The Coolidge examiner., 1932-11-11

III III
III as object lessons to us Americans
III B 81 who live in the automobile and air
IL plane age of the hardships endured
(@Sl 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 at 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 Gen.
James A. Garfield (before he President)
President Chester A. Arthur the first Presl-
dent to visit Yellowstone park lin 1889 and
General Sherman, during his inspection trip
into Montana In 1877.
Although the paint is scaling off and the
curtainless windows stare sadly at the passer-
by, there is certain pride about this old relic
of the early days and well there might be- With
General Sherman aboard and "heman" skin
ner In control Of the six horses that provided
the power. the distance between Fort Ellis and
Helena, Mont 10S miles, was once negotiated
In the record time Of eight hours by this coach.
There were frequent changes of horses but
z. 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 countrys most widely known
comedians, VIII Rogers and Fred Stone, have
presented the dignfed Smithsonian institu-
tion something for which it has long been
searching-a 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 army trans
port, thence by boat down the coast and up
the Potomac.
Under orders OF the quartermaster gen.
eral, the creaking old relic, with paint peel
ing off the wheels and red leather upholstery
badly worn, was handled as carefully as
though 1t were Jewel. 1t 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 a Concord coach Very few of
these early vehicles are left most went to
pieces from hard use.
About year ago museum officials a
picturesque coach which the property of
Fred Stone. They asked Stone later TO give
the coach 10 the museum. He replied that
Ii lad been given his friend VIII Rogers and
was in Beverly Hills, Calf
The Smithsonian institution began writing
and wiring Rogers. A month ago the
edan briefly stated through his secretary that
hoop skirts and poke bonnets, theirs.
Lest the treasure slip from them the museum
officials promptly dispatched bin Of lading
with instructions to load the coach 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. 1926"
The coach iS Of no cnd m
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.
1t now takes its place beside Colonel Lind
bergh's famous plane. "We" and hobby
horse presented by Buster Keaton. The lat
ter is a quaint mode of early transportation
somewhat resembling a modern kiddie car
and propelled by the feet.
At about the same time another old stage
coach was featured in a press dispatch from
Las Animas. Colo. follows:
One of the famous stage coaches of the
Southwest has been sold to pay a storage bill.
The old coach which once operated between
LeavenwOrth and Denver and whose pasSen-
gers include Horace Greeley, President Grant
and other national personages. was sold at
sherif7s sale for S4.500 to f. 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 an
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 it in the store ROOM
According to prairie tradition it is the coach
used by Mr.. Greeley in 1880 1t is known as
the Greeley coach The old coach was built
IN Concord, n. II. In spite of its abuse the
old vehicle is sturdy and much of its equip
nent is serviceable. The trip from the Mis-
souri river to Denver required six days and
nights and horses were changed every u
nOurS.
The old stage at one time operated
3y Barlow & Sanderson. This was in the early
'60S. Spottswood & McClelland were the next
of the vehicle. In the early '70s S. w.
Eot. purchased the old conveyance and used