Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-12-20
Interesting Account Of Life
and Hardships OF Pioneers
(From the Bishop Registcr)

public. 1t illustrates that the luxury
Of to-day may become the necessity
of tomorrow. Complainants should
have lived in Owens Valley, or for
that matter, in any part of the inter-
mountain region in the days of the
pioneers, to be able to appreciate the
difference between the commin thing
then and the occasional disadvantage
of to-day.
In the beginning, complete isola-
ton; then the pony rider, with his
charge of Is cents for each letter
carried, in addition to the postage to
be paid when he reached the mailing
office. During that period, the
would-be traveller found his own means
Of transportation over the great dis
tances to established systems. Then
the blackboard once week; the mud
wagon" and coach, afterward, finally
reaching the luxury OF regular tri-
weekly and passenger service. Going
out of Inyo meant journey of AZ
hours, the schedule from Independence
to Carson. Sometimes the stage ran
in daytime only, making night stops
along the route Consider the pros
meet. in the light of modern travelling
ON ride at an average OF not over
five miles an hour, over the dreary
stretches of sand, sage, alkali or roll
ing hills; in winter an open convey
ancc over snow-crowned mountains,
and chill lowlands: prolong this
through two to four days: the PRIV
ilege paid at the rate OF $50 fare to
San Francisco, at a time when money
was scarce commodity. Is it at
all wonderful that trip to the city
was notable event?
Once in a while the monotony OF
staging was varied by the attentions
of "road agents. when one or more
individuals, usually, masked. by ban
dana or cloth across theface, stepped
ont from concealncnt with the conf
mand to Throw out the box. ne
"box" was Wells. Fargo & Co.'S
;ron-bound treasure chest. Sometimes
the driver was pressed into service to
smash it: sometimes the box was
tossed ont without further words;
sometimes an express messenger was
aboard and opened fire and battle
began in which messenger. driver or
bandit was unhealthy perforated n
story Of old-time bandits and mes
senrers would make some readable
char%Hs.
AM the drivers were worthy OF
record. Hank Monk was one OF inc
most noted of thousand. VINO
served In this territory among them
were men who, in course OF time
abandoned the reins and the daiy
grind for greater success IN othei
mathis of life. Even today, many VIII
recall Dick McNaughton, gentle
man to his finger-tips, with the coo'
age of a gladiator, if occasion uc
mlanded, and afterward one OF nc.
vada,s legislators. At least two o.
Owens Valleys prominent citizens
came here as stage drivers. men
there was P. P. Dow, pioneer reiiiS-
man on the desert roads, ana hioie
At home IN the drivers seat than
anywhere else; a man OF small sta
ture, his face bewhiskered to all ap,
pearance suggesting beneVo'e'
poodle-a man of character ana popu-
larity, however. The roll m'gh' oe
considerably prolonged.
A necessary accompaniment OF w.
mode of travel was the system o.
stare stations with tic customary
advertised Accommodations for ma"
and beast" There the stage ho'seS
were changed: the travellers partooN,
at any hour of the day OF n'eh'' y,
e. the schedule might nt,r pr0 fare at.
fhc~ham and eggs or other iaio a.
fordcd by limited supply ina.Ne''
After perhaps another sn'fter OF t.
freshment, not today sanctioned by wy
eighteenth amendment. the ne" 'e'''
was put into harness, by dayign' vi 'y
the uncertain light of smoky 'an'e. No.
as the case might be, the traVeie'' :
settled again into the least discoh''o''
their conveyance afforded and an
other stage of the toilsome tourney
began. Such were the conoi'io''' -
all the country except Ill the no :
important regions tributary 10 pa,
Francisco, in the youthful DAYS =
lnyo.
Roads were not much in those Jay s ,
either. 1t might be dlfhcult 70 '''l
to-day in journeying through az =.
California such thoroughtares as weie