The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-31
PaRS0U JIn.


 The express trains of that monu- ment of engineering skill, the Denver and Rio Grande hallway, now daily traverse the extreme eastern portion of the Rocky mountains, lying be- tween the city of Denver on the north and Pueblo on the south and summer tourists, as well as all- the year round men of business, pass over the pictur- esque road by hundreds and by thou sands in the course of single year. There was time, however-not very long since, either-when white men were very scarce in that section, and when the only means of locomotion was a much dilapidated Concord coach, whose trips were alleged to be weekly, though, as matter of fact, the time- schedule of said coach was practically filled out to suit the driver, as he, with much "cussing" and little speed, carried Uucle Sam's mails from stage to stage.
 Rather more than twenty years ago there was, about midway between Denver and Colorado Springs, a point on the road where the broad valley narrowed into deep and wild gorge, known as the George Washington gulch. The george is there yet, l presume, but the name has apparently disappeared, there being no such sta- tion on the railway, nor, so far as l can discover, such place on the re- vised maps of Colorado. But in those old days George Washington gulch was relay station of the Denver stage line. Leaving Indians out of the question, they being of a. ubiqui- tous nature, the resident population of the gulch numbered three souls, all told, while a census would have re- vealed the fact that these all occupied the same dwelling house. There was in those times no town or settlement of any account between Denver and the Springs, so that the stage com- pany was compelled to establish a number of stations at perfectly wild and appropriated points, to effect proper change of horses. So rough shed had been erected in the gulch to do duty as barn for the accommoda- tion of the four horses usually to be found there; while adjoining was a frame mansion, consisting of one apartment, which served as sleeping room, parlor, dining hall, and kitchen for the three inhabitants, as we'll as being the official headquarters of the Hon. Samuel G reen, who, in addition to his position as agent of the stage company, held postmaster's commits sion from the president of the United States.
 The honorable-be it remembered that MT. Green was a government of- ficial, though no postoffice business had ever passed through his hands, not even letter to or from himself, unless we count those which had to do with stage business and went "deadhead"-the Hon. Samuel Greens companions in the solitude of the gulch were a negro named Ananias- doubtless from his propensity for prevarication--who was chief groom of the stables; and half breed h. dian, whose main occupation was to trap and shoot game and then cook it. The latter individual was known as Francis Murphy, and his chief falling was fondness for nndiluted whisky.
 At the close of fair summer day, the Hon. Samuel Green, with Messrs. Murphy and Ananias, sat together on bench placed along the front of their residence. The two last-named gen. tlemen were still enough to justify one in the supposition that they must be sleeping; but the Hon. Samuel was busily engaged in rapping and rub ping two or three little pieces of rock which lay in the palm of one of his hands. He was evidently much in- terested.
 "'Nias p said he at last.
 "Sah?"responded the woolly headed darky, rubbing his eyes.
 "Pm a-goin' through to Denver with Bill tomorrow" Bill was one of the drivers on the stage line; the other was Si-abbreviated from Silas. ) The postmaster continued: "You an Francis Murphy keep awake part O the time, an sorter watch things while Pm gone-do yer ketch on?"
 "Yes, in course, sah."
 Four days later the Hon. Samuel Green returned to the gulch from