The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-25

place the road and all other improve
ments in very fair condition and keep
them so.
At present it is not known what was
the sentiment in Indianapolis on the
internal improvement question, but
whatever it was the city laid it aside
and gave Martin Van Buren, a reception
worthy of the city. He was wined and
toasted and festivities We're planned
which would have taken week to
carry out. But he stopped them by the
positive announcement that he was not
out on a pleasure jaunt, but on trip
of inspection, and that he would only
remain in Indianapolis until the next
day. He made several statements
which showed most concluslve:y that
so far he had not changed his mind
on the internal Improvements. lie
thought the provisions were ample:
and he intimated that If robbery or
public funds was quit there would be
no need of more funds for the internal
improvements.
An old whig named Hale had charge
of the stage coach line between Indian
apolis and Terre Haute. He was very
pronounced advocate of the internal
Improvement BILL and was in his way
something of a contractor. He talked
with Van Buren, about the road over
which he had to carry his contracts,
and stated that the national road from
Indianapolis to st. Louis was really IN
bad shape and that because of oceans
of mud he could hardly get his stage
coach through. But Van Buren, gave
him a deaf ear. He ordered his stage to
be on hand the next morning and about
noon he and the secretary came out ana
took their places on top of 1t and were
given glorious farewell from the city
Hale had decided that he would nave
to Impress upon Van Buren, the neceS-
i,,;+ ,f f1It,
He called his driver, Mason Wright, TO
one side and offered him new five
dollar hat and relief from all damages
if he would dump Van Buren, IN the
deepest mud hole on the road. Wright
was a wild, reckless fellow, and he ac-
cepted the offer He took on a supply
of nerve" and drove the stage out.
| The trip from Indianapolis to Plain
| field was uneventful. The road out of
| INDIANAPOLIS was not bad, but after the
stage crept down several hills into the
| lower lands through which the national
| road passed the good gravel disappear
| ed and there were many PAD RUS.
| These gradually became worse ana
| worse Just outside of Plaintield there
was great morass through which the
| road passed. There We're two paths
through it Wright drew rein just as
=. he approached it and stopped to take a
survey. After considering 1t for some
| moments he turned to Van Bufen, WHO
was on top of the stage, and asked MN
| which way he should 60
There was good method in all of TINS,
The driver had gone through that mo-
| raSs three times week for seFefa'
years. He knew that the north path
| which looked the more threatening,
was in fact all right and the mud and
water would only come up haf way
to the hubs, while the southern passage
which looked nice enough when COM
pared with the other was really danger
Gus to the most experienced driver. IL
led under a great elm tree. Van Buref
readily fell into the trap and told MIN
Ito the south" Wright turned his horses
and gave them the whip. The people
who had gathered on the other side o.
the morass to see the president yellec
their warning, but the driver was gu
to win his So hat and was doing IL OF
the advice OF his victim, the president
of the nation, who was attlred IN ms
conventional broadcloth. He did no
stop, but drew his horses rapidly 10
ward the bank on which the tree stood
The roots, which he knew where to hnd
did not go back on him. There was al
| awful moment of suspense, then