Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-11-14
TOPONCE SERVED
MAJORS & RUSSELL
AS BUILLWHACKER

Continued from Historical Page)
passengers with profuse apologies for
the accident. On the official express
sing a desire to occupy the front
seat for the remainder Of the journey
he was given 1t, the mail sacks being
stacked on the back seat, and secured
as before.
This change being happily accom-
plished the driver, or side whipper,
cracked his whip, and the coach be-
gan its descent, the brakes shrieking
protest with every revolution Of the
wheels. Part way down, the rope was
again severed, and an avalanche OF
sacks overwhelmed the passengers,
With the same result as formerly; the
driver. or anyone outside was unable
to hear the calls for help, above the
screening brakes.
The passengers were extricated at
the bottom Of the hill, and this time
the sacks put in "for keeps" but the
unsuspecting official did not know this,
and although stimulated by imbibing
from the gallon jug, he suffered
agonies of apprehension.
on reaching the station, he told the
driver to get rid Of the sacks. The
driver was greatly shocked at the sug-
eestion, explaining that the rules OF
the company were very strict against
such action. Get rid of them some
way. only don't you dare let me see
you" So saying, he walked ahead on
the road. and when he was well out OF
sight, the sacks were dumped on the
prairie, or at least greater part OF
their contents. The old time stage
driver was eminently resourceful. To- [
ponce adds that not only one, but two I
gallon jugs we're emptied on this trip, |
and the official was feasted on game
Assistant Wagon Boss
During the so called Mormon war"
Toponce was in the fast mail service,
carrying it horseback from Fort Kear-
ney so miles west. In 1857 he was an
assistant wagon boss for Albert Sidney
Johnston, over the oregon trail. When
the war ended the surplus goods, ETC.,
were sold at auction. Toponce speaks
of bacon bringing a quarter Of a cent
a pound; flour a cent a pound, and
''big government wagons, complete with
bows, covers, neck Jokes, double trees,
and chains for six mules
sold at $3.50. One Payson man bought
a score of them at $3.50 a piece" To- !
ponce bought mules at this sale for
$50 a span One of the mules so ac-
luired, he later received $500 for in
st. Louis.
Returning to Missouri, our author
engaged in business until the election {
If Lincoln, when it became exceedingly
for a northern man in
hat vicinity Toponce moved on to .
Georgia Gulch in Colorado. The chief
eason for his leaving Missouri sud-
ienly, was an alteration that took
place between two men, one northern I
md the other southern. The southern
nan had been drinking freely, and APP !
the northern man in :
saloon, whose presence there was a
pretty sure indication that he also :
had been drinking; and after talking S
awhile, made the usual boast that s
one southern man could lick five :,
northern men," =
The man addressed retorted SAY F
'oe you are weak in the head I'm a ,,
orthern man, and you couldn't lick a
ne side Of me-" @
The southern man swore, and q
cached for his revolver, but his OPP
onent reached for him, and grabbing y
i'm "by the coat collar and the seat d
his pants, sent him flying, not =
trough the door, but through the ~
IN shaped window above it, glass and Ds
u . He was badly damaged when L.
ley picked him up" ~