Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-15
COACH RIDING IN DAKOTA.
PIERRE, D. Z. June 10 80.

from Deadwood, this morning. after a
two days journey by stage, which is a
very tiEesome trip, as the passenger
has to sit up in a crowded stage. He or
she will try and find some easy posi-
ton to hold theig head after being out
one night, and will perhaps catch hold
of the hand strap, on the side Of the
stage and rest the chin on the arm,
and perhaps those tired eyslids will
fall down for moment over the pupil
of bloodshot, sleepy, swollen eye just
long enough for one of the front
wheels of the vehicle to drop Into a
| deep rut on one side while the hind
wheel goes into one On the opposite
side, the sudden lurch of the coach
forward has sent you in the same di-
reotion until you meet the recoil, your
hand has been tore loose from its grip
on the strap, and you come up chang"
against the square edge Of the two
inoh hoop of the Concord stage, just as
you have started into dreamland, with
visions of Jesse James, Buffalo Bill.
Crow Dog or Sitting Bull, fitting
through your tired brain, you sudden
ly wake, throw up your hands and
stare wildly and listen for the ward to
deliver up your valuables, But as you
only hear the sigh or groasfrom your
fellow passenger and sufferer, and the
rumble of the coach, you drop your
hands and feel for the damage YOU
have sustained by coming in contact
with the aforesaid hoop or the corner
of an iron bound trunk, or freight box.
Smarting and bruised some sympathiz-
ing passenger will ask on hearing your
groan or exclamation of desire for day.
light: Glow you are making it" or eff
you are really happy" 1t is too dark
to see where to strike and fortunately
your company don't all get bumped at
the same time in the same place, and
| presume this accounts for there be-
ing no veyards along the road. I
will make few suggestions to the
travelling public and those contemplate
ing starting business at this paint or
Deadwood.
First, the travelling community
should demand of the Northwesters
Transportation Company, that they
add to their passenger coaches a safe
depository for hats, boots etc. whereby
passengers could get checks for the
same on leaving the train at Pierre,
and receive them safely at the end of
their journey by paying fair recon-
pensation, they could thereby save the
hauling of thousands of tons of gumbo
by furnishing each station along the
line with gumbo proof boots and shoes
made out of creased lightning or some
unstiokable substance. This same
company, or some other, ought to start
boxing glove attachment, at each
end of the road, whereby gentleman
or lady on checking his hat or her
bonnet, could receive on entering the
stage, pair of boxing gloves. These
gloves should be fixed with adjustable
straps to fasten under the chin, the
knuckle pad would cover each cheek,
ear and temple and insure the passen-
ger protection and pillow when he
chose to take nap, or to kiss his girl.
The girl being willing, they could come
up on the gloves and roll gently round
on the gloves until their mouths met
and sob, my! without the seriousness
Of getting sent flying by the sudden
lurch of the vehicle bang up against a
5000 diamond in the ear of stranger
lady. tearing the jewel out and filling
your own eyes with the mashed
up straw from the lady's hat.
One day you have to be packed
in like the type of weekly news
paper. The next day. you may have
to occupy space where you will be
tossed and pitched and receive as
many bats as base ball in a contested
game on fair day. l am to utterly
stage coach" to-day, but will add that
l met and breakfasted with an old
friend Dan Sherwood. formerly from
Portage City, Wis. The lumbermen
all know him. He owns nice farm
in Nebraska. but is keeping hotel in
Fort Pierre. and doing well. | am
stopping at the Northwestern hotel
kept by Mr.. 0. 7. Southworth former
ly from Jackson county. Wis. Found
Miss Ella Hiles. of Dexterville, here.
She says she enjoys good health and
the society of Pierre. l prophesy a
prosperous large and beautiful city in
the near future being built at this
point,
Yours Respectfully,