The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-04
Horace GreeIey's Stage Coach Ride
vividIy Recalled.

st. Louis, August 26.-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 son time," and the
gold watch that was presented to the in
trepid Jehu because of his record break
ing trip will be among the interesting
curios at the Worlds Fair, st. Louis in
1904
Mr.. j. A. Yerrington, of Carson City,
Nevada's executive commissioner to the
Worlds Fair, was in St. Louis a few
days ago and told Charlie M. Reeves,
secretary of the states and territorial
exhibits 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 Greeley into
Placerville one evening in the latter six
| ties. Mr.. Greeley was booked to deliver
an address in that mining village at
o'clock. The trip was tedious and the
great editor began to fear that he would
4. not reach Placerville in time to keep
his engagement. He leaned out of the
stage window and asked the driver,
| Hank Monk, if he could not entice lit
| tie 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 kept his word is graphical
| w lodi hty
no trip over the mountains was ever
made at such break-neck speed The
distinguished passenger was tossed
around in the bounding stage 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
coast country and some admirers of the
celebrated driver bought him a hand
some gold watch. Inside the case APP
pears this inscription:
Presented to Hank Monk in comment
grafton 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. M.
Benton, of Carson City. Monk and Ben
ton were close friends and when this
old stage driver died the famous watch
passed into the possession of DR.. Ben
ton. Hank Monk was buried in the GEM
etery at Carson City. A plain sand
stone slab marks the grave and in
niche cut in the stone may be seen
tintype Portrait of the man who got
Horace Greeley in con time"
Mr.. Warrington has secured the watch
from Mr. Benton and will have it on
Exhibition in the Nevada building.
The other Hank Monk relic which will
attract even more attention is the same
old stage in which Horace Greeley took
the 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 Of
icials. When distinguished guests reach
st. Louis the old coach, with driver
of the pioneer day in typical costume,
will be at Union station and convey
them to the official Nevada home at
the Worlds Fair grounds. Then every
day the old coach may be seen lashing
down the steep hill from the plateau of
states to the mining gulch, where will
be constructed typical California min
ing camp of the Forty-Nine days. This
trip will be made just as it was many
fyears ago when the gold dust was daily
taken from the mines to place of
safety.
Mr.. Warrington says, that Mark Twain
is almost worshipped out in Carson City.
While he was known only by the name
of Sam Clemens the author was a resi-
dent of Carson and wac employed in a
Proportional capacity on a paper in Carson
owned by Mr.. Yerrington's father?
Much of the material for "Roughing It"
was gathered in Nevada before fortune
smiled on the great humorist ,