The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-07-14

I
equally dangerous. These were the
hlghwaymen who infested the over
land mail route during its latter
days. Most of these valued human
life not at all, and many stage
drivers and passengers were killed
IN holdups. On the Bitter Creek
| division, between Denver and Salt
Lake, a stage was held up and rob-
bed of 10000. Once the coach in
which Ben Holiday was riding
was held up Holiday had a few
hundred dollars in his pockets and
$4,000 in money belt, besides an
emerald pin in his necktie that was
valued at $1,000 He managed to
save the $4,000 and the pin, and
lost only some $500.
Completion of Union Pacific in
1869 Ends Overland Stage Service
The completion of the Union Pa
cific line on May 10, 1869, ended
the overland stage service and one
of the most picturesque periods of
western frontier history. Many
tributes have been paid to the old
stage coach. The following APP
peared in the Atchison Champion
a quarter of a century after the
overland route had closed to stag
ing:
"The old stage coach has ended
its made its last trip. Here
and there what remains of it stands
beneath the rickety shed of some
wayside inn, relic of bygone days
- weather-worn, storm battered,
rusty and abandoned. It's leather
springs are cracked and broken. its
doors gone, its sides and back
in, its boot the refuge of
rats and bats; its wheels bent. its
axle-trees twisted-a poor forlorn
remnant of its former proud and
glorious self. Ghosts of a buried
past now hide in it. Shades of the
occupants it carried once have en-
wrapped it. Spectral forms of the
-oad agents who once surrounded
t to rifle the contents of its boot
low troop around it when nightly
shadows enfold it.
"The old brake that so often and
o faithfully checked its down-hil1
peed, grating out assuring, harsh
ounds to the travellers ear when
he road was steep and dangerous,
S bent and broken and useless now.
The mated steeds that drew it over
ong, weary, dusty miles are gone
n the seats where the worn and
Exhausted journeyers once slept,
Nightmares now revel. The imper-
0us and impressively confident
river is gone. From his neryeless
ands the lines have fallen, and
he shrill notes of his horn have
led away on the air of the vanish
d years. Poor thing there it
lands under the old tavern shed,
7recked, dismantled, forlorn No
ne halls its coming with eager,
eating heart; no one weeps as it
lmbles away with its precious
-eight of affection and friendship.
Decay and rust settled down up
n it years ago and pre-empted it;
strange mustiness now dominates.
The blasts of winter have fray
its trappings; the winds of aut-
mn have shredded its curtains.
S chains, once so bright, are tar
shed with rust of decades, but
leir links bind us to a wel1-remem-
cred past. It's gloss, which shone
the suns that set in that far yes
rday, is blurred and faded out.
nd all that now remains of it is
combination of broken straps,
nges, latches, steps - wheels,
lbs, tires, seats-a1l one of times
ost effective and lasting col
Oses.
Had it tongue to speak what
rgotten stories it could tell; what
srets social, commercial, politi-
lit could divulge; what scenes
d experiences it could describe;
lat recollections it could revive;
lat a history it could disclose.
t, alas it cannot speak. Poor
coach there it stands, one of
most magnificent has beens' of
'omantic period of our lives"