The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-11-06


chester. That summer the Equino,
Hotel was crowded with guests. Th'
golfers were carried to and from thcil
beautiful grounds seated on lonl
buckboards, drawn by four horses. II
the height Of the season, party rent
ing the house opposite us arrived in !
bright red automobile, with shining
brass lamps. This apperation was tos
much for the nerves Of some horses
so one morning all from the Equinox
stables were lined up on the side Of
the street and the red car was parad-
ed up and down in front Of them, fore
runner of the hundreds that were soon
to follow. 1t was pitiful to see the
terror Of some of those poor animals,
although unconscious how soon their
day would pass.
Seldom now is seen on our roads or
city streets the perfectly matched
carriage horses, with their stately
stepping, replaced by the luxurious
And only in the memory of the octo-
genarian would remain the great
heavy stages drawn by six horses over
the mountain passes Of the Far West.
can still vividly recall one Of those
trips of long ago. Accom-
panied by two friends | started one
in July from Santa Barbara,
to cross the Santa Ynez
Mountain by the San Mercos Pass.
We had outside seats on the stage, and
as the horses toiled up steep, mar
row road we had ample leisure to en-
joy the wide sweep Of the Pacific
Ocean in the distance, with beautiful
island enclosing Santa Barbara Bay,
while to the north stretched the peaks
ofthe coast range, of which our noun
tain was part. A sharp turn brought
a steep cliff on our right, where be-
tween the rocks many beautiful flow
ers, that had passed their bloom on
the plains below, were still mass Of
colors; while on the other
side was deep ca1tsn with a stream
through, bof1ered by cotton
wood trees.
There was a strong friendship be-
tween the driver and his horses, and it
was interesting to hear him talk to
them, calling each by name, and see
them lay back their ears to listen, and
the quick response to his commands.
l asked him if rocks ever fell upon
the road in the rainy season? He re-
piled that it occasionally happened,
but men were keeping watch, then
added, pointing to the cliff, he heard
one day in the spring noise and look
ing up saw huge boulder rolling
down the cliff in front Of them. 1t
struck the road about twenty feet in
front of his leaders. "My horses" he
said, wanted to turn back to me, but
you see there was no room. talked
pretty lively to them for few min
utes, and if they hadn't trusted me
when l told them all danger was over
we would have followed that boulder"
looked down on the top of trees a
thousand feet below, and realized the
perils they escaped.
When we reached the summit of the
Pass, our driver unfastened the traces
and told his horses to go to their
stable near by. This they promptly
did, yet each paused for a caressing
stroke from their masters hand.
Three pairs of fresh horses came to
the front, and were told TO take their
places. Then, after making all secure,
our driver began the descent on the
opposite side of the Pass. | shall
never forget the wild pace Of those
1orses down rough road, with steep
lifts above and below. They never
;lackened their speed till well out on
he Santa Ynez valley. At one point,
thickets of evergreens our
lriver said hold-up and robbery had
occurred not long before. But we
we're unmolested and before night
cached small hotel. and from there
ook train the following morning.
When the finely graded boulevard is
made from Portland, Oregon, TO Port |
and, Maine, and tourists are passing
ver it in their automobiles, / doubt if |
hey will enjoy the scenery or have
nore thrills Of excitement than | have
experienced on top Of stages in the
Wild West.
While still residing in Manchester,
'crmont, ! was hailed one day by a
rominent resident, who wanted 10
now If had seen in the papers that
man had gone from Albany to New
'ork in flying machine? did you
hink they could ever do that ?" YES"
replied, Il knew il was evolving like
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