The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-10-08


A traveller who, one hundred years
ago, went q journey in u coach.and-
four, took his seat in vehicle unlike
any now to be seen. 1t was not much
more than Il huge covered box,
mounted ON wheels. Neither steps, nor
doors, nor windows, nor coachman's s
seat, nor covered sides, nor boot for the
baggage, was used.
The Hat roof was upheld BY ten
posts that rose from the body OF tho
stage, and the body was commonly
breast high. From the roof hung cur
.ains of leather, to lie rolled up If tho
day were fine. and lei down and but
toned when rainy and cold. Within
were four seats. Without. on the roof.
were the few bags and bundles that
passed under the name Of baggage.
Having made up his mind whether
he would go by the New Line" or the
"Swift Sure" or the Stage Packet" "
the traveller would present himself at
the stage Office TO secure his seat. No
ticket was bought, but the fare was
paid at the Office desk. and his name
put down on the stagc-bill for u certain
day. Fourteen pounds Of baggage were
carried for him without charge, But II his
portmanicau or his bra>s-nail-Studded
hair trunk weighed more than that, he
paid for IL at the same rate per mile as
he did for himself. On no account was
&c suffered to carry more than one
hundred and fifty pounds weight of
baggage.
When the luggage had been weighed,
thc horses attached and the small let
ter.bag brought out, the passengers
were summoned. clamberei in over the
drivers seat. sat down with their faces
toward the horses, and while the coach
rolled away at the rate Of six miles an
hour made themselves as comfortable
as they could.
To sit all day cramped up on q harl
seat in n jolting vehicle, annoyed by
ilics, half.chokcd by the dust, burned
by the rays Of the scorching sun. was
enough 10 try the temper of the best
naturcd of men. In winter the inmates
OF the coach were half.frozcn by the
cold. Prudent travellers provided them
selves with foot stoves. and when the
wood.coal, burnt out, begged the driver
TO stop at the nearest farmhouse, or
the first tavern. that they might get
more. But the annoyanccs were never
so great as in the spring. Then the
roads were hardly passablc. On the
best of them the ruts were deep, and
the mud in many places up to the hubs
Of the wheels. To be compelled to
llight thrSe or four times day. and
wade through mud anklc-deep for a
mile; to BE- asked by the driver to lug
at the wheels. while no lashcd the
horses till the traces nearly broke,
were incidents which travellers in the
spring. time were sure to meet with.
One man. on his way from Baltimore
to Philadelphia declares that he spent
The half Of one day trudging after the
coach, that he often "put his shoulder
to the wheel" and that, in the even.
ing after dark, the vehicle suddenly
brought up in a miry bog. Ge. it out
they could not; but were forced to leave
1t. baggage and all. and grope their
way to the nearest house, about n mile
OIL. Next morning new coach was
secured and the journey continued.
Another traveller, going to Baltimore,
met with greater hard,hips still. He
started in February and, just after pass
ing the village Of Havre-de-Grace, the
axle-trec of the coach broke into two
pieces. A wagon was procured with
some difficulty. and the trunks and pas
sengers taken to the next staSe-inf'
There another coach set out, which,
towards dusk. was oyerset in wood.
The night was passed around q misGr-
able fire. AT daybreak the whole party.
in n storm of sleet and rain. walked to
wretched ale-house three miles from
Baltimore. But the host would not al
low one of them to dry his clothes be-
fore the kitchen fire.
When the printer Of the Maryland
Journal, Baltimore newspaper. was
asked TO publish an account OF this
rip, he refused. The accident was. he
said. very unfortunate. But travellers
must expect such things. Besides, II
he published an account, the stage-own'
ors would get angry and refuse to carry
his newspapers over their line.