Bismarck tribune., 1880-06-25

choice being influenced by the report of
a 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 a 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 q call to the
horses, sent them flying through the dis
comfted robbers. Charley had aimed at
the man who appeared to head the gang,
and had the pleasure OF seeing him clasp
his hand to bis breast and tumble back
ward. The shot was fatal to Sugar
Foot's predatory excursions, for, while
his companions fled, he crawled into q
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 dam
gers. It is told that once, while driving
fractious four -in-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
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 hisky 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
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 Iclabod was written over the
balmy days of staging. Even while
driving, Parkhurst had occasionally in
winter time varied his employment by
following the trade of lumberman. In
the woods. as behind his six-in-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 wa,
reckoned an A No. woodman. Farm
ing, too, was 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 social game
of cards or dice for the drinks. and was
zone 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 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-
N.Y. Especially was he not a love-1nal1-
er; and petticoats, even when surmount
ed by trim bodice and a pretty face,
were without special attractions There
was, at one time, an owner Of both pet
ticoat and face who seemed to have made
little deeper impression than the rest
of her sex. Near the ranch on which
Parkhurst first settled lived a 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
sonville.
Parkhurst's celibacy was not enforced
by poverty, as the neighbors very well
knew, for, being Of saving disposition,
he had amassed a comfortable fortune Of
some thousands of dollars; that is, a
comfortable fortune inasmuch as it was
sufficient to insure him a competency.
In course of time he rented out his sta
ton, and went into the cattle-ra1sing
business. After raising quite a herd OF
cattle, he sold out Of that business, and,