Interesting bit of Western history

[jnyork]

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Western stagecoach companies were big business in
the latter half of the 19th century. In addition to passengers and
freight, stages hauled gold and silver bullion as well as mining
company payrolls.

Stage robbery was a constant danger and bandits employed many
strategies to ambush a stagecoach. Thieves rarely met with much
resistance from stage drivers, since they had passenger safety
foremost in mind. The gang was usually after the Wells Fargo money box
with its valuable contents. Passengers were seldom hurt, but they were
certainly relieved of their cash, watches and jewelry. Before the
completion of the transcontinental railroad over Donner Pass in 1868,
the only transportation through the Sierra was by stage. Rugged
teamsters held rein over six wild-eyed horses as they tore along the
precipitous mountain trails. The stagecoaches were driven by skilled
and fearless men who pushed themselves and their spirited horses to
the limit.

One of the most famous drivers was Charles Darkey Parkhurst, who had
come west from New England in 1852 seeking his fortune in the Gold
Rush. He spent 15 years running stages, sometimes partnering with Hank
Monk, the celebrated driver from Carson City. Over the years,
Pankhurst’s reputation as an expert whip grew.

From 20 feet away he could slice open the end of an envelope or cut a
cigar out of a man’s mouth. Parkhurst smoked cigars, chewed wads of
tobacco, drank with the best of them, and exuded supreme confidence
behind the reins. His judgment was sound and pleasant manners won him
many friends.

One afternoon as Charley drove down from Carson Pass the lead horses
veered off the road and a wrenching jolt threw him from the rig. He
hung on to the reins as the horses dragged him along on his stomach.
Amazingly, Parkhurst managed to steer the frightened horses back onto
the road and save all his grateful passengers.

During the 1850s, bands of surly highwaymen stalked the roads. These
outlaws would level their shotguns at stage drivers and shout, “Throw
down the gold box!” Charley Parkhurst had no patience for the crooks
despite their demands and threatening gestures.

The most notorious road agent was nicknamed “Sugarfoot.” When he and
his gang accosted Charley’s stage, it was the last robbery the thief
ever attempted.

Charley cracked his whip defiantly, and when his horses bolted, he
turned around and fired his revolver at the crooks. Sugarfoot was
later found dead with a fatal bullet wound in his stomach.

In appreciation of his bravery, Wells Fargo presented Parkhurst with a
large watch and chain made of solid gold. In 1865, Parkhurst grew
tired of the demanding job of driving and he opened his own stage
station. He later sold the business and retired to a ranch near
Soquel, Calif. The years slipped by and Charley died on Dec. 29, 1879,
at the age of 67.

A few days later, the Sacramento Daily Bee published his obituary. It read;

“On Sunday last, there died a person known as Charley Parkhurst, aged
67, who was well-known to old residents as a stage driver. He was in
early days accounted one of the most expert manipulators of the reins
who ever sat on the box of a coach. It was discovered when friendly
hands were preparing him for his final rest, that Charley Parkhurst
was unmistakably a well-developed woman!”

Once it was discovered that Charley was a woman, there were plenty of
people to say they had always thought he wasn’t like other men. Even
though he wore leather gloves summer and winter, many noticed that his
hands were small and smooth. He slept in the stables with his beloved
horses and was never known to have had a girlfriend.

Charley never volunteered clues to her past. Loose fitting clothing
hid her femininity and after a horse kicked her, an eye patch over one
eye helped conceal her face. She weighed 175 pounds, could handle
herself in a fistfight and drank whiskey like one of the boys.

It turns out that Charley’s real name was Charlotte Parkhurst.
Abandoned as a child, she was raised in a New Hampshire orphanage
unloved and surrounded by poverty. Charlotte ran away when she was 15
years old and soon discovered that life in the working world was
easier for men. So she decided to masquerade as one for the rest of
her life.

The rest is history.

Well, almost. There is one last thing. On November 3, 1868, Charlotte
Parkhurst cast her vote in the national election, dressed as a man.
She became the first woman to vote in the United States, 52 years
before Congress passed the 19th amendment giving American women the
right to vote!

[Blaine]

Thanks!
I love this place.

[.45colt]

Awesome !!! Thank You.

[Batman1939]

Just this past year a black woman known as "Stagecoach" Mary Fields--was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. IIRC, she was about 6 feet tall, carried an 1876 Winchester and could handle herself in a brawl. She didn't drive a stage, but rather a mail wagon and won the job, becoming the second black woman to work for the USPS, by being the fastest to hitch up her team of horses. She apparently carried the mail for many years in the area of Cascade, MT. She was a well-known and beloved citizen of Cascade and was extremely fond of "her" Cascade baseball team.

[donw]

very interesting bit of history...thanks for sharing it!

[Booger Bill]

Thanks for the story. It deserves a like but this site doesn't have that function.

[Paladin]

Thanks for the post.

[Dan 444]

Thanks for the post!

Dan

[Pete44ru]

.


"Interesting" ? ? ?

More like "amazing"..................... Thanks for posting the stories ! !


.

[gamekeeper]

Thanks for sharing that bit of Western history.

[Ben_Rumson]

Years ago Erik's Deli sandwich shops in the Bay area region of CA named a sandwich "Cross Eyed Charley" in her honor... Now they'd prolly name it Cross Dresser Charley...

[marlinman93]

Really great story, and surprised Hollywood hasn't written a movie based on Charlie? It's the kind of story they love to make movies from!

[Griff]

Really great story, and surprised Hollywood hasn't written a movie based on Charlie? It's the kind of story they love to make movies from!

But they'd probably use some beauty to play the part, making it totally unrealistic.

[Pete44ru]

Really great story, and surprised Hollywood hasn't written a movie based on Charlie? It's the kind of story they love to make movies from!

But they'd probably use some beauty to play the part, making it totally unrealistic.

Starring.........

[jnyork]

Really great story, and surprised Hollywood hasn't written a movie based on Charlie? It's the kind of story they love to make movies from!

But they'd probably use some beauty to play the part, making it totally unrealistic.

Starring.........

Har, har!!!

[sore shoulder]

Really great story, and surprised Hollywood hasn't written a movie based on Charlie? It's the kind of story they love to make movies from!

But they'd probably use some beauty to play the part, making it totally unrealistic.

Starring.........

That is so bad. Must be why I like it.

[octagon]

Man.....She cleans up NICE!

[piller]

That is quite an interesting bit of history. Just when you think that you have heard it all, you learn something new.

[jd45]

Batman1939, I just Googled Mary & sure enough, there she is 1876 Win and all! Thanx, jd45

[Blaine]

Not surprising....Look how long Moochie has gotten away with pretending to be a woman....

[Bill in Oregon]

I'll be darned.