White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-01-21
STAGE COACH
: TALES
by E. C. TAYLOR
The Lost Whisky

| OttN M. MEL SSGII WAS uOI6Q
y stage coach driver of the early
days in Wisconsin. He afterward be-
came farmer and tavern keeper, and
his name is written in the annals of
the development of that state from
a wilderness to a thriving common
wealth.
One day Meisser was driving his
stage between Madison and Prairie
du Sac. Besides his passengers, he
was carrying on the coach barrel of
whisky consigned. to Max Stingel-
hammer of Sank City.
The barrel of whisky accidentally
rolled off the coach some distance out
from Sank City, and Meisser did not
notice the loss until he pulled up in
front of the post Office at Sank City.
Meisser hurried his horses back over
the road in the forlorn hope Of finding
the lost barrel
He had gone only short distance
when he noticed the missing keg rest
ing on pair of brawny shoulders,
disappear behind rick of woods by
the side of the road. Pulling his
stage and horses up near the wocd, he
was able to look over the brush.
There on the other side was an Irish.
man, sitting on the keg, and hopping
his brow.
"Hello, sir. Have you seen a key
of whisky?" Meisser asked.
Eyes, sir; it is right here"
II lost 1t from my lead and would
like to have it back again." said
Meisser.
well, sir" the Irishman replied"
you will have to be a bigger man than
am to get it,
What transpired during the next
half hour, Meisser never would say.
He explained that after some time and
persuasion, the Irishman agreed to
give up the whisky, but only on con-
dition that Meisser carry him free of
charge on his stage coach to Madison.
Which Meisser did.
Henry Cowles was a famous driver
On the Baraboo- Madison stage line in
Wisconsin. Bridges had not been
built in those days. In the summer
time, the coaches and horses forded
the streams, and in winter, they
crossed on the ice.
One day Cowles was driving his
stage across the Wisconsin river over
the "ticklish bender ice of boyhood
days. When driving over this rub
berry ice, that undulated as it was
crossed. it was necessary for stage
coach drivers ito gallop their horses
to keep from breaking through.
Cowles teams broke through. The
horses were extricated with much diff
dculty. Timid passengers always
walked across The more daring rode
but always held themselves in readi-
ness to leap for safety at an instant's
warning. % csc M
Salmon e. Cowles was driver when
his kinsman, Henry, later owned the
line.
Salmon Cowles was driving four
horses and a stage between Lodi and
the present site Of Waunakee, when
one wheel horse became stubborn and
deliberately lay down in the water
and mud which filled the highway. 1t
lay there for long time, and after
much coaxing, threatening and pun
ishing, even the coach and it's load
of passengers were stuck fast. The
other horses could not pull them out.
Mud was knee deep, and the situation
was embarrassing to the several
ladies who were passengers.
At last a big, good-natured individ-
ual who had appeared amused at
Salmon Cowles' frantic efforts to free
the mud-fast coach and relieve the
stranded passengers, stepped from the
coach and waded through the mud to
high, dry ground.
He volunteered to carry all the pas
sengers to dry land, and removed the
women and children one by one.
Then he made the men wade.
After much more maneuvering, the
men pulled the coach to firm ground,
and finally persuaded the balky horse
to resume it's task, and the coach |
rolled on again.
(@. 1881 Western Newspaper Union.)