The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-12

I.tir DAY s. time. 1T could then be
edited and arranged at leisure, and
tn gu question OF its printing be, con-
! sldered secondary. Tue first and chief
thing is to get the record made for pre-
servatIon III the State Library archives.
ADDITIONS To THE RAILROAD EXHIBIT.
The Southern Pacific Company has
added three more exhibits 20 the trans
portaIon" exposition, that completes it.
| The first is a bundle of three poles
strapped to the sides of a mustang, the
neaVy ends dragging upon the ground
Iils was the plains Indians method OF
transportation, the most primitive agency
known where other than human muscle
was employed. Just behind this pole
carnage IS Mexican "carrata," an enor-
mously broad, coarse. heavy cart, on
Wneels cut from logs, with pole heavy
enough Tor brigantine's foreyard.
rms old vehicle is q strange affair indeed
Behind 1T stands modern farm wagon of
the best order. Then comes the COM
pound locomotive and the elegant day
coach OF 1892, and thus the whole history
OF Paclhc Coast transportation is illus
trated by most vivid contrasts.
THE EMPRESS" HISTORICAL EXHIBIT.
The history of Wells, Fargo q Co.
forms large part of the history of the
Pacific Coast. Ii was eminently proper,
therefore, that it should be represented in
the historical Department.
Two weeks - the time allowed-waS
hardly sufficient for an exhaustive col
lection to represent the express business,
but the management has done we'll, and
put on view an exhibit which includes,
among other curious things, the follow
| ing:
| An old mud wagon" or winter stage,
OF the type which carried the overland
mail and Wells, Fargo y Co.'S express
before the advent of the Iron horse"
| " lille It's particular service is not known,
the following from an old stage driver
may be accepted:
| IL was built early in the sixties by Alb
bott, Downing G Co. Of Concord, y. H.,
and shipped by them to san Francisco,
and sent TO the sage brush OF Nevada, and
was used until the last spike was driven
at Promontory. 1t was soon after taken
to Oregon by Ben Holiday and placed in
service on the route from Portland to
Roseburg, and remained until the engines
met that connected Oregon and California
by rail. To ''old-timers'' it calls up the
names of celebrated drivers, such as
Steve Wrlghtmeyer, Sandy Bob, Billy
Rice, Big John Littlefeld, Charley Gran
dali, Hank Monk, and others, men ia
nous In the old days for their skill in
plotting stages, but who long since have
| crossed the river"
The reward posters referring to rob
berries committed, and one issued at Ne
yada in 10 shows the celebrity with
which crimes were punished in those
days, for 1t bears upon ii the Endorsement
OF n. ID. Tower, the longtime agent Of
Wells, Fargo ~ Co. at Nevada, that
steve Vennard killed the three robbers
and brought in the treasure the same
day"
a photograph of Aaron Y Ross, who
While acting as messenger for Wells,
Fargo & Co. was attacked by six robbers
at Montello, New, G. p. r. r., July,
1888. He fought them three hours and
twenty minutes, and they finally retire =
bearing with them the body of one of
their number mortally wounded, who
died shortly after.
An iron stage safe shows the marks of
robbers tools in an unsuccessful attempt
to break it open. The canvas bag be-
longing to Messenger Roberts in the last
train robbery, at Coils, on the Southern
Paclhc, shows the effect OF dynamite
used. Two stage boxes broken open by
robbers at Reddlng at AlturaS are shown.
O4d-tlme arms are on view, used by
messengers, consisting of sawed-otf.
muzzle-loading shotguns, pistols, etc.
One curious old pistol, which in these
days would be considered a toy, was used
in the early titties by Pillsbury Hodg-
Substantially known as Chips from
the fact of his having been at one time a
carpenter. Chips" died last week in
San Francisco, and with the name of the
company he loved so we'll and had served
so long upon his lips. He was endeared
to all who knew him, and his faithful
work is expressed as follows: "He car
ried millions, but was never 'short'n
Two packing trunks-a large and a
small-showing how the increase in bust
ness necessi tated increase in the size of
working tools. An iron safe, formerly
fitted in under the rear seat of the stage.
A picture of the Pioneer Stage line,
Louis McLane d Co., Proprietors, from
Sacramento to Virginia, carrying the
United States Mail and Wells, Fargo d
Co.'s Express" is brown with age, and
the gold upon the frame-the original
is well-nigh gone.
A picture is seen of the HAL & Gran
dali Stage Line" afterward merged into
the California Stage Company" This is
said to be the earliest stage print on the
coast. The first draft drawn by Wells,
Fargo Co.'s Bank, July IL, 1852, in
favor of Mrs. Sophia Parker of Buffalo.
n. Y, for 500. photographs of the head
quarters OF the company in San Fran
cisco and the City OF Mexico are shown.
A notice is seen, dated San Francisco.
1861, to the effect that the express trunk
between San Francisco and Los Angeles
had been robbed, and giving list of VAL
tables stolen. In the list are United
States warrants, the property of Captain
w. S. Hancock, afterward Major General
in the United States Army, and the
Democratic nominee for President of the
United States; also, notices in regard to
buckskin bags for gold dust, Of the
sailing days" of the steamers from San
Francisco, of a reduction in rates, of the
division to consignors OF the express
matter received from the wreck of the
steamer Senator, etc.
A copy of the advertisement of the
Sacramento Valley Railroad is dated
1857 and signed j. 2. Robinson, Superin-
tendent. A note at the bottom informs
the public that the stages arriving in Fol-
som in time for the II NJ. train, will ar
rive in Sacramento in time for the San
Francisco boats. Wells, Fargo IL Co.
ranked envelopes; franks for the Pony
Express, testify to the cost OF writing TO
the dear ones at nome in those old DAYS.
Old way-bills, from Weaverville to
Shasta, dated 1859, show the numer-
Gus shipments of gold dust and gold
bars. Saddle-bags and spurs, used by
the Pony Express riders, are exhibited.
A picture of the exterior and interior of
Wells, Fargo IL Co.'s old. office in the Par
rott building, corner of Montgomery and
California streets, San Francisco, is on