The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-08-18
NEVADAAT THE
WORLD'SFAIR
interesting Relics that VIII
be Displayed with Exhibit
from This State


respondence to Daily Silver State
Hank Monk. the stage driver of the
pioneer days in the far west, was i'm
mortalized by Mark Twain in his
"Roughing It." The stage coach in
which Hank Monk got Horace Greeley
to Placerville ION time" and the gold
watch that was presented to the in
trepid Jehu because of his record
braking trip, will be among the in
teresting curios at the Worlds fair,
st. Loris. 1904.
Mr.. J. A. Yerington. of Carson City
Neyada's executive commissioner to
the Worlds fair. was in st. Louis a
few DAYS ago and told Charles M
Reeves, secretary of the state and ter
ritorial exhibit committee. that Ne
vada would exhibit, among other in
teresting things, these famous Hank
Monk relics.
Hank Monk. as will be remembered
by everyone who has read Mark
Twains first famous book Rough
ing It." was the driver who was in
charge of the stage that carried Hor-
ace Greeley into Placerville one even
Ing in the latter sixties. Mr. Greeley
was booked to deliver an address in
that mining village at 7 o'clock. The
trip was tedious and the great editor
/ began to fear that he would not reach
| Placerville in time to keep his en-
gagement He leaned out of the stage
window and asked the driver. Hani
Monk, if he could not entice little
more speed from the horses.
The imperturbable driver leaned
down AID replied:
Keep your seat, Horace, I'll ge
you there on time"
How Hank Monk kept his word is
graphically recorded by Mr.. Clemens
Probably no trip was ever made over
the mountains at such break-necl
speed. The distinguished passenger
was tossed around in the bounding
stage coach like corn in pepper and
there were those who declared that
Mr.. Greeley's head was forced through
| the roof.
The trip was the topic of the entire
coach country and some admirers oi
/ the celebrated driver bought him
handsome gold watch. Inside the case
appears this inscription;
Presented to Hank Monk in com
memoration of his celebrated drive
in landing Horace Greeley on time
Keep your seat, Mr.. Greeley, I'll get
you there on time
/ At the time of the Greeley ride
Hank Monk was in the employ Of
DIR. j. NJ Benton of Carson City
Monk and Benton were close friends
and when this old stage driver diel
the famous watch passed into the pos
session of DR.. Benton. Hank Monl
was buried in the cemetery at Carson
City. A plain sandstone slab marks
the grave and in a niche cut in tbs
stone may be seen a tintype portrait
of the man who got Horace Greeley
in "on time"
/ Mr.. Yerington has secured the water
/ from Mr. Benton and will have it or
exhibition at the Nevada building.
The other Hank Monk relics which
will attract even more attention is thC
same old stage coach in which Horace
Greeley took his famous ride. Mr.
Yerington was able to secure this ant
| it will be taken to the Worlds fail
and will be used as the coach of state
by the Nevada officials When dis
tinguished guests reach St Louis thC
old coach with driver of the pioneer
days in typical costume, will be a.
Union station and convey them to the
official Nevada home at the Worlds
| fair grounds. Then every day the ole
coach may be seen dashing down the
steep hill from the plateau of states tC
the mining gulch. where will be con
structed a typical California mining
camp of the '49 days. This trip will
be made Just as it was made year:
ago, when the gold dust was taker
daily from the mines to place o
safety.
Mr.. Yerington says that Mark Twair
is almost worshipped out in Carson
City While he was known only by
the name of Sam Clemens the author
was a resident of Carson and was EN-
ployed in reportorial capacity on {
paper in Carson, owned by Mr.. Yer
lington's father. Much of the mater
lial for "Roughing It. was gathered II
Nevada before fortune smiled on the