The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-18
T1MANCE OF THE ROAD.
Green 81 Four-Horse Express-A Story of
Negro Mountain.
From the cumberland News.

. SuiiluCIIduu NEWS.
? QuIfa Eecently a communication ap
peaged in your paper in regard to tn
fasT horseback mail express, over tn
old national highway, with brie
reference to the four horse expires
line oyer the same road, which ceased
more than forty years ago-at The
time the b. 4 O. reached Wheeling
the name of which was Green's eX
press Go. Elijah Fuller, referred to il
the paper mentioned, was a driver
for several years upon the line ant
can giS'e many interesting incidents
with bis Strong recollections. His
rout OF Is miles was from Sand Spring
just h{vond Frostburg, Hiram Sut.
ton u the hotel keeper to Grants
I vile, Ut tsss1 new Shultz hotel, one OF
the finest those days, now school
house.
During the Mexican war of 1846-1S4S
a great deal of hard money was
carried from the East to the West in
these immense vehicles, something
like the great ice wagons that ply the
streets of Cumberland. The coin
thus carried was for the soldiers en-
gagged in that war.
The paper money of the day was
not deemed good enough for soldiers
fighting the battle of their country
When a wagon was thus freighted
there would be guard of two soldiers;
one sitting outside with the driver
and the other on the inside among
the money kegs or barrels.
Among the jolly drivers was one
Joe Clint. One day as he was passing
down the western slope of Negro
Mountain with freight of the pre-
cious metals, the unwieldly vehicle
upset" and one of the vessels burst
ed open, and away went the coin all
over the road At once there was
satanic temptation, almost too strong
for human nature. Still these Gus
todians gathered up the fugitive
dOuble-eagles and eagles and put
them back in the vessel. but after it
had been repaired.
Upon further search. q number of
pieces was found in the dust and
sand on the road. 1t was to much
trouble and there was too little time
to open the keg, so the stray pieces
went into the mems pockets instead
of the vessel. 1t was said the little
loss was never missed nor noticed.
p. Bnt about midway up the eastern
battie II ,end between the Negro
and Indian from which the mountain
takes its name) was in the long past
the scene of an occurrence of a diff
ferent character, with far more ser
iOus consequences. At this place
there was a well known tavern" at
the time kept by two respectable
brothers; one was newly married to
a fair daughter of the mountains and
the other bachelor.
The stage coaches then carried the
great United States mails i'll large
leather bags. Frequently these sacks
contained big sums of paper money.
The mail drivers were selected with
| much care. They were expected to
be honest, reliable and fit in every
respect. Among these trusted men,
was one from a very prominent and
respectable family-was bright and
| intelligent, and great favorite; but
at last he fell from grace never to rise
again.
At the tavern mentioned was a
famous watering place for man and
beast. Neither man nor beast passed
without quaff of the limpid water.
Just below the fountain was deep ra-
vine with its many wagOners the
year round, a CONVENIENT place to
conceal things.
The driver referred to, of favor
able night stopped there to water the
thirsty horses An arrangement
had been made, between the fallen
stage driver, and the keeper of the
hotel, who took one or more of the
mail bags with the conviance of the
driver. They contained large sums
of money which was divided among
the guilty ones. Suspicion soon fell
upon the guilty parties and in due
time they were arrested by the United
States authorities and were carried
to Baltimore where they were tried
in the United States court. The
driver and one of the hotel men were
convicted and sent to the peniten
tiary. The convict brother was not
legally guilty and would not hav,
been convicted but to screen the
married brother, took upon himsel
the guilt of the other who never re
ceived any punishment for hi
crime.
When this part of the proceeding
leaked out Stockton the eminen
stage proprietor interposed and tn
vicarious man was pardoned by Presi
dent Taylor and sent home, and liveC