Middletown transcript., 1880-02-21


tory excursions, for whilst his compan
ions 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 D
the man in the face Of difficulties and
dangers. 1t is told that once, while
driving fractions four-in-haad from
Oakland to San Jose, the team ran
away 80 suddenly as to throw Park.
hurst 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 a
purse Of $40. Again, when drivers
we're scarce be did double duty BY
driving both ways over the road, keep
ing on the box night and day, and
earning double pay for months Dur
ing his career as stage driver he was
kicked BY a frisky horse in the eye 50
violently as to destroy the sight It
was from the loss Of this organ that he
received the nickname Zone 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 stage road,
where as on the Calaveras line, be
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. Alto
gether he sat on the stagecoach 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 balmy
days Of staging. Even whilst driving
Parkhurst had occasionally in winter
time varied his employment by follow
ing 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 vas never Stunned. He welded
the Ak with such vigor and skill that
he was reckoned an A No. | wood
man. Farming, 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 shift
less and idle for want Of any other EN-
ployment.
About the year 1858 he dropped the
whip and reins and opened a stage
station and saloon on the road between
Watsonville and Santa Cruz, at point |
about halfway between the Aptos La
guna and the first heavy sand-hill as
you 90 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 beside. He
smoked, chewed tobacco, drank mod
erately, played a social game Of cards
or dice for the drinks, and was zone
Of the boys" Parkhurst. however,
was never addicted to loose life. |
Though always CHEEKY and agreeable
with those into whose society he was
he was always inclined TO be
reticent about his affairs That is, he /
was social, but never communicative;
d pleasant but never a joyful compan-
ion He had no particular friends
either on the roads or in the fields, and
vas not disposed to be what is known
Is chummy. Especially was he not a
ove-maker and petticoats, even when
,urmounted BY trim bodice and a
pretty face were without special at
fractions. There was, however, at one
ime an owner Of both petticoat and
ice who seemed to have made a little
leeper impression than the rest Of her
lex. Near the ranch on which Park
hurst first settled lived a widow with
IN only daughter. Somehow or other
hey did not prosper, and misfortune
It last overlook them in the shape Of
Sheriff's sale. Parkhurst bought
he place and gave it back to the wild
Nv, and though it was said at the time
hat the good deed was prompted by
he daughters good looks, the report
5 nullifed by the fact that soon after
lie left the neighborhood and settled
lear WatsonvilIe. Parkhurst's cell
,acy was not enforced by poverty, as
he neighbors very we'll knew, for be
ng Of a saving disposition he had
.massed comfortable fortune Of some
thousands Of dollars; that is, Cum
ortable fortune inasmuch as it was
efficient to insure him a competency.
n course Of time he rented out his
tation and went into the cat.le-rais {
ng business. After raising quite ,
erd Of cattle he sold out Of that bust ,
ess, and being sufferer from sciatic [
heumatism he sought less laborious
vocation, and went to raising chickens
! the hills back Of Aptos. In this 8
ast occupation he continued for some q
ears, but finally yielded to his rheu- i
latic troubles, sold his ranch to a Por- {
1guese, deposited the proceeds, or a {
art Of them, in the Bank Of Watson Q
lille, and retired from active lite to e
We On the interest Of his money. 5
lear the Seven-mile House, out Of a
VatsonvilIe, is little cabin, and there, o
uring the latter years Of his life. ,
arkhurst has resided. He was well t
nown to the toWnspeople and those 4
d the surrounding farms as a quiet, o
tile elderly gentleman Of about sixty f
ears Of age, badly afflicted with rheu- g
atism, not given to talking much but q
pparently contented to live unnoticed
i'd alone. This rheumatism was the
atural result Of the extreme exposure Il
i'd hard work to which he had been Fl
objected all his lifetime Fl
The winters SHOWS in the woods, il
le years passed with his face turned il
to the wind and rain, b
ID his general carelessness as to re- h
IA l-I ln,xoo NTH what must | =