The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-08-20
hank MONKS STAGE
Az ST. LOUIS FAIR
The Coach In Which Famous Driver
Carried Horace Greeley at
Breakneck Speed.

the stage driver of 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 Placer
vile ION time" and the gold watch
chat was presented to the intrepid
Jehu because OF his record breaking
trip will be among the interestins
curios at the Worlds Fair ST. Louis
in 1904.
Mr.. J. A. Yerington, of Carson
City, Nevada's executive commission
er to the Worlds Fair, was in St.
Louis few days ago and told
Charlie u. Reeves, secretary of the
states and territorial exhibits COM
mittee that Nevada would exhibit
among other interesting things these
famous Hank Monk relics.
Hank Monk, as will be remembered
by every one who has read Mark
Twain's first famous book, 'ROughing
It." was the driver VINO was in charge
Of the stage that carried Horace
n the latter sixties. Mr.. Greeley was
booked to deliver an address in that
mining village at Z O'clock. The trip
was tedious AMI the great editor be-
| gan to fear that he would not reach
Placerville in time to keep his engage
| ment. He leaned out of the stage
| window and asked the driver, Hank
| Monk. if he could not entice a little
more speed from the horses.
The 'imperturbable driver leaned
| down and replied:
Keep your seat Horace, III get
you there on time"
How Hank Monk kept his word is
graphically recorded by Mr.. Clemens.
was ever made at such break-neck
| 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
coast country AMI 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 Mr. Greeley, I'll get
you there On time"
At the time Of the Greeley ride
Hank Monk was in the employ of DR..
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 pos
session of DR. Benton. Hank Monk
was buried in the cemetery at Car
son City. A plain sandstone slab
marks the grave and in niche cut
in the stone may be seen a tintype
portrait of the man who got Horace
Greeley in ION time
Mr.. Warrington secured the watch
from DR.. Benton and will have il on
exhibition in the Nevada building
The other Hank Monk relic which
will attract even more attention is the
old stage coach in which Horace Gree
ley took the famous ride. Mr.. Yer
ringtOn 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
distinguished guests reach st. Louis
the old coach, with a 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 dash
Ing down the steep hill from the plat
eau OF states to the mining gulch,
where will be constructed a typical
| California mining camp of the Forty
Nine days. This trip will be made
| just as 1t was many years 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 resident of Carson
and was employed in a reportorial
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.