Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-06-18

GRANTS WHITE MOUNTAIN RIDE
eleven Miles Over a Rough Road in
Less Than an Hour.

eleven Miles Over a Rough Road in
Less Than an Hour.
George b. Smith tells of remarka.
bic ride 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,
at 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" at IL
pretty rough riding up here, general"
was the reply. II can stand 1t If 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 long linen buster 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.
The driver frightened the reins with
"whist!" and with spring, in per-
feet unison, the noble animals were off
for <ba p,.of,la The faIa oro ,,t ,Da,., t,,,-
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 were several
stage drivers, who with becoming grav-
ity gave various opinions, rs sages and
oracles of profundity in road knowl-
edge, and fully discussed the situation
1t was known that Cox intended IL
break all records II he could; but II
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 q
portion of them thought he had better
make 1t two and half, as the last three
miles were right up into the mountain
with steep grade all the way into
Franconia Notch. But that he could
make the II miles in less than two
hours was not believed for moment.
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 repetltions, Is about quarter OF
n mile from the hotel, and the presi'
dental party had to pass it to get to the
house. 1t had been arranged that wher
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 bes
we could, when-bang! went the gun
The echo-maker had spoken. W.
looked at the clock hanging in tn,
Office. 1t was not believed 1t was th,
| president. "It cannot bel" Look IA
the time!" "Some mistake has beer
made!" Such were the expression,
heard ON all sides.
The proprietor hurried bellboy t.
the lake, to ascertain why the gun wa
fired before the time. But It was tn,
expected party. In what seemed an in
credibly short time 1--WE heard the tramp
Ing Of the flying stceds, and the rattl
of the chariot; and in another momen
they swept around the corner OF tn
house into. plain view.
Never will forget the scene, as the,
swung into the lame circular spnce be
Fore the building. Ed Cox stood npoi
the footboard, with teeth set, eye
blazing and every rein drawn tight n
his hands. Gen. Grant sat beside him
holding his hat on with one hand, tn,
other grasping the seat. The eigh
horses were on the full run, will
mouths wide open, ears back fiat Il
their heads and nostrils distended
They We're covered with sweat ant
foam, yet all under perfect control o
the magician on the box. As they mad
the circle and drew up in front OF tn
hotel, Cox threw his weight on tn
brake and stopped at once. He ha,
made the drive in precisely So minutes
st. Nicholas.