The Coolidge examiner., 1931-08-21
STAGE COACH
TALES
b y E. C.. T A Y L 0 r
\ President Takes a Tumble
sA/E Do not travel any more;
w we nprplu ar1.ivn ~

Macauley wrote this in comment
ing on the passing Of the old days,
when a trip was an adventure,
when one lived every moment of his
journey, whether it was few hours
trip of a few miles, or a trek across
the continent.
One of the most romantic periods
of the history of the United States
was that between 1900 and the com.
/ ing of the railroads prior to 1850
That was the day of the stagecOach.
The notes of the cOachman's horn,
the stamping of four or six horses,
and the rafting of the old Concord
! stages that filled the highways of
America in those years are nearly
/ forgotten. Few records have been
kept of their era, although for dec
AIDES the life of the young nation
flowed through these great arteries
of travel.
The lords Of that distant day were
the drivers of the stage coaches.
/ They were the boys heroes like
aviatOrs are today. Their word was
/ law, and they were looked up to
sand respected by the great and the
| lesser individuals who comprised
the general public.
/ OF the tales that are left of these
romantic figures the most amusing
/ perhaps is the one of how they ven
| tured to express their emphatic
disapproval of a President of the
/ United States.
| When Martin Van Buren was oc-
/ cupying the White House. he We
tOed a bill apprOpriating funds for
/ the Improvement of the National
road in Indiana. That great high
way was the backbone of the nation
between 1880 and 1913, when the
railroads pushed westward over the
Allegheny mountains.
Everywhere along the road there
was great indignation over Van
Buren's action. The stage drivers,
/ being OverlOrds of their community.
and no doubt somewhat tired of the
severe jOstlings they received when
they drove their coaches at full
speed over a rocky, rough and
swampy highway, nursed their re-
venge.
Their opportunity came when
Van Buren, was returning to Wash
ingtOn, d. c., from a trip up the
Mississippi valley. The President
rode in as much peace and state
as the highway then provided. until
he reached Plainfield, Ind.
When his coach left Plaintield,
it had an accident" and the Presi-
dent of the United States was un-
tremendously spilled out in the
road where the mud was deepest.
The identity of the driver of his
coach is cloaked in mystery. Ev-
eryone denied responsibility for
what had happened although it is
probable they all laughed up their
sleeves.
Investigation showed that an
axle had been sawed nearly in two,
and it was brought out that the
driver, when he reached a particu-
larly muddy stretch of road. had
not avoided any of the numerous
bumps. The coach hit a big rock,
and the axle broke. AS it was go
III at d SOOu SlJNSb, Tic NclllClC
turned over, of course, and Mr.. Van
Buren was sent sprawling into the
mud puddle.
The President returned to the
tavern at Plainfield. and after
cleaning up. started off again and
reached the Nations Capital without
further mishap. But he had been
taught an object lesson on the i'm
pOrtance of keeping the country's
greatest highway in repair. When
the bill came to him again soon
after his adventure, he promptly
signed it.
The position held by the drivers
of the old stage coaches was like
that of the captain of a steamboat.
Some of the drivers stood on as
lofty a plane as the commanders Of
great ocean liners of the present
day. Their word was law while on
the road.
They came into constant touch
with all the prominent political, So
cial and commercial figures of the
country, and their attention and
favor was eagerly sought.
Although they were paid only
standard wage of So a month and
their board and lodging, they took
precedence over even their most
distinguished passengers.
In the eyes of small boys they
were even above the President of
tho Tinted St9faS Thav aIco
thought well of themselves; as one
driver remarked:
"While l drive this coach | am
the whole United States of Amer
ica."
&C. 1881. Western Newspaper Union.l