The Coolidge examiner., 1932-01-08
STAGE COACH
, TALES
The Lost Whisky
By E. G.. T AYLO r


- stage coach driver of the early
days in Wisconsin. He afterward
became a farmer and tavern keep
er, and his name is written in the
annals Of the development of that
state from a wilderness to a thriv-
ing commonwealth.
One day Meisser was driving his
stage between Madison and Prairie
du Sac. Besides his passengers, he
was carrying on the coach a barrel
of whisky consigned to Max Stin.
gelhammer Of Sauk City.
The barrel of whisky accidentally
rolled off the coach some distance
out from Sauk City, and Meisser did
not notice the loss until he. pulled
up in front of the post office at
Sauk City. While the postmaster
sorted the mail, Meisser hurried his
horses back over the road in the
forlorn hope of finding the los;
| barrel.
! He had gone only short dis
tance when he noticed the missing
| keg resting on a pair of brawny
shoulders, disappear behind rick
Of woods by the side of the road.
Pulling his stage and horses up
near the wood, he was able to look
over the brush. There on the other
side was an Irishman, sitting on the
keg, and mopping his brow.
Hello, sir. Have you seen keg
Of whisky" Meisser asked.
"Yes, sir; 1t is right here"
Il lost it from my load 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 tC 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
condition that MeiSser carry him
free of charge on his stage coach
to Madison. Which Meisser did.
Henry Cowles was a famous driv-
er 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 rubbery ice, that undulated as
it was crossed, ii was necessary for
stage coach drivers to gallop their
horses to keep from breaking
! through.
Cowles' teams broke through. The
horses were extricated with much
difficulty. Timid passengers always
walked across. The more daring
rode. but always held themselves
In readiness to leap for safety al
an instant's warning.
Salmon E. Cowles was driver
when his kinsman, Henry, later
owned the line.
Salmon Cowles was driving fou
horses and a stage between Lodi
and the present site of Waunakee
when one wheel horse became stub
born and deliberately lay down II
the water and mud which filled the
highway. 1t lay there for q long
time, and after much cOaxine
threatening and Furnishing, even the
coach and its 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 indi
vidual who had appeared amused al
Salmon Cowles' frantic efforts t.
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
passengers to dry land, and re
moved 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 horses to resume its task, and
the coach rolled on again.
O0. 1881 Western Newspaper Union.)