The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-11-11

III who live in the automobile and air.
plane age Of the hardships endured
Id by our pioneer ancestors In their
Journeys through the wilderness.
Perhaps the most familiar one Of these is
the weather-beaten and battle-scarred old stage
coach which stands on the lawn near the mu-
scum az Mammoth Hot Springs In Yellowstone
National park. This old Rocky Mountain mail
coach, the first in Montana, once ran between
Helena and Bozeman and at one time or anoth-
er carried such distinguished passengers as Gen.
James A. Garfield (before he was President),
President Chester A. Arthur, the first Presi-
dent TO visit Yellowstone park Tin 1889 and
General Sherman, during his inspection trip
into Montana In 1877.
Although the paint is scaling of and the
curtainless windows stare sadly at the passer-
by, there is q certain pride about this old relic
Of the early days and well there might be- With
General Sherman aboard and "he-man" skin
ner in control of the six horses that provided
the power the distance between Fort Ellis and
Helena, Mont, los miles, was once negotiated
IN the record time of eight hours by this coach.
There were frequent changes Of horses but
P B. Clark, proprietor of the stage company,
drove the entire distance
year or so ago another Of these old vehi-
cles attracted nationwide attention through the
following press dispatch from Washington:
Two of the country's most widely known
comedians, VIII Rogers and Fred Stone, have
presented the dignifed Smithsonian institu-
ton something for which it has long been
searching rare old Concord stage coach
built in 1925
1t has arrived at the museum after jour
neying from San Francisco TO New York by
way of the Panama canal on an army trans
port thence by boat down the coast and up
the Potomac
Under orders Of the quartermaster gen.
eraI, the creaking old relic with paint peel
ing of the wheels and red leather upholstery
badly worn. was handled carefully as
though it were jewel. II came uncrated and
was rolled proudly through the streets of the
Capital TO its final august abode.
For some time the arts and industries sec
ton of the Smithsonian institution has been
hunting for Concord coach Very few Of
these early vehicles are left as most went TO
pieces from hard use.
About a year ago museum officials saw q
picturesque coach which was the property OF
Fred Stone. They asked Stone later to give
the coach TO the museum. He replied that
IL had been given his friend VIII Rogers and
was in Beverly Hills. Calf.
The Smithsonian institution began writing
and wiring Rogers. A month ago the COM
edian briefly stated through his secretary that
the high old carriage which once sheltered
hoop skirts and poke bonnets, was theirs.
Lest the treasure slip from them the museum
officials promptly dispatched bill Of lading
with instructions TO load the coach on an
army transport with all speed
Now they are trying to get from Stone or
Rogers history of the relic, but so far have
had TO be content with the small brass plate
attached TO the coach and inscribed: &c. Ger
aid. Blacksmith, Concord 1925"
The coach is of the type used TO carry
passengers over the national highways in early
days. Its rallied top is reminiscent of the
armed guardsmen who perched above the
passengers on the lookout for robbers In the
then Wild West.
A faint scent Of lavender seems TO float
from its coy interior of red plush and leath-
er Smelling salts were often needed to re-
yive wasp-waisted fainting women after the
terrors of the trail. The coach seats nine per-
sons-by crowding.
II now takes its place beside Colonel Lind
bergh's famous plane, 1--WE" and a hobby
horse" presented by Buster Keaton. The lat
ter is quaint mode of early transportation
somewhat resembling q modern kiddie car
and propelled by the feet
At about the same time another old stage
coach featured in press dispatch from
Las Aninas, Colo, as follows:
One Of the famous stage coaches OF the
Southwest has been sold to pay storage bill
The old coach which once operated between
Ieavenworth and Denver and whose paSSen-
gers include Horace Greeley, President Grant
and other national personages. sold at
sherifrs sale for $500 TO E. l. Elder. This
is Just another chapter in its interesting his
tory.
Years ago the coach was purchased by the
Bent County Fair association. When the
nual celebration was discontinued the old
vehicle was stored In the barn on the L. G.
kurtz farm. few years ago the coach was
used In a celebration and then was parked
backed Of Elders garage. Later he cleaned
the coach and kept il in the store room
According TO prairie tradition ii is the coach
used by Mr. Greeley In 1850. II is known as
the Greeley coach. The old coach was built
In Concord y. 81. In spite Of its abuse the
old vehicle is sturdy and much of its equip
souri, river TO Denver required six days and
nights and horses were changed every u
hours
The old stage at one time was operated
BY Barlow Sanderson. This was in the early
eos. Spottswood & McClelland were the next
owners of the vehicle. In the early '70s s. ".
Mott purchased the old conveyance and used
IL on a stage line out Of Denver About the
time of the excitement In Deadwood the Cree
ley coach went into service on a route to
Elkhorn
In 1873 bandits held up the stage riddled
II with bullets and killed three passengers
The driver. Jack Quinn. escaped with the
mail and his exploit is mountain country his
tory. The bullet holes are visible in the old
rounded body.