Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-08-26
HANK MONKS
FAMOUS DRIVE
Story Of the Early Stage Driver Who
Got Horace Greeley TO Placer
Vile on Time.
STAGE COACH TO BE EXHIBITED
Vehicle in Which Greeley Took His
Famous Ride Will be in st.
Louis Next Year.

st, Louis, Aug. lS.-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 Placervllle "on
time" and the gold watch that was
presented to the intrepid Jehu be-
cause Of his record-breaking trip will
be among the interesting curios at the
Worlds Fair, st. Louis. in 1904.
Mr.. j. A. Y%errington. of Carson
City, Neyada's executive commissions
or to the Worlds Fair, was in st.
Louis a few days ago and told Chas.
NJ. Reeves, secretary of the states and
territorial exhibits committee. that
Nevada would exhibit, among other
interesting things, these famous Hank
Monk relics.
Had Greeley Aboard.
Hank Monk, as will be remembered
by everyone who has read Marx
Twain's 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 COS.
Mr.. Greeley was booked to deliver
an address in that mining village at
I o'clock. The trip was tedious and
the great editor began to fear that he
! Nuustl1 ,.nu ra.,h DIa...fn- l.. ILL.,,
to keep his engagement. He leaned
out Of The stage window and asked
the driver, Hank Monk. if he could
not enticc a little more speed from the
horses.
The i~mperturable driver leaned
down and replied:
Keep your seat, Horace. I'll get you
there on time
How Hank kept his word Is graph
ically recorded by Mr.. Clemens. Prob
ably no trip Over the mountains was
ever made at such break neck speed.
The distinguished passenger was toss
ed around in the bounding stage like
corn in a pepper and there were those
who declared that Mr.. Greeley's head
was forced through the roof.
Handsome Memento.
The trip was the topic of the en-.
tire coast country. and some admirers
of the celebrated driver bought him
a 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, Nv. Greeley, I'll get
You there on time"
At the time of he Greeley ride
Hank was in the employ of DIR. J.. NJ.
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
DIR. Benton. Hank Monk was buried
In the cemetery at Carson City. a
plain sandstone slab marks the grave,
and in a niche cut in The stone may
be scen a tintype portrait Of the man
who got Horace Greeley in ION tie
Mr.. Warrington has secured the
watch from Dr. 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 in which Horace Gree
ley took the famous ride. Mr.. Yer
ringtOn was able to secure this and
il will be taken to the Worlds Fair
and will be used as the coach Of state
by the Nevada officials.
When distinguished guests reach
ST. Louis the old coach, with a driver
of the pioneer day in typical costume,
will he at the union station and con
yey them 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 min
ing gnlch. where will be constructed
a typical California mining camp II
the 10 days. This trip will be made
just as il was many years ago when
the old dust was taken daily from
the mines to a 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 resident OF Carson
and was employed in a r~epertorial ca
pacity on a paper in Carson owned by
Mr.. YerringtOn's father. Much of the
material for "Roughin It. was gath
cred I'm Nevada before fortune smiled
on tho great humorist