Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-24
by Mr.. Lester their attention before recon.
mending final disposition of the case
ALONG THE OLD CARSON ROAD.
Stage Coaches Still Travel the Trial
Followed by Gen. Fremont.

From the San Francisco Chronicle
The old Carson road. between Carson and
Placerville. one of the hrst stage roads es-
tablished in California. is one of the last
to rel,nauish its hold on the old. picturesque
method OF travel. From May to November
OF each year stages still run from Placer
vile to Lake Tahoe: but whereas In the
old days they bore precious burden of bull
lion and travellers. and were guarded by
armed outriders. now they carry only the
United States mail and passengers and
baggage for the various summer resorts
along the road and on the shores of Lake
Tahoe.
The veteran stage driver-there are still
few of them left-does not now. as I'm
former times. lean forward to scan with
anxious eye each turn in the road for
masked man behind gun; but he knows
he must be prepared to meet-perhaps at
the worst point along the mountain side.
where the cliff drops sheer q thousand feet
to the river below-his more recent and
dangerous enemy. the putting motor car.
Men hardened to the ordinary perls OF
mountain travel. who smile at the idea OF
hold-ups. and hardly turn to glance at a
bear or mountain lion In the path get ready
to jump when fash of red or white or
yellow shows around curve and the stage
horses begin to rear and plunge.
Many stage lines are being abandoned.
but the hardy traveller, who is willing to
risk possible upset or q drop to the river
below with the horses top. may still
md roads on which to travel In true stage
coach fashion. and IL he chooses the old
Carson road. and Is fortunate enough to fall
into the hands of one OF the men who has
driven stage since the sos. he has rare
treat before him.
In 1874 Gen. Fremont. heading an explo-
ration party. crossed the Sierra near Lake
Tahoe, came down through what 10 now
the Strawberry creek trail a mile OF SO
south Of Strawberry valley proper. and
reached the Carson road somewhere near
the Georgetown divide. 1t Is almost GER
tain that this trip he was accompanied
by Kit Carson. the famous western scout
and guide. 1t is known that Carson ac-
companied Fremont on many of his expior-
ing trips and there is very good evidence
to substantiate the claim of the Eldora-
doans that he helped to lead this expedition
Of 1874 down Strawberry canyon.
James Stout, forest ranger of the gov
eminent. while riding through the wild
country east of the ridge line and west OF
Lake Tahoe. came. some years ago. on a
huge pine. with q name and date cut deep
In It's bark. Curious to know who had pre-
ceded him in this Wild spot, he dismounted
and without much difficulty deciphered the
name kit Carson, 1874" Stout wrote to
the proper authorities concerning his find.
men were sent to investigate and he guided
the name and date was cut out and taken
to Sacramento. where il Is now to be seen
among the interesting souvenirs on Suffers
fort
The old register at the tavern at Straw
berry, running back to the early sos. is a
treasure house OF names celebrated in the
early history of the west. The name of
Horace Greeley appears more than once on
its pages, well that OF Hank Monk.
the famous stage driver of that time