The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-04-17
Incidents of Early Railroad
and Stage Coach Days

sailed and swooped downwards close
towards US. when the bugle call to
picnic dinner came and attracted
them. We enjoyed seeing them and
left them their full share OF the dain-
ties.
| Smaller birds that had brought
seeds to raise crops in the ciefts for
their winter feasts. seemingly had
their winter home there, fitted about
feeding among the tufts OF grasses
that grew tall in the cliffs OF the
rocks. as II reaching up for sunlight
Our old-timers' heads are full Of
"reminiscences of those days of social
ed progress. which were driving our
stage coaches and OK train freighters
on the road This picture of the six
horse Barlow & Sanderson covered
coaches with seats on top. and railing
around. where the mail bags not in
the boot were carried They left very
early mornings. this being the term
mus of the railroad for a long time.
There was n large quantity OF mail
thrown onto this Office. without extra
clerk help being provided for. during
latter half OF my time as postmaster.
from 1869 to 1879. The registered
mail being generally used in sending
money. added much &c the responsible
ity and labor and II took all OF the
salary of the postmaster for extra
help to keep up with the pressure.
Fifteen years afterwards Congressman
Hosea Townsend touched Uncle Sans
conscience. and a six hundred dollar
consolation plaster was sent to par
TALLY reimburse the postmaster ,or
money advanced ami more than n year
strenuous strain to keep the wheels
moving.
One morning. on entering the office.
he found the only clerk he was allow
ed was worn out and had forgotten to
put in the bags the registered pack
ages. He grabbed them and the mail
bag key. climbed to the top of the
coach as the six horses we're champ
ing the bits to start at the sound of
the drivers horn on a bound.
After putting the registered mail In.
and while jumping from the top seat
to the boot of the coach. his toe caught
in the buffalo skin robe and he turned
double somersault down behind the
horses. striking the whinietrees and
bouncing on one side safely to the
ground, gave a circus riders salute 20
the breathless onlookers. and got a
big cheer for the success OF the act
This was when the big freighters as
well as coach lines loaded and outfit
ted here for Leadville. The San Juan
region and for SilverclIr, Rosita and
Wet Mountain valley country.
tell you those days vere rustling
times for the old town. and sometimes
blod curdiing things happened. Once
your servant was ordered to go TO
Leadville ID confer with the postmas-
ter there The stage went over the
Grape creek toll road built by W. II.
Mcclure. His brother. Jas. T.. named
the Temple Canyon at that time As
the coach horses we're being changed
at Cottonwood Station. below Buena
Vista. the agent said. Follow me-"
He opened the door OF the blacksmith
shop and there lay, dead. two horse
thieves. a man and a woman in mems
clothing.
They were engaged in stealing
horses at Leadville and taking them
to San Luis Valley to sell. Then In
another part Of the valley stealing
horses and selling them in Leadvil.e
generally to those they knew had lost
horses and needed to purchase others.
Joe Hutch's COW boys on the South
Arkansas got on to their racket, pur-
sued them cautiosuly. saw them go In