CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1908-07-30
FRONTIER SKETCHES

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES i
was 100 miles north of the direct line.
The easiest part Of the road was be-
tween Fort Kearney and Atchison.
The schedule time of the stages was
four and a half miles an hour, night
and day, including stops. Occa-
sionally the drivers would make fifteen
miles an hour and the passengers
thought 1t very fast.
The express messengers received
$3.50 q month with free meals and
were compelled to ride beside the
driver for six days and nights without
rest, except n they could sleep while
the stage was in motion. They re-
ceived a lay-ovsr of nine days every
three weeks. On going to bed after
a trip they frequently slept twenty,
four hours without moving. Drivers
received from $40 to $75 = month and
board. On the main line there were
2,75O horses and mules and 100
coaches. The annual cost OF operat-
ing the line was %. ABS. 900. Ths man
who can now come out from Chicago
to Denver In twenty-six hours enjoy
ing the while all the comforts OF
parlor ought to be kicked for kicking.
A Tale of Two Roofs: In October.
1875, an ambitious woman now pass
ing her old age in Denver took mp
homestead ON the plains and the
troubles she had were some plenty.
Toward spring her brother put up a
comfortable sod house ON the place
which had the usual heavy dirt roof.
The law required that homesteaders
should be living on their land In six
months from the time entry was made
and the period had expired when the
house was ready. The day the
family moved in the local conditions
predicated Q storm. They thought 1t
would not amount to much however
80 ate supper. locked the door and
went to bed. .....
About midnight the roaring wind
awoke them. The rain was pouring
In torrents outside for the furies OF
the heavens had broken loose like the
valkyries sweeping down from the
north. The ridge pole was Q 2x12-inch
stick of timber and would have been
stout enough but for large knot
which cross-sectioned It. The old
girl did not think OF this however AZ
she lay there listening to the storm
and indeed had not felt the least fear
OF anything when her brother Henry
who lived in soddy a mile distant.
knocked and called, Get up quick
and let me in" He had come all the
way through the storm to bring pole
to brace the roof. "Nell was worried
about you" he said, because she
thought you would lie there and sleep
and let the roof fall on you" He
fixed the pole In place and returned
home and the woman again retired to
sleep soundly until morning.
The rain ran down the stovepipe
hole. wetting the stove and fuel 80
that It was impossible to build nre
and she was obliged to go to her
brothers place for breakfast. She
found them completing repairs to their
own roof. When Henry returned
home after propping up the roof. he
found that he could not open his own
door. Then he saw faint light In
the vicinity Of the stable. Going
there he found his wife wrapped In
the bed clothes and huddled In . cor
ner Of the little room built on one end
of the stable ~ . Workshop. what
In the world are you doing out here!"
he asked. why" she answerod, Il
got 20 anxious about sisters house
that forgot that our own was In
danger until the roof began 70 crack.
Then I just grabbed the bed ciothes.
iantern and few matches dad ran 70
the barn" And there they remained
until morning. Then they found that
thsir own roof had broken - two
pleees. She haa left jtst n ttme fof
part OF It hSd fallen and that wa
what blockadsd H. 1ocr.