The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-08
FAMOUS OLD STAGE DRIVER.
Cannon Ball" Green's Many Lines in
the SOuthwest-His Private Coach.

Had it not been for the invasion of
the railroads in the southwest, Can
nonball Green would have been a mil
lionaire today. AS it he is a Caddo
county. Okla, farmer. who was recent
~ appointed school land appraiser
BY Gov. Frank Frantz, but he Is also
one OF the most interesting as we'll as
one OF the most unique characters in
the southwest, writes a Bridgeport
correspondent Of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. He drove the stage lines
on the old overland California routes
when the guards had to keep the In
dians away. AS driver and owner OF
several lines OF stages, however, he
was an adept and always brought his
business through without any serious
losses from depredations BY Indians.
In the early days-shortly after CAL
ifornia began to boom-Green took
the prize at the Sacramento county
fair as the best stage driver. There
were many entries. The express COM
panies came up with their fine teams
and drivers who ran in connection with
the various railroad lines, and many
an old timer was there, too, with his
carried away the honors. He was
dressed as an old stage driver, had
brcncho team and was covered with
the red mountain dust. After all the
drivers had exhibited their best
stunts with their teams, Green cut
figure with a six-horse team around
the judges stand in such a manner
as to make even old timers hold their
breath.
Green's biggest coup as stage dri-
yer was during the opening of old
Oklahoma in 1889. The Rock Island
railroad then ran only as far south
as Pond Creek, Okla, a station at
that time in the Cherokee strip. The
Rock Island made contract with
Green for transporting its passengers
from the end of the line over to the
edge of old Oklahoma at Sc each. The
day the excursion started the railway
company wired Green that 600 pas
sengers would be on the first train.
1t was seen that the job was a big
one and he went into the country and
employed every farmer who had a
wagon or buggy. and with these, TO-
gether with his stage line, he carried
out the contract
Cannonball Green owned a stage
line all through the west in the early
days, connected with the Sante Fe,
Colorado and Texas Panhandle When
the boom struck western Kansas there
was big demand for his stage lines.
Garden City and Leoti we're after him
for line connecting the towns, and
asked him to make a proposition.
iii come for six town lots in each
town and $1,000 bonus" was his reply,
and the towns took him up.
He made the first trip with great
ostentation. The greatest speed ever
attained in Garden City up to the time
was made by Green, but in the centre
of the town coach wheel caught a
gardeners truck and scattered cab
bage. pumpkins and everything else
all over the street. An angry German,
the owner CT the cart, rushed out
and demanded damages. Green was
wearing plenty of diamonds. He wait
ed until the crowd was sufficiently
large, and then inquired the amount of
tho damages. The Dutchman thought
$25 would be about right. CannOnball
Green took from his pocket roll with
$500 wrapper, CONTEMPORARY peeled
dener. That made Green solid for
ever with his patrons.
The first stage run ever made by
Green was from Helena, Mont, to Fort
Benton. at the headwaters Of the Mis-
souri, river He later established his
southwest system in 1872. The fixed
schedule of the route was 100 miles
day. no more and no less. Once dri-
yer came in two hours late. The dri-
yer told Green that there we're no pas
sengers and he thought he would let
the horses take 1t easy. The driver
was new and received free lecture
on the treatment of horses. Those
who knew how to handle them knew
that the horses had been injured by
being allowed to take it easy" for
in service like that the horses must
be forced to accustom themselves to
one gait and keep It.
Cannonball Green would in those
days lay bets with his passengers that
he could change teams quicker than
any of them could light cigar. He
always won. for the harness was
equipped with snaps like those on fire