The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-18
GRANTS WHITE MOUNTAIN RIDE.
Eleven Miles Over Rough Road in Less
Than an Hour.

In the May st. Nicholas George b.
smith tells of remarkable ride once
made by Gen. Grant from the village of
Bethlehem to the Profile House in the
White Mountains. The driver was Ed
ward Cox, and Mr.. Smith describes the
ride us follows:
When, about : 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 the glance of a connoisseur, at
| once recognized its excellence. Walking
| quickly TO the drivers side, he said TO
Cox, ''if you have no objections l win
get up there with you" ''It is pretty
rough riding up here, General was the
reply. II can stand it il you can," said
Grant, as he climbed TO the place and
settled himself The President was
| dressed in high silk hat, black suit and
a long linen buster, covering as much of
his clothing 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 a
.'whisti' and with spring, in perfect
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
10 the Profile House, saying that they
had gone, and the time was noted. II
was precisely o'clock.
| At the Profile large company had
gathered in the office, waiting for the ar
rival. Among them We're several stage
drivers, who, with becoming gravity, gave
various opinions, as sages and oracles of
| profundity In road knowledge, and fully
| discussed the situation. 1t was known
that Cox intended 10 break all records II
he could but 1t was the unanimous ex-
preston 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 1t ? 1-2, as the last
three miles We're right up into the noun
tain, with "a steep grade all the way inIo
| Eranconia notch. But that he could
make the II miles in less than two hours
was not believed for moment.
4 Those of my readers who have visited
this famous hotel, the Profile, will re-
member Echo Lake and the little cannon
kept there 10 wake the echoes This
| beautiful sheet of water famous far and
/ near for Its echoes and their many repe-
titions, Is about a quarter of a mile from
the hotel, and the presidential party had
| 10 pass IL % get to the house. IL had
| been arranged that when they drove by
| ahn4afd fire. 10
nounce 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
-bangi went the gun. The echo maker
had spoken. We looked at the clock
hanging in the Office. 1t was not believed
| II was the President. 1T cannot bei't
Look al the timel" Some mistake has
been madeiN such were the expressions
heard on all sides.
| The proprietor hurried n bell boy to
/ the lake to ascertain why the gun was
fired before the time. But It was the
expected party. In what seemed an in
credibly short time we heard the tramp
| ing of the flying steeds, and the rattle Of
the chariot; and In another moment
/ they swept around the corner of the house
| into plain view
| Never win forget the scene as they
| swung into the large circular space be-
| fore the building. Ed Cox stood up on
the footboard, with teeth set, eyes blazing
and every rein drawn tight in his hands.
| (Ien. Grant sat beside him, holding his
hat ON with one hand, the other grasping
the seat. The eight horses were on the
| fun run, with mouths wide open. cars
back fiat TO their heads, and nostrils dis
| tended. They were covered with sweat
and foam, yet all under control of the
magician on the box. AS they made the
Ia "A Il. II. =
Cox threw his weight on the brake and
| % pped at once. He had made the drive
n precisely IS minutes.