The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-07-06
Coaching Through Kentucky.

courts and others chopped down at mld-
night by bands of raiders recalls men,
cries of coaching and staging through
Kentucky in ante-bellum days. The
first MacAdamized road In the South
was surveyed bv order of the Secret airy
Of War, from GAINESVILLE, o.. to Flor
ence, Ala, and the work of building II
was begun in 1929 at Maysville, and the
road was extended to Lexington by prl-
vate individuals, though the State OF
Kentucky paid $212, 000-one-half OF the
entire cost of the road In 1880 Con-
gress passed bill appropriating $l5O,COO
to aid the enterprise. but President
jackson vetoed the measure This turn
pike, however, was called the National
Road, and was used by the stage coaches
In carrying mail, passengers and bag
gage and by private carriages conveying
the Southern notables to the National
Capital.
The iron mile-posts along the roadside
still bear the inscription of GAINESVILLE,
Maysville, Lexington and Florence. Ii
is told that once when President Jack
son was passing over this road III hls
private carriage Ell route to Washington
his driver made some inquiry regarding
the direction at point where two roads
crossed, and was purpOsely sent the
wrong way. The Presidents driver
went several miles before the mistake
was discovered, and Gen. Jackson was
much annoy ed and angered over the oc-
currence. This was before COngr SIS
voted the appropriation to aid IN build
ing the National road.
The stage coaches of those days were
capacious vehicles, carrying about twen-
ty-five pieces of baggage and about two
dozen passengers-twelve inside and
twelve on top-the outside seats being
eagerly taken in summer that the tray
eler might better view the beautiful
country. The coaches were drawn by
four and sometimes six spirited horses
of splendid size, which were changed
every eight miles at regular stations.
Often red plums would be placed Oh the
head of each horse, and the arrival oil
the stage on summer days was a not
able event, which always called forth
the villagers to watch the travellers
alight and depart.
The drivers of the stages were we'll
dressed men; possessing tirmness OF
character as well as physical strength.
Of the drivers who made regular uips
through Kentucky-Bob Goodrich
Alexander Winans, Joe Mayes, Isaac
Brown, Will Darby, Frank Parker,
George Pierce, jim Brown, Jack Hook,
Jonn Griffith, George Laws and Joe
Smith-only the last-named three are
now alive Smith lives in Texas, Laws
near Covington, KY, and Griffith resio-
es in Paris, KY. The latter was typi-
Cal Kentuckian in size, being six feet
three inches and weighing 2S5 pounds.
He was noted for his remarkable
strength, and on one occasion when his
stage was overturned he righted it with
out assistance. He often pulled bellig-
erent passengers out of the stage and
drove off, leaving them on the roadside.
One of the stage lines was owned by
Maj. Henry johnson, brother Of Vice
President Richard johnson, who lost
$50 900 in the business when an opposi-
ton line was started James e. Blaine, \
who was then teacher of JOhnson's
Military School at Blue Lick Springs,
was a passenger every fortnight, going
to Millersburg to call on his fuancee,
Miss Stanhope, whom he afterward mar
ried. Miss StanhOpe was at that time a
teacher In Johnson's Female College, at
Millersburg.
The most noted stopping place for the
stage lines in Kentucky were the Phoe-
nix Hotel in Lexington, The Paris and
Bourbon Hotels in Paris, Col. Jack
ThrockmOrten's inn, near, Millersburg.
and the hotel at Blue Lick Springs
On Ole occasion when Henry Clay,
John Harlan and several other distin-
guished Southerners were en- route to
Washington they got out of the stage to
stretch their legs, perhaps, and went in
to the i'm at Millersburg while the
horses were being changed. They lin
gered few moments longer than pleas
ed Pierce, an irritable South Carolinian,
who drove off and left them. Mr.. Clay
and his friends hired private carriage
and drove six miles before they over
took the stage. Mr.. Clay gave Pierce
caustic rebuke, but he and Harlan con-
tinued the journey with him A short
time afterward Mr.. Clay was again
Pierce's passenger coming from Wash
ington. This time the famous statesman
was given public dinners at Maysville,
Millersburg, Paris and Lexington, stop
ping day in each place.
There was much suppressed excite
ment along the stage line when Gen.
Santa Anna was being taken in a coach
through Kentucky TO Washington, on &C.
count of the massacre of Kentucky SOL
diers by Gen Santa Annals troops, and
a few outspoken persons showed him
but scant courtesy. Gen. Santa Anna
stopped over night at Col. Jack Throck-
Inn, near Millersburg, and the
next morning when the stage was ready
to continue its journey, the famous Mex
lean soldier had not arisen where's
Santa Anna?" inquired Driver Darby
The General is yet asleep" said one of
the Mexican attendants, land he never
permits any one to awaken him.
Damn Santa Anna" said Darby, 1.-The
United States mail doesn't wait for any,
body" And with that Darby kicked on
the Generals door until Santa Anna
arose from his bed. He was then hurried |
into the stage without waiting for break
fast
Jefferson Davis was often a passenger
oyer tho stage lines and frequently stop
ped over in Paris to see his niece, Mrs. |
Jane Alexander, and at Blue Lick
Springs to recuperate his health at that
fashionable Southern resort Huoh |