The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-06-17
CHANTS WHITE MOUNTAIN RIDE
Eleven Miles over y Rough Road In
Less Tbau nm Hour.

Less Innm I'm hpur.
George Il. Smith tells of remarka-
BILE eide once made by Gen. Grant
from the village of Bethlehem TO the
Profile house in the White mountains.
The driver was Edward Cox, and Mr..
Smith describes the ride as follows:
When, about seven o'clock of that
calm August evening, the presidential
party stepped out of the Sinclair house,
Gen. Grants trained eye, sweeping over
the team with glance of connoisseur,
nt once recognized its excellence. Walk
ing quickly TO the drivers side. he said
to Cox: "If you have no objections,
will get up there with you" "It is
pretty rough riding up here, general"
was the reply. 81 can stand IL IL you
cam" said Grant, as he climbed to the
place and settled himself. The presi-
dent was dressed in high silk hat, black
suit and a long linen duster covering as
much of his clothes as possible. The
others OF the party adjusted themselves
In the big. heavy wagon according to
their ideas of comfort, and all was
ready. Sixteen people were in that
vehicle, including Mr.. Cox.
n "whist!" and with spring, in per-
feet unison, the noble animals were off
for the Profile. The telegraph operator
at the st. Clair sat with his finger on
the key, looking out of the window and
watching for the moment of the start.
A message at once flashed over the wire
TO the Profile house. saying that they
had gone, and the time was noted. 1t
was precisely seven o'clock.
At the Profile large company had
gathered in the Office, waiting for the
arrival Among them We're several
stage drivers, who with becoming grav-
ity gave various opinions, as sages and
oracles of profundity in road kncwl
edge, and fully discussed the situation.
IL was known that Cox intended 70
break all records IL he could; but il
was the unanimous expression of the
drivers, knowing every foot OF the road
as they did, that ed" could not make
the drive in less than two hours. and a
portion of them thought he had better
make il two and half, as the last three
miles were right up into the mountain.
with a steep grade all the way into
make the II miles in less than two
hours was not believed for m omeut.
Those of my readers who have visited
this famous hotel, the Profile. will re-
member Echo lake, and the little can
non kept there to wake the echoes
This beautiful sheet Of water, famous
far and near for its echoes and their
many repetitions, is about quarter of
mile from the hotel, and the presi-
dental party had to pass il to get to the
house. II had been arranged that when
they drove by the gunner should fire
the cannon, TO announce the fact to the
house. At the hotel we were listening
for the signal gun, chatting. discussing
the event and passing the time as best
we could, when-bang! went the gun.
The echomaker had spoken. We
looked at the clock hanging in the
office. 1t was not believed it was the
president. 1T cannot bel" "Look at
the time!" "Some mistake has been
made!" Such were the expressions
heard on all sides.
The proprietor hurried a bellboy to
the lake. to ascertain why the gun was
fred before the time. But 1t was the
expected party. In what seemed an in
credibly short time we heard the tramp
ing of the flying stceds, and the rattle
of the chariot; and in another moment
they swept around the corner of the
house into plain view.
Never will forget the scene, as they
swung into the large circular space be-
fore the building. Ed Cox stood upon
the footboard, with teeth set, eyes
blazing and every rein drawn tight in
his hands. Gen. Grant sat beside him,
holding his hat on with one hand, the
other grasping the seat. The eight
horses were on the full run, with
mouths wide open, ears back fiat to
their heads and nostrils distended.
They we're covered with sweat and
foam, yet all under perfect control of
the magician on the box As they made
the circle and drew up in front of the
hotel, Cox threw his weight on the
brake and stopped at once. He had
made the drive in precisely So minutes
st. Nicholas.