Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-23
WELL KEPT.
The Life Secret OF Charley Parkhurst,
a Famous California Stage-Driyer.
Death Of II Western Character, and
Discovery that lie Was II Woman.
san Franclsco Chronicle.


San Francisco Chronicle.
The stage.drivers OF California have
by their ntrepidity, sang froid, and
daredevil reeklessness mingled with
cool calculation, become historical
characters Hank Monk, with his
memorable "Kcep your seat, Horace,
I'll bring you thar on time,' and Ben
Foss in his wild drive along tho Geyser
road, are familiar personages to all who
ever heard OF or lived in tho Golden
state. a third worthy is to be added in
the person Of Charley Parkhurst, who
Mt his death achieved celebrity which,
by its attendant strangeness and ro-
nance, places him first ~ tho trio. To
the miners Of the pioneering Days Park
hurst was known as stage driver Of
renown, while to IN of later date he will
henceiorward be remembered M n per
spnage who kept II secret MI his life
long unsupported and intact, ind only
gave il up to II power which either
buries IL forever from sight or strips
away all mystery and makes all plain.
Everything IL common before the great
loyelcr, dta nth. There are many who,
upon reading this sketch of II living and
dead mystery, will remember Charley
Parkhurst Oh the box-seat to the stage
coach running from Oakland To San
Jose; others who will remember him
driving from Stockton to Murposn, and
again others who recolleot him M send
ing the dust flying along the road from
San Juun 10 Santa Cruz Tho stout,
compact figure of about five feet six,
broader across the hips than across the
shoulders: tho sunbrowned face beard
less save for II few struggling, downy
hairs; tho blush gray eyes, and sharp,
high-pitched voice; tho set but not UNI
pleasant features moved now and then
with u rare smile, the deliberate move
ment which eeems to BIO fashion of
the fraternity, were M familiar TO tho
PASSENGERS ON THESE ROUTES
M the chuck-holes in summer. How he
drilted 10 California in the first days of
the gold mining fever, is not exactly
known, for in that time of hurry, hustle
and struggle, the ordinary unassuming
man was likely to be overlooked. Moro.
over, 70 far nothing has been discovered
M to where he came from or who aro
his friends in the Atlantic states. His
true name even, in the light of present
circumstances, has become u matter of
conjecture. The generally accepted
story Of the lato Charles Parkhurst il,
however, ~ follows; He was horn, il il
stated, in New Hampshire, and worked
on n farm with his uncle until quar-.
rel arose between the two, when Char
ley moved to Providence, II. l. There
he remained for some time AZ coach.
man in the employ of Mr.. Childs,
From Providence he went to Georgia,
and became stnge.driser, continuing
IN That state and occupation for two
years. He used further TO state that
one jim Birch, noticing his capabilities
M driver, brought him to California
and placed him upon MI opposition line
to drive from Oakland to san jose I'm
fortunately Birch was drowned in the
good ship Constitution, 80 that tho vori-
icaton OF this volunteered sketch is not
possible, while tho facts which have re-
Gently come to light lead ono to imagine
that II was Il plausible story which Park
hurst found useful as n foil for too strict
interrogatons. Whatever question
there may hoabout this story, There is
none to his efficiency i'll the drivers
perch, nor to the uniailing nerve that
lay beneath his ordinary oxto ior. An
incident in his early career vs. II stage
driver will, illustrate this, Once III win
ter, when the rain was coming down in
sheets, rs il had been for three days
past, and the coach was laboring along
through mud almost to the hubs, Park
hurst was hailed by II stray wayiarer
and told that the bridge across the Tuo-
lumne river was in shaky condition,
and that il would be wise not to risk
driving over It. Pnrkhurst answered
never u word, but gathering up tho 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. 1t was swashinr
and roaring like mill.race. The bridge
was next seen, and Parkhurst, clearing
the rain from his eyes, perceived that in
very short time there would no longer
be amy bridge, for il was already shak-
ing on its foundation. The solitary
passenger begged Of Parkhursl not 10
venture on the creaking structure, but
Charley, setting his teeth together, and
gathering the reins III firm grip, sent
the long wlip-lash curling about the
leaders ears and eyes, with SO vicious
swing that, giving wild leap, they
plunged forward on to the bridge. The
planks trembled under the horses hoofs
and rocked beneath the wheels, but