The record-union., 1897-05-22
GRANTS WHITE MOUNTAIN RIDE
Eleven Miles Over a Rough Road in
Less Than an Hour.

u.
Smith tells of aremarkable ride once
made by General Grant, from the VIZ
lage of Bethlehem to the Profile House
in the White Mountains. The driver
was Edward Cox, and Mr. Smith de-
scribes the ride as follows:
When. about Z o'clock of that calm
August evening, the PRESIDENTIAL par
ty STEPPED out of the Sinclair House,
General Grants trained eye, sweeping
over the team with glance OF
connoisseur, at once recognized It's ex-
cellence Walking quickly to the drlV-
er's side, he said to Cox: If you nave
no objections, 1 will get up there with
YOU 1T is pretty rough rldlng up
here General was the reply. can
stand it if you can," said Grant, as ne
climbed to the place and settled hlfn-
self The President was dressed IN
high silk hat black suit and long
linen duster covering as much OF ms
clot hing as was possible. The others
of tile party adjusted themselves IN
the big, heavy wagon according 10
their ideas of comfort, and all was
ready. Sixteen people were in that
vehicle, including Mr.. Cox.
The driver frightened the reins with a
whist" and with a spring, in perfect
unison, the noble animals were on Tor
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 messsage at once faShed over
the wire to the Profile House, saying
that they had gone, and the time was
noted 1t was. precisely Z 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
gravity gave various opinions, as sages
and oracles of profundity in road
knowledge, and fully discussed the sit
uation. It was known that Cox in
tended to break all records if he could;
but it 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 it two and half, as the
last three miles were right up into the
mountain, with a steep grade all the
way into Francmia Notch. But that
he could make the eleven miles in less
than two hours was not believed for a
moment.
Those of my readers who have Wis
tied this famous hotel, the Profile, will
remember Echo Lake, and the little
cannon kept there to wake the echoes.
This beautiful sheet of water, famous
far and near forsits echoes and their
many repetitions, is about a quarter Of
a mile from the hotel and the Presi-
ha6 70 tn n
the house 1t 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 We're
listening for the signal gun, chatting,
discussing the event, anG passing the
time as best we could, when-bang!
went the gun. The echo-naker had
spoken. We looked at the clock hang
ing in the office 1t was not believed
it was the President 1T cannot be.'
Look at the time,' Some mistake has
been made" Such We're the express
sions heard on all sides
The proprietor hurried a 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
incredibly short time We heard the
tramping 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 will forget the scene, as they
swung into the large circular space be-
tore the building. Ed Cox stood up on
the fOotboard, with teeth set, eyes
blazing and every rein drawn tight in
his hands. General 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 were 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 fifty-eight
minutes.