Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-18
HANK MONKS FAMOUS DRIVE.


railway mail service.
HANK MONKS FAMOUS DRIVE.
Horace GreeIey's Stage Coach Ride
VividIy Recalled BY an interesting
Worlds Fair Exhibit.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
ST. LOUIS, August 15.-Hank Monk,
the stage driver Of the pioneer days In
the far west, was immortalized 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 intrepid Jehu because
Of his record-breaking trip. will be
among the interesting curios at the
Worlds Fair st. Lotis, 1904.
Mr.. ]. A. Yerrington Of Carson City.
Nevada's executive commissioner to the
Worlds Fair was in st. Louis few
days ago and told Charlie M. Reeves,
secretary of the states and territorial
exhibit committee, that Nevada would
exhibit among other interesting things,
these famous Hank Monk relics.
Hank Monk, as will be remembered
by everyone who has read Mark
Twain's first famous book, "Roughing
It." was the driver who was in charge
of the stage that carried Horace Greedy
into Placerville one evening in the
latter sixties. Mr.. Greeley was book
ed to deliver an address in that min
ing village at o'clock. The trip was
tedious and the great editor began to
fear that he would not reach Placer
Vile in time to keep his engagement.
He leaned out Of the stage window
and asked the driver, Hank Monk, II
he could not entice little more speed
from the horses.
The imperturbable driver leaned
down and replied:
Keep your seat, Horace, I'll get you
there on time"
How Hank Monk kept his word Is
graphically recorded by Mr.. Clemens.
Probably no trip over the mountains
was ever made at such break-neck
speed. The distinguished passenger
was tossed around in the bounding
stage coach like corn in a 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
o1v NJ
celebrated driver bought him a hand
some gold watch. Inside the case ap-
pears this inscriptions:
I Presented to Hank Monk in COM
imemoration 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 DR.. ]. M.
Benton of Carson City. Monk and
Benton were close friends and when
this old stage driver died the famous
watch passed into the possession Of
DR.. Benton. Hank Monk was buried
in the cemetery at Carson City. A
plain sandstone slab marks the grave
and in niche cut in the stone may be
seen tintype portrait Of the man who
got Horace Greeley in ION time"
Mr.. Yerrington has secured the
watch from Mr.. Benton and will have
1t on exhibition in the Nevada build
ing.
The other Hank Monk relic which
will attract even more attention is the
same old stage coach in which Horace
Greeley took his famous ride. Mr..
Yerrington was able to secure this and
it will be taken to the Worlds Fair
and will be used as the coach Of state
by the Nevada officials. When dis
tinguished guests reach st. Louis the
old coach, with driver Of the pioneer
day in typical costume, will be at I'm
ion Station and convey them all to the
official Nevada home at the Worlds
Fair grounds. Then every day the old
coach may be seen dashing down the
steep hill from the plateau Of states to
the mining gulch, where will be con-
structed typical California mining
camp of the Forty-Nine days. This
trip will be made just as it was many
years ago, when the gold dust was
daily taken from the mines to place
Of safety.
Mr.. Yerrington says that Mark
Twain is almost worshipped out in
Carson City. While he was known
author was a resident Of Carson and
was employed in reportorial capacity
on paper in Carson owned by Mr..
Yerrington's father. Much Of the ma
terial for "Roughing It" was gathered
in Ne. ada before fortune smiled on the
great humorist. 8. T. 8.