West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-08-27
HANK MONKS FAMOUS DRIVE
Horace GreeleY's Stage Coach Ride Wv
idly Recalled by an Interesting
Worlds Fair Exhibit.

was ihhortaiiLeu ny MARX Twain In
his "Roughing It." The stage
coach in which Hank Monk got
Horace Greeley to Placerville con
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. Yerrington, Of Carson
City, Nevada's Executive Commits.
sioner to the Worlds Fair, was in ST.
Louis few days ago and told Char
lie M. Reeves, Secretary of the
States and Territorial Exhibit Com
mittee, that Nevada would exhibit
among other interesting things
these famous Hank Monk relics.
Hank Monk, as will be remem,
bered by everyone who has read
Mark Twain's first famous book,
"Roughing It," was the driver who
was in charge of the stage that car
ned Horace Greeley into Placer
vile one evening in the latter six
ties. Mr.. Greeley was booked to
deliver an address in that mining
village at 7 O'Clock. The trip was
tedious and the great editor began
to fear that he would not reach
Placeville in time to keep his en-
gagement. He leaned out Of the
stage window and asked the driver,
Hank Monk, If 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 kept his word is graz
phically recorded by Mr.. Clemans.
Probably no trip over the mount
aims was ever made at such break
neck speed. The distinguished pas
senger was tossed around in the
bounding stage coach like corn in
hopper and there were those who
declared that Mr.. Greeley's head
was forced through the roof.
The trip was the topic of the en-
tire coast country and some admir-
ers of the celebrated driver bought
him handsome gold watch. In
side the case appears this inscrip-
ton;
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. 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 cementry
at Carson City. A plain sandstone
slab marks the grave and in a niche
cut in the stone NAV be seen tin
type portrait of the man who got
Horace Greeley in con time.
Mr.. Yerrington has secured the
watch from DR.. Benton and will
have IT on exhibition in the Nevada
Building.
The other Hank Monk relic
which will attract even more atten-
ton is the same old stage coach in
which Horace Greeley took the
famous ride. Mr.. Yerrington was
able to secure this and il will be TAX
en- to the Worlds Fair and will be
used as the coach Of state by the
Nevada officials. When distin-
guished guests reach ST. Louis the
old coach, with driver Of the pio-
neer 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 pla.
ieau Of States to the mining guIch,
where will be constructed a typical
California mining camp Of the
Forty Nine days. This trip will be
made just as many years ago when
the gold dust was daily taken from
the mines TO place Of safety.
Mr. Yeuington says that Mark
Twain is almost worshipped out in
Carson City. While he was known
only by the name Of Sam Clemens
the author vas a resident Of Carson
and was employed in a reportorial
capacity on paper in Carson own
ed by Mr. Ycrdngtons father;
much Of the material for oRough.
ing IT. was gathered In Nevada be.
fore fortune smiled on the great hu-