The San Francisco call., 1903-09-20
SECURES A RELIC
OF PIONEER DAYS
Nevada to Exhibit the
Stage That Hank
Monk Drove.
Mark Twain Says He Woald
Like to Take Ride With
Ghost of Driver.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 19.-That the stage
driver of the pioneer days played an i'm
portant part in the development of the
great West and fairly won a place in the
national history is evidenced by the deep
interest that has been aroused by the an
nouncement that the Hank Monk relics
will be exhibited by Nevada at the
Worlds Fair. st. Louis.
It has been announced that j. A. Yer
ington Nevada's executive commits
sloner, has secured the old coach that
Hank Monk drove-the one in which he
took Horace Greeley into Placervllle ION
time"-and will use it at the Worlds Fair
as the coach of state for Nevada.
In 'Roughing It," Mark Twain's first
famous book. Hank Monk was immortal
lied by the humorist, when he described
the celebrated drive by which Hank Monk
got the great editor into Placerville In
I time to keep a lecture engagement.
Mr. Clemens at his picturesque Quarry
Farm, in Elmira, n. Y, remembers wei
the thrilling early days, and when infor-
nation reached him of Yerington's in
tention to exhibit the Hank Monk relics
he said:
This announcement brings a weight OF years
down upon my head Those two names carry
me back thirty-two years-Hank Monk and
Yerington. I think + present wnen Inc
watch was given 10 Monk, but one cannot be
very sure OF things that happened in such an
| cient times. I am only sure that knew
Monk a little. and that l knew Ierlngton' 5
father well. 1 made one trip with Monk In
that old stage. 1 wish 1 could be in st. Louis
on my day next June and take one ride with
his chest.
Hank Monk was a New Yorker, having
been born in Waddington, st. Lawrence
County. He was a stage driver all his
life. He spent his early days driving a
stage between Waddington and Massena.
George A. Monk, a brother of the famous
stage driver, nor lives in Gouvernor, n.
Y. and a sister Mrs. r. NJ. kellogg. lives
IN Hartford, Conn. George A. Monk has
a number OF relics that he will loan Yer
ington and they Will be added TO the
Worlds Fair collection.
In speaking of the proposed exhibit,
Monk said:
Hank always had a desire to drive stage
from the days when 1e was mere boy at
Waddington, and could scarcely trudge around
and was only strong enough TO snap whip
with great eXCrtlon CT his little arms. When
he VS. only II years ola he drove stage from
WaddingtOn to Massena, and am told By the
older residents OF the town that he was a good
driver, even at that early age.
Hank was born in Waddington in 1S2S He
was the eldest Of a family Of four children
Our family was of the same origin as the good
Vermont stock in Eben Holden Grand
father and grandmother came from Vermont
n 1909 making the journey 20 Waddington
through the woods. When Hank 1rst took the
Waddington- -Massena route many shook their
heads and said he was too young, bu. he
showed the doubters that he was a natural
driver
When gold was discovered in 1s49 Hank
wanted to make trip to the coast Mother
objected strongly and he deferred the trip for
/ a time, holding TO the stage route while he re-
NAMED in this part of the country But when
| he was "a years Of age, in 1852. the fever was
/ too much for him and he went West The
/ next tine the people at home heard from him
! he was driving siS-horse stage coach in the
{ Sierras. For many years he drove the Wells
! Fargo stage from Sacramento to Placerville
! 1t was here that he first became acquainted
/ with Joaquin Miller, California S poet, who
/ later won such fame In verse.
Hank was running out OF Virginia City when
/ Horace Greeley made the trip to Placerville.
/ which is described by Mr.. Clemens in Rough
! ing II"
Nearly every one on the coast and directly
/ east Of the mountains came to know my broth
/ er, either personally or by reputation, early
/ as the sixties. and gradually his reputation
/ crossed the divide and came through the East.
| He adventurous fellow. but took no
/ chances when his coach was loaded. He died
| in 1883.