C. Parkhurst: The Whip
© Mary M. Alward
In 1854, Wells Fargo started the first stage route between San Jose and Santa Cruz, California. The men who drove the stagecoaches were a rough and tumble lot. Their skin was thick and weathered from spending endless hours in the hot sun. They enjoyed a chaw, a shot of good whiskey and a good game of cards. Though they led hard lives, these men were all dedicated to their work. Driving a stage was no piece of cake. They had a lot to contend with. Floods, natives, robbers and inclement weather were just some of the things they dealt with on a daily basis. Then there were the broken wells, axles and the times one of their team threw a shoe. Life wasn't easy for the "whips," as they were called.
One of the best stagecoach drivers that ever hauled a team for Wells Fargo, and in the entire "Old West," was C. Parkhurst, also known as "Cockeyed Charlie." It seems that at one time Charlie was kicked in the head by a horse and lost his eye. After that, he always wore an eye patch, which made him look really mean.
Now you might wonder why I'm writing about a man on a topic about History's Wild Women, but please have patience. It won't be long until you find out.
When Charley was young, it seems he didn't' like the life he was living. Whether he ran away from his uncle's farm or an orphanage, we'll probably never know. There are conflicting stories about where he lived as a child. Anyway, Charley found work as a stable hand, in Massachusetts and then moved on to Georgia. It's said, that's where he lost his eye.
Charley kept a sharp eye on the stagecoach drivers while he worked as a stable hand. Soon, he could drive a six-in-hand team with great skill.
In 1850, Charley heard that gold had been found in California. He packed up his belongings and headed west. When he got there, things were booming. Gold fever was rampant. Charley was part of the chaos. He took a job driving stage.
Driving a stage loaded with passengers, luggage, a mail bag and gold was a hair-raising trip. Charley had found his niche. He could hold his own though he was only 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighed about 175 lbs. Everything about Charley was big, except his height and his voice. When he spoke, which was seldom, his voice was high pitched. He was a loner, but was tough as nails. The first time he was robbed, he threw down the strongbox. The second time, he shot the robber in the butt.
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