The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-05-30
OLD TIMES "BEFO DE
WAH' RECALLED.
Interesting "reminiscences Retold of Romantic
Times of Travel Over Western Stage
Coach Lines.

recently marked the old stage trail
near Laramie with a granite shaft
and who put up an imposing monu-
ment on the California trail along
the North Platte, at Casper, began
a movement which in all probability
will be taken up in other States
traversed by the stage coaches in
early days.
The rapid obliteration of some of
the old stage trails has made it i'm
perative to hasten the work of
Identification. Old stage drivers
have been called upon to identify
many of the points of interest and
the location of stage stations along
the various trails, says the New York
Tribune. At Julesburg, Col, the old
station where Jules and Slade had
their combat, a fight that later re-
suited in the loss of Jules's ears, has
been identified and will be preserved.
1t has been poposed to have the gov
ernment set aside independence
rock, on the California trail in Wy
oming, as national monument. This
rock was famous stopping place in
early days, and is covered with the
names of thousands of early-day
transcontinental tourists, scratched
dep into the granite.
Besides the main trails across the
trails that had much to with making
the West, but whose course will soon
be. lost if some means is not taken to
mark them. The old Smoky Hill
stage trail across Kansas and East
ern Colorado to Denver is practically
wiped out, owing to the settlement
of the plains.
This old trail penetrated the heart
of the hostile Indian country and
was the scene of many exciting ad-
ventures in the SOS, but even the
old Smoky Hill drivers have difficulty
in tracing the route to-day. The
same is true of the several routes
to Deadwood, every foot of which
is replete with. historic interest.
The main line of stages across
the continent we're several times
shifted on account of Indian depre-
dations. The most sweeping change
was made in 1852, when Ben Hol-
Iaday, the genius of the overland
stage business, moved the line
several hundred miles south and ef-
fected the change without missing a
mail or delaying a passenger. The
old line followed the North Platte
and the Sweetwater, over South pass,
and the new road led by way of
Julesburg to Denver, north from
Denver to Fort Lupton, thence across
the Laramie plains, in Southern wy
oming, and then due west through
Bridger pass, where the old trail was
Joined and the journey continued to
Salt Lake.
Most of the stage stations and
other buildings erected along these
old stage trails fell into ruins long
ago, but there are few structures
worth preserving. The easiest way
of Identification is by the natural
monuments marking most of the
trails. Chief among these is 1nde-
pendence rock, which is said to have
been named by the celebrated ex-
pIorer Capt. Bonneville on account
of it's solitary aspect, rising, as 1t
does, independent of all other rocks
In the vicinity. Fremont and other
explorers mention the rock many
times. When the tide of California
gold-seekers began flowing across
the country the rock was a favorite
camping place. AS early as 1S47
Immigrants gathered at the rock to
celebrate the Fourth of July, it be-
ing on record that on the Fourth
of that year there were about l,o0o
California and Oregon immigrants
gathered there to celebrate 1nde-
pendence day. Old wagon hubs were
loaded with powder and placed IN
the crevices of the rock, producing
explosions that sounded like the
work of battery of artillery.
Many of those who died on the
way across the continent were buri-
ed in the vicinity of independence
rock, and their epitaphs can still be
read on the granite. Probably the
most impressive funeral held there
was in 1862. On July 4 OF that
year a large number of immigrants
had gathered there for celebra-
ton when a train came in bearing
the body of young man who had
been accidentally killed while clean
ing his rifle that morning. The
celebration was deferred, and in
the afternoon a Masonic funeral was