The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-04-12
LIFE ON THE ROAD.
INCIDENTS OF STAGE TRAVEL IN THE WEST

The man who has not enjoyed a
long journey by stage over some of
Stephen w Dorsey's famous ''star
routes" in the West, has something of
/ life yet to experience. Enjoyed is
the proper word, for though there are
incOnyeniences, though one may be-
come an icicle in the high attitudes
of the mountains. have his eyes red
dened and his throat parched by the
alkall dust OF the sage brush valleys,
or pay full fare and then walk for
miles, carrying rail on his shoulder
| with which to pry the stage out Of the
mud, there are new experiences in
staging one can but look back upon
with considerable pleasure. He emeets
all sorts OF queer characters and has
many strange adventures, while If
the driver himself, especially if he be
one Of the old stock, 1.-The last leaf
upon the tree" of the old staging
times, he finds an original genius
whose acquaintance will pay for cult
vation, and whose stories of adven
ture have the high merit of being ex-
tremely y entertaining, 50 much SO that
one cares not to inquire too closely as
to the naratOr's veracity.
Time was, not many years ago.
when the huge Concord stage. with
its six galloping horses, urged by the
long, stinging lash Of the big hated
tobacco splitting driver. was the only
means of transportation on the Pacific
coast for passengers, express and mail
save the few steamers where naviga-
bic waters offered them a chance to
compete. There were great trunk
lines from which a perfect net work
of small lines ramitied every settle
ment and mining camp. The net
work still remains, but the great trunk
lines are for the most part, suppressed
ed by the iron horse. Such great lines
as that from Sacramento, Cal, to
Portland, Ore, and from Walla Wal
la, Wash. to Helena, Mont, have long
since given way to the railroad follow
ing the example set nearly quarter
of century ago by the great over
land stage line established by Ben
Holiday, from Independence, Mo, to
Sacramento. That was the greatest
stage enterprise of the world, and for
ten years it detied Indians and high
waymen, and carried thousands of
passengers and millions of treasure.
Now the lines are shorter and the
huge coach with its score Of passeng
ers, its great load of trunks, express
boxes and mail sacks, is seen on but
few of them, and yet the traveller can
get from them all the staging expert
ence he wants. including an impromp-
tn interview with the lone highway
man"
The forerunner of the stage in the
mines was the mounted express, mes
sengers being pushed into the noun
tains in all directions as early as 1850.
to reach every little mining camp.
These messengers carried treasure
and small packages, but their chief
business was in handling mail. They
took lists of names to such postoffices
as Marysville, Sacramento, Stockton
and San Francisco, and searched for
letters and papers. At first they
charged 81 letter, but competition
soon reduced this 20 81 1t caused
them to pick up their heels. Rivalry
reached fever heat, and it was daily
struggle to make the fastest time
| Often long distance races We're run by
pre- arrangement. Such a race was
run from Sacramento to Yreka, about
800 miles, with the presidents mes
sage, in March, 1858. Horses We're
stationed along the route at ten mile
intervals, and were kept saddled for
two days waiting for the messenger tC
dash into view. This race cost Adams
4 Co, the winners. 81 800, and Wells.
Fargo & CO. fully as much, Soon
stage lines succeeded these mounted
messengers and held the field until
the iron horse appeared, and are now
the means of communication between
the railroad and all interior points.
The wonderful pony express, from
Sacramento to Independence, Mo,
was the last of the mounted express
lines.
The skill of the old time driver is
wonderful. With his long whip lash
he can touch up any horse in his team
with singing admonition to behave
or TO increase his speed, making the
lash alight on any portion of the ami
mails anatomy he may choose. Civ
ing the whip preliminary twirl
about his head, his hand firmly grasp
ing the short stock. he throws it for
ward with a swinging motion and then
gives it a backward twist. and the
long lash uncoils itself with snap
like the crack of a pistol. Ihave seen
a bird sitting on fence by the road
side killed in this way, the stage
bowling along at the rate of ten miles
an hour. But this dexterity with the
whip is largely ornamental. Il is in
the handling of the reins and the
heavy foot brake where the skill is
most important. 1t is here that acci-
dents are averted and lives saved
On the down grade the brake is al
most the sole reliance There is nc
other means of holding the stage il
check. A few years ago, on the steer
grade between Lake Tahoe and True
kee. the brake rod broke while {
heavily loaded stage was descending
The horses were forced into a run tx
keep out of the way, and in spite o
the desperate efforts of the driver tn,
stage went off the grade and plunged
down the steep bank, killing or wound
ing majoriy of the passengers anC
frightened animals. Coming down
steep grade on Siskiyou mountain on
bright moonlight evening l had al
exciting experience somewhat similar
! | was the only passenger. and sat o.
the left of the driver. securely strap
PED IN by the apron. In some wa
the six horses became frightened an,
plunged down the steep grade a
gallop. The brake was of no SCI
vice whatever. The driver was COG
and had them under sufficient contrc
to keep them on the grade, but he wa
afraid that when he came to the tur
IN the road at tho foot of tho hin III