The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1890-03-29
MEEkER HERALD.



longer known Ia the frontier. II is the
overland stage driver ~ lie existed N
the DAYS before the whistle Of a lOcomO
tive WIS heard on the western bank Of
the Missouri. Those who have come
here on the railway aud In tile Puliman
ear have never seen him, Tor will the
railways their occupation was gone and
they som b.clme scattered. The carly
paiusm1n knew them, and entertained
for them a hearty respect. They were
brave. h.rlf, rough, bis,heartell class
Uf fellows, with big virtue, and big
faults Many were unlctt-rei AMI
brutal; some wer. natural gentlemen.
apI diamonds la thr rough. Asa class
they were honest. and possessed OF "a
steady nerve, "a cool daring. u sterling
integrity which surpassed that Of other
men. The Instances where they gave
up the Treasure box except under tic
muzzic OF a ruad as-uts shnt gun are
extremely are-s1 rare, IN fact, that
thry can b. counted ol ones lugegs,
while no, = trw fell dead In the boot
rather than Weld lo that always START
ling order Throw olt the box"
/, ~..s dur.ng the 20. tia, tbs over
land stage diver Was Ia the full mi b..
menl Of his power and his fame. ben.
yeT W,,s always ulc ol the hea lqIartrrs
OF the line. tie drivers, with their
corduroy OF ye'yr, suits. broad brimmrd
hats. br1Hzrl faces aud sturdy forms,
being familiar figures on uIr strr,i,.
II WAS always real pleasure 90 see
Them handle their sp'rHdid teams,
Stsulin: to- front 0f tlir Old Meas Of
ice on ans m1g4iu=, one would hear
IIr rattle % ti- coach. Round the
corner num 10. Oh barn AZ the corner
~ Artpli1s anil Fifteenth. tao pr4nc-
iug leaders would come In sigh, on the
E.ling, then The SWING, and whrc'cEs
ou bu,A trn'. the cnach turning
circle ~ almost mathematical ACCURACY.
while on the box sat the driver handling
tile rulns with an ease and grace md
s-if.,rs,s,-,slun that showed himself the
master ~ the skin hand. The rounds
~ the hotels N-T- made. the stop q, tiir
OF "a foT the treasure box anu WAY hill.
and away al sallup for the long jour.
uhy a-r1s, the plains, or oyHT the
mountains 20 SAT- l.4sr.
Nany columns might h. written about
the ID stage ir.yefs but there Is uul,
one Mo can b. mentioned ut this iims
and ons whose name b. familiar o. all
oil time citizens. AMI tina, IL the usme
oi Bills oislNkr. Bills va, the most
celebrated -! too mountain driver. whu
drove bgiNran Denver aud Central. auI
-; this line BE- drove lot many YEAR.
lie was = fair representative % the ella
81, already described. but especial,
celebrated Tor his strength. skill. nerve
aui integrity The roaI wa, a fair
mountain highway. bot s1u,- parts Of
Il were dangerous, Particularly GIy .
Hill aud Saith iliiI IN les weather
Ent over this steep and ~iniing SAY.
through mountain Storm. and iiskiug
all the p-fiis Of snos and ier. nili,
Opt K. drove ii. coach for years and
II yer killed or Injured a passenger.
Tue treasure box was always safe ia
his care. Frequently u contained
ih1nlrrfs l1'h IN hulii1u aud currency. /
but when entrusted tn his care Il AWAY.
reached rs destination untouched AMI I
unframed. lie was frequently ap-
psu1eh.l b. fpii agent, or their rau- .
ieierAtes. but BINS integrity was as
sure A. the strength Of lis arm. The f.
treasure bor never could have left the I
b1o; Of hts coach without Blls life hai
gone with u.
Bus iay0stH team was knoSu -
the mountain maids" II WIS com. I
plseI Of live hand spme has mares aud .
onr biy horse, "Old Joe. who WIS tie
nigh leader. Six iinrr animal, never I
went Ia harness. They w.T. ilrrt. /
strong. spirited wcll trained and rrcus.
niL.i their driver /. y1ic. on the instant. I
There was not u hnrsa IN the team I
valued NJ les, thln SOD aud the of
leader. 3" Noble, hti been bought out
IL u buggy in Denver hy Superintendent
Bcnham ior 500. II WIS with this
team that m ls.s Bil!y OplSke drove
Generals Grant. Sheridan aud Dent
from the summit VI Guy iIill to Golden
tity--nine milcs-in thirty six minutct
Grant never forge; the ride. and Bills
Dpdyke always recalled IL as the PROUD /.
est period of his life when the great
commando; sat on the box beside him
aud praised the beauty and sped and
spirit of his mountain maid team.
After the stage line was withdrawn