Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-15
STAGE COACH WITH A HISTORY.

Ex-sscretary of Agriculture j. Sterling
Norton Buys a Relic of Old Days in
Nebraska.
Kearney. Neb. July 12. The citizens
OF kearney will miss this year the old
overland" stage coach, formerly owned
by Mayor Hubert. but now the prop
erty of Hon. j. Sterling Morton. his
son, Carl Morton. having bought il
few days ago. This old landmark has
played a more or less important part
in all Fourth of July celebrations and
other appropriate occasions ever since
Kearney was frat settled and it brought
a feeling OF regret and disappointment
TO many when they saw the old relic of
bygone days loaded On the train for its
new home. 1t had been hoped that the
city would buy it and keep it here for
all future time, but Mayor Hubert
sold it before almost anyone else was
aware of it, and then it was too late.
Ths old vehicle has I'm interesting
history, given by Mr. Hubert as fol-
lows: 1t is what used to be known as
the Concord 10 passenger coach aud was
fret run on the original overland
route'' which from Kearney west was
almost the same route now travelled by
tho Union Pacific railroad. 1t was first
put into service in 1862, and II run
from st. Joseph. NO.. to Kearney.
Neb., but it was transferred from one
district 10 another SO that it has trav-
eled the entire distances from st.
Joseph, Mo-, to Salt Lake City. Utah.
several times.
After the Union Pacific was com
peted in 1863, the coach was sold to
the Pioneer Stage 10. and run from
Red Cloud to Riverton, Franklin, Re.
publican City, Alrna and Orleans. 1t
was purchased by Mr.. Hubert in 1876
and used by him in his contracts with
tho government over various routes run
ming out of Kearney, but Kearney has
been its home for the past y years. An
effort will be made to induce Secretary
Morton to place the coach in the trans
portation eXhihit of the Trans M issis-
sippi Exposition.
While the old coach was always fortu-
nate in its trips none OF it's passengers
or drivers ever having been injured, it
met with one mighty exciting expert
ence. 1t happened in the month OF
July, 1865, about month before the
great Indian massacre on the Little
Blue, which was August 9th. "Old
Bohb'' Emory was driving, and had
Just got into what was commonly called
by the drivers "Tho Devils Cap"
which was a dry creek bed near the
Little Blue River, with high banks on
either side and thickly covered with
sage brush and small trees, just tho
kind of place the Indians delighted
to find and lie in ambush, whom bang,
bang. went several rifles. The driver
gave his horses q cut with his whip
and turning off from the main road
succeeded in escaping without injury,
but it was a close call, as one of the
horses got bullet through one of his
ears. The coach was carrying ut the
time nine passengers, of whom four or
five wero mon and the rest women, but
aside from an exciting ride they were
none the worse for the adventure.
Among the noted passengers who have
occupied this particular coach ara
Brigham Young, "Artemus Ward"
and "Josh Billings" 1t has seen long
and hard usage. and it is entitled to
the good caro- and admiration 1t will
not receive for the service it has been
aud the part it played in settling up
this magnificent State.