
strong chest. Parkhurst looked at the
figures disguised with hideous-Iooklng
caps, and masks made out of legs Of
drawers, pulled down over the face, with
two holes cut in them for the eyes, ar!!,
was disposed to parley. The ominous
lingering of two triggers, and the knowl-
edge that his little gun was inaccessible,
very nearly decided him, while a pistol
barrel inserted in the near leaders off
ear afforded him convincing proof that,
for the nonce, discretion would be the
better part of valor. The box was
dropped, but with it Parkhurst gave the
warning that he would not let matters
stop there, and that some time or other
the same gentleman, or any of the kind,
should hear from him in q less pleasant
way.
After that Parkhurst was not only for
ever on his guard, but was always on the
lookout for a chance to get even with the
road-agents. The chance was not long
In coming. There was at that time
noted desperate known as Sugar Foot.
Going here and there, terrorizing the
passengers on 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 Park
bursts threat, for he associated with
himself for the enterprise quite posse
of highwaymen.
The moment Of attack was chosen, the
choice being Influenced by the report Of
q 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 change from the
usual programme when Parkhurst, draw
ing pistol, let fly right and left, and,
with pull on the reins and call to the
horses, sent them flying through the dis
comfted robbers. Charley had aimed ut
the man who appeared to head the gang,
and had the pleasure OF seeing him clasp
his hand to his breast and tumble back
ward. The shot was fatal to Sugar
Foot's predatory excursions, for, while
his companions fed. he craWled into q