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 Every
week I read many equine news articles, in search of that one interesting
article worthy of commentary for the Unbridled News. Many newspapers
re-print articles archived from long ago. I don’t know why, but I always
read all of the historical articles. There is some romantic lure to the
stories of what was going on back then. Somehow I think all of us would
like to be transported out of the complex, fast-paced life we now live,
into a simpler time of yesteryear. Back when life was simpler,
slower, quieter, and more peaceful.
This week the Lassen County News ran this archived article:
"Remember When the week of June 8
Posted on Monday, June 07 @ 17:01:07 PDT
105 years ago
A hundred years ago the people of northern California often traveled by
stage coach. Late each afternoon, the stage left Redding and arrived in
Millville about 9 p.m. A curious crowd gathered at the Millville station
wondered why the stage had failed to arrive when a passerby said he was
certain he saw the clumsy vehicle lumber into town on time. The man was
right, but no sign of the stage or its passengers could be found. It seems
as the stage approached Millville, the driver fell asleep. When he awoke
around midnight, he stopped the horses and yelled, "Millville,"
but a passenger realized they weren't in the town. The driver took his
bearings and discovered he was 15 miles past Millville. The somnambulist
turned the horses around and finally arrived in Millville for the second
time around 4 a.m."
Wouldn’t that be great if that was the news headlines for this week?
"Stagecoach Driver Falls Asleep!" Rather than headlines of
bombings in the Middle East, the increasing cost of fuel or our city and
state budget deficits.
The Turlock Journal ran this article this week:
"Saturday, June 05, 2004
By Turlock Historical Society - Columnist
In 1914: A valuable horse belonging to Conner & Johann, the Broadway
liverymen, was driven to death last Saturday (5/30) by James Wilson, a
blacksmith employed by C.L. Herbst. Wilson drove to Newman and on the
return trip the horse dropped dead in his harness near the Costa ranch, a
short distance south of Turlock. An autopsy was performed by Dr. Upton,
the veterinarian.
The liverymen claim that the horse was in good condition when he left the
stable. He was five years old, sound and had never been known to be sick.
He was valued at $150.
Wilson admits that the animal became thoroughly overheated on the long
drive. He watered the horse about a half dozen times on the trip, but
denies that the animal was allowed to drink excessively at any time.
Wilson does not attempt to account for the death of the horse, but insists
that he was in no way to blame for the affair.
Conner & Johann have not stated what they intend to do in the
matter."
Okay, I admit this one surely looks like a legal dispute brewing and is
not nearly as romantic as the stagecoach driver falling asleep on the
job. But look at the differences already. If this sad event happened
today, we would have been hearing about this matter from the lawyer
retained by Conner and Johann. Mr. Wilson (who was responsible for the
horse) would have no comment and his lawyer would have told us that he had
nothing to do with the death of the horse in his care. PETA and other
animal rights activists would have already held a press conference and
posted a press release on their website, declaring driving a horse in
harness to be animal cruelty. The veterinarian would have declined
comment until the investigation was complete (or until he had been
retained to testify in the pending court case). And what about that price
of $150? Pleeeeaaaase! We all know that now that horse (since he has
passed on) would be worth $350,000, based solely on his future potential.
And what about that sleepy stagecoach driver? Well, he would have been
asked to submit to drug and alcohol tests, and then he would have been
fired. Unless it was determined that he suffered from a diagnosed Sleep
Disorder, and then the ADA might apply, and he might get his job back.
But following an investigation, he could probably only drive during day
shifts, so he would have to transfer to San Juan Bautista in order to stay
with the company and work days.
News reporters would have solicited comments from the stagecoach driver's
wife, about whether or not he had been getting enough sleep lately. The
persons on the coach would have hired lawyers to press their case for the
emotional damage and distress caused by missing their stop and having to
turn around and drive 15 miles out of their way, in the dangers of a dark
night, outside of civilization, in the Wild West. Protesters at the
station would demand an outside investigation into why the stage was late.
CalOSHA would already have auditors perusing the stagecoach maintenance
records, as well as lighting and signage at the Millville stop. The
union for the stagecoach driver would be claiming that the demanding
owners overworked the driver with long hours and therefore, the owners are
to blame for the missed stop.
Aahh, yes, take me back to yesteryear. Where chores begin at the crack of
dawn and don’t end 'til the sun has set. Where we work the land with our
hands and oxen. And when we return home, after sweating in the hot
sun all day, home is dimly lit with a small candle or a smoky fire and
there are still 5 more days until "Saturday bath night." No more
sleeping-in in our "sleep number" bed, Rolex watches, fancy
cars, Ford F350 dually's with extended cabs, high speed jets or Venti
vanilla lattes. For our horses, there are no more joint supplements,
Show Sheen, fly sheets with matching shipping boots, no orthopedic saddle
pads or Jolly Balls to play with. No more satellite dishes with 145
different channels, NBA playoffs and no more internet, where on any given
day I can buy any saddle I want from across the country, without getting
up out of my chair. . . . Uh, wait a minute. Maybe things are fine, just
the way they are. It’s fun to read anyway.
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Copyright Garry
Stauber © 2004 All rights reserved. The above article is
the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in
any way without permission. Visit Garry on-line at Dream Adventures.
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