The Greeley tribune., 1904-02-11
THE CONCORD COACH
"REMINISCENCES OF THE OLD STAG
ING DAYS IN MISSOURI


Women and children We're Always
ChtxntrousI, Prot-cted-A >ketch
of Kit Carson Tint Doe. >ot Agree
with Ned BuntIine's stories
The individuals who were born too
hte to experience the joys OF stage
coaching in the early days Of Missouri
while they may felicitaie themselves
upon the luxurious and speedy modes
Of transporta tion prevailing AT the pres
snt time, can never in the slightest .e-
gree appreciate the delights stored up
in the memories of those who recall the
Introduction OF the Concord coach ana
their many rides In the same, says the
1t. Louis Globe Democrat.
The vehicle was a revelation, revo-
lution and an evolution that seemed TO
leave nothing further to be accomplish
ID for the comfort Of the overland trav-
eler 1t was cradle on wheels, par
lor in daytim and q comfortable sleep
1ng room at night. With its full quota
ef twelve passengers 1t never seemed
crowded. In the summer time, with
III curtains rolled up, il was breezy
and sweet. In winter. with its curtains
down, light being admitted through
small glass panes fixed in them, II was
almost impervious TO cold. the vitiated
air being carried of through ventila
tors in the roof.
In that day also buffalo robes were
plentiful and about as cheap as hlan-
kets. These robes were finely tanned
with the hair on them. and when the
hides had been taken at the proper sea
son the hair was as soft as the fur of
come of the animals taken at this day
for their fur alone. They were hexi-
bic and could be handled with as much
facility as the ordinary bed comforter
q today.
The robes were generally tanned by
indian squaws through process in
which the brains of the deer and ante
Iope were the principal ingredients,
while many of them were queerly and
beautifully ornamented with wild
scenes and incidents of life among the
red men in indelible colors. Probably
not a robe of this kind can now be
found in all this land, and were II pos
sible the value Of the same as me
mento of old times would be incalcu-
liable.
In cold weather the coaches were
generally furnished with one of these
robes for each seat. while the floor was
covered with sweet. clean hay or straw.
And then. also, at the stations any one
who desired to do so could secure some
kind of a foot warmer
Even in the coolest weather sta ge-
coach travelling was pleasant. 1t was
only in the rainy season that its dis
agreeable aspects materialized. Then.
while the passengers paid an advance
price for passage, it was understood,
II not mentioned in the contract, that
he would be expected to walk over spe
cially bad stretches of the road and.
II necessary. carry rail TO help pry
the coach out of ruts and mudholcs
while never hesitating to lend Il shoul-
der or Il willing hand to assist the
horses in dragging the coach up the
hill.
Under emergencies Of this kind. how
ever, the women and children remained
in the couch They must be pulled
through dryshod even if ii took the
hind and front traces.
While many of the men who Travelled
in that early day in Missouri We're
rough i'll speech. uncouth in manner
and devoid of the table etiquette that
Is row deemed essential to good breed
ing. they We're the fewest in number
who did not possess tender hearts and
chivalric souls. Women We're as safe
in Il Concord coach. even without am
escort, at that day as if they We're in
their own homes. and in more than one
instance the writer has witnessed The
carrying of the women in the arms of
stalwart men from the coach steps 10
the dining room of the station that
they might he free from the discomfort
of wet or muddy feet. Again he has
known Il great burly fellow to lend his
shoulder as IL resting place for the head
OF sleeping woman or one perhaps
suffering from some temporary indis-
position.
Every woman was :, lady in the I'll
nation of the men. and every man be
Ieved that it dcyolved upon him indi-
vidunlly TO care for her.
Occasionally, however some brute in
the guse of Il man would appear in the
StaSecoach, but to the credit of the
hlssouiians OF that day not one Of
them was ever numbered in that class.
The brute usually was some hnlf edu-
Gated. supercilious dude. who esteemed
himself made of better clay than any
OF his fellow passengers. The writer
recalls only one specimen of this genus
homo. and he was called down 80
promptly that possibly never thereaft
er did he require similar lesson.
At that day the Mcpherson hotel at
boonville was one of the most whole
some and best kept hostelres in the