The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-06

a pioneer stage coach driver, bearing
lightly the seventy-flve winters that
have failed to do more than sprinkle a
few strands Of silver In his bushy head
or rob hls heaithtul countenance of Its
bloom, was at the stamm last night ne
counting Interesting experiences OF his
earlier years In Wheeiing-wh the city
boasted not Of a railroad that spanhed
the river, and when street cars moved
faster at the crack Of a drivers whip.
The "Old stager," literally and figura-
lively was Mr.. George Frlcker, Of Ner-
non county No.
Mr.. Fricker will be remembered by
Wheeilng's older citizens as a prominent
factor In the city's modes Of convey
ances IN the years Intervening from 1853
to 1858. He drove an omnibus about the
city most Of the time, drove a Stage
coach on the National Road between
wheeling and Washington, and for
year or two previous to his departure
for the west. was superintendent Of
Wheeilng's fret street railwAy-the Clti-
aens-propelled by equine power.
The yetefdil coach driver would attract
attention in any group. and would pass
for 4. prosperous farmer or cattle dealer
not over sixty years old. Longevity IN
his family must be characteristic. Tor
Mr.. FrIcker has a sister living In Guern-
| sey county, Ohio. nIhety-two years old
who can knit without the aid OF speeta;
cles. His father and mother reached
the allotted three score and ten mile
stones on LIES great roadway, ana their
son bids fair TO make a century run OF y
| II appearance count for anything. MI
FrIcker may decide to spend his remain
] ing days in Ohio. after he dispose OF
his farm in Missouri, where he mas lived
for the past ten years,
Mr.. Frlcker came 10 wheeling from
| Ohio In the spring OF '53, and had previ-
| ously staged II" on the National road
from GAINESVILLE TO Washington. o. HIS
fitst work in Wheeling was in the capa-
| CITY of agent for ShallcroSs & Terrys
omnibus line. This line OF buses piled
between the Baltimore & Ohio depot and
various points about town, and later 60
| Bridgeport, upon the construction OF the
Cleveland & Pittsbdrgh railroad to the
0Yer-the-rlver town. Messrs. i. r
| Shailcross and ". [. Terry are now de-
| ceased, .llGy LUX T AAEtAEA 80 - ~.
| ner In 1860, about which time the Balti-
more & Ohio tunnel at West Alexander
caved in, blocking traffic for nearly
year. during which period Fricker drove
| a stage coach from this city to Little
| Washington and return every day. The
RELAYS OF horses were made along the
road at West Alexander and CaldwelFs.
the latter stop being six miles west OF
| Washington. The Stage fare for pas
sengerS was six cents for each mile rid
den.
In 1866 the Citizens street railway was
built, and Mr.. Fricker, who was n stock
holder became its superintendent. The
railway was crude In some respects, the
rails beinS OF wood with iron caps.
Horse cars were CONSIDERED the realthing
them and the distance covered was from
the Top Mill to Ritchletown, ana from
Tsnth street 20 Bridgeport. One OF Mr.,
FrIcker's assistants was Michael Lotus,
\ the present superintendent OF the
| Wheeling Railway Company. and
AIessrs. Fricker and LOTUS spen:
{ pleasant day together yesterday, the
| Former expressing his delight az the
| Wheellngs fine system. He rode also
to BenwoOd and Elm Grove.
| Mr.. Frlcker's stage coach experiences
| were not confined to Wheeling, for he
/ saw service IN ONO, the AueBneuS
mountains and later in Kansas, where
often the coach was compelled 10 walt
on the Smoky Road trail until the hos
tile Indians were cleared up by the sol
oilers from Fort Riley. The Smoky
Road route lay between Denver, Coll
and Manhattan, Kas. The stage coach
was swept from that territory on the
completion OF the Union Pacific Mr..
Fricker. who was With the old Kansas
Stage Company. lived IN Le1venworth
CITY after leaving Wheeling, and
about 1870 changed his headquarters to
Lawrence. becoming superintendent of
a street railway. He retired from the
road In 1888 to1his farm in Missouri.
Last night Mr. Fricker chafted enter
tainingly with Captain R: S. irwin and
Others Who remembered the famous big
coach "Dr. Hullihen," and other features
Of earlier days. Many OF the veteran
Jehu's acquaintance have Joined the
great majority. Henry Bimple, OF Col
| umbus, o.. now connected with the
Adams Express Company, Is the only
living one Mr.. Frlcker could recall