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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1929)
MEDFonn matiy TRTBuyE, medfortx onRooN", suNri.A'y, ma'y v. v.u'). i'ACm TITRKltf. Fred Tice, Last of Pioneer Stage Drivers, Views From Plane the Routes and Scenes HeTraveled Yam Ago With 6-Horse Team "The Scarlet Lady," Rialto Monday . , Worn 'stage 'coach 16 airplane! A long, long trail In tho minds pf the 'present generation. A shortcut thru "memory lane" to t'red Tice, 72 of Medford. . Mr. Tice,' who la ono of Hie few remaining protoHKlontil vtugc coach drivers left In tho country, enjoyed hi first airplano rl.lc over tho val ley .this week, thru the f .Harold Handera, owner of the eiders Aeronautical, school. Pilot V hy . Mr.- Kan dors, tho . white Mired: pioneer of Jackson county retraced ' muchor he route he traveled through this county,' 60 yenra ago... , : ; r, ' ,. , ).' No suggestion" of nervounneHH marked the conduct of tho ruddy faced pian of 1i hh h cllinhcd into a passenger plane for the first time In .'tils life.- Rather, there. waM a gleam of eagerness In Ills eyes as til motor began to. hum and tho prospect of actually leaving tho earth approached. '. "It's something like being horn again Into a new age and a new llfc,"'he observed to his companion on '.the trip, , as the plane lifted from, the field .and. began Roaring. Leaning over tho side of the Blilp so as. not to- miss any af ilio,de-' talla of the flight.' he traced out with Ills finger tho course over which he drovo . his ' aixhorso teAms half a century ago , . ;:'.'!.. - Fred Tlco Tlie're It Is the old stage, road. It 4waa nothing but brush In those dayanbt . much of a rond to It." And 'he 'pointed out the avenue to tv.hlch Medfard.'.-pioneer 1 residents point " with , most pride,; "I've watched the 'old i .rpad . changing throirgh the ' 'years but I never thought ,1'df ever see it look dike thta.'Vhe'.'a'dded. with a note of humbrf.arf .-thwjnlane. climbed Ktilh higher, and ,thearrtisaolvcd jhto : a thin frlngy '11(Toor.- n .T.!,-ii-J'-'i),: The. earth below' became a dolbv ful rug' with:-a predominance 'of green in its patterns. Square pear orchards itrpned.-wlth white jtrt. angular1' patches of greed, gold and red irregular litis of gray and black' threads wea.vl.ng themselves In uid out. .Here and there a dot of blue and 'winding its' way" thru the whole .-'beautiful picture, 'a gleaming band j of. silver the, Ilogue! . - . " . ' : J ' ; Yh. detail' grow less marked, and tlio colors began fo blend and melt Into' one another1' as the : ilane winged its way still higher. The pioncor stage coach, driver leaned back in the seat and. studied the clouds. - Heaven Rocmcd a "friendly distance ' from there tho atmos phere., wrs fine and light, and tho sun was a cordial host. - ? - ,.'";"I don't think I ever .want to Rq jlofwQ-r-unlcsH of courso they'd bring, back my six-horso team and stago coach," sighed- tho veteran driver.' . , ,.' . . r're'd Tlco was born near Jack sonville in 1 857. Ho attended tho Oak Orovo school along with a number of 'the other well known older residents of the . county.. lie began driving a team at an early age,, and when but 17 years old was considered ono of tho most . dept horstcrs' In tho -county. . ''"It was quite a 'trick to pick up six -lines-and drivo over some of tho tricky passes wo had In those days,',' ho said.' "and in that day it was a skill to be proutl of." i i 1 I- - Mr. Tice was JI ycara old when he received the rcsp'onslblo' position of stago driver for the Oregon- California Stage' company, which ran from Koseburg. 'Ore., to' Hed dlng, Calft.- From 10 to IS drivers covered this stretch of 275 miles, changing teams every 15 miles and using 180 horses on the entire trip; 100 through this state and 80 through the California section. The drivers in Oregon were paid $55 a month, room and board, while tlhose south of the border re ceived 50,' room and board; the difference being explained by the fact. tba.t.' s(x-horso teams were hoccssnry here.. Instead of the four- hoi-fle teams used in tho southern state, .r ,v. .V , . , The stage was' dub in Jackson ville daily northbound; 8:30 a. m., and southbound f at 2:30 p. m. Jacksonville .at that time was the center of .mining activity and gold dust was shipped from tho town in large quantities. Medford was a prairie, unborn and un-named. There were two strings of stages going each way to maintain the dally schedule. Carrying cxpross and mall as well as passengers. It was necessary for tho stages to ar rive' ohv-tlme so" as to meet "the trains In both the north and south. Nothing was considered unavoid able" except high -water, and miss ing the train meant a fine of f 600 to the stage company. . Mr Tice drove stage from Ttoek Point to the elation on Cow creek, a distance of 45 miles, for tho first two years. With no visible, road over which' to travel, tho feat of handling a six-horso team over the mountains and streams -was dan gerous and difficult. V H was In-tho winter of '78 when the local man encountered ' a; ter rific storm ' near Cow creek, and found It impossible to Control the panic-stricken horses of hla coach. After a. considerable struggle, In which the team plunged dojvn Into the rising water, the driver a-escued the express box and barely saved himself from death. Tho horses were lost, but tho wagon weathered the Moon and was pulled to the nearest station next day. 'Fortu nately there were no. passengers on that coach:' j- Among other dangers '; which lurked .along the way In those days were-the Indians, holdup nVen and wild animals. The local man re-' calls one incident .when for a cer tain distance -along an edge of high brush and trees, .Jhe! horses silled away "from j tho. trail; over which fie, guided them! H H . . FInariy annoyed by-.-lhelr cStlons. lie jiinipe'd down' fim the seat and walked, along 'the' ;edgo bf the brush, looking 'through it jto dis cover what fliqi 'snltnalfc had sensed, 'All of-a) sudden. hojpccrcri Into, j itho . tnej of ,,'4''! largo grlzsily heart; which i : pad j; beep prbvllng aloiig thrnugh'.tlin, brush nn had jt6jiued lmiltrlMoualy with ; tho sue coHcu.. -.unarmeg ine7, tinver cu.,vu lUKjup nrni iiiiu iimuw u hasty-' get'-away -with tho 'liorses now In a-mpod for co-opcra'tton. -Although there were frequent Indian attacks In those days.. Mr. Tice .was spared this mlsfdrtuno on any of his routes.- It was hut a' few' years before, this, however, when 'the 'Modoc -war tookf place, and the -stago driver; then'a, boy of 15 or 1 6, . was impressed and Q- : i OOPJ klVARAOO sLYAdePuni in'Te Scarlet Ujdy 1 "The Scarlet Iady," coming to the Rialto tlietatre tomorrow. The action is tense and the drama well acted by a capable cast headed by I,ya do Puttl, Don Alvarado and Warner Olnnd. It might well be a page fro luliusslan history related ill a manner that is fascinating and full ol human appeal. ;-' - Monday at the Rialto rn 'inrwrorriiiOT A tone1 from the Ufa Production "Looping the Loop", : ndVVHttle thrilled over- hltf mem- ory of somo of tho dctalla. Ati this timo Port Kliimath wns anj army po8t, nnd the pioneer lurt wnsj attracted by thoir colorful uctlvilyj with, the Indians. . ' j When he wa 17 years old hoj once drove throiiKh Fort Klamath j arriving -j'uVt in Umo to ace the soldiers locking d number jpx Indians Ih -'a ' corral coverins an acre ' of ground, aft, tho, result ofj their capture 'after an attack on i tho 'white settlors ' Women tinff children were herded Into the pen along with their Indaln husbands, and guards were stationed around the outside wall. These Indians 'were kept at Fort Klamath for several months, after which they woro aaken ii small groups to distant points and , re leased. .During their Jmnjrlsoriment they4 apparently enjoyed. llfeit tho squaws cpoklng the meals within the acre square. If Gverir property owner Knew ,Tt - every real v estate , nuui ' knows about the many defects that so fre quently develop when property is conveyed with a title "clear, free and un incumbered." Title Insur . ance would be demanded by every purchaser of property. It's positive and lasting protection - Jackson Jounty . Abstract Co. '. .121 E. Sixth St!; Phone 41 WtPl'" CHRYSLER MOTORS PRODUOW n(!SJ I J SEDAN DB LUJO, $955 . . . ftrfty Wice across the continent Jr reel Thousands of miles of De Soto Six motoring at no cost, .Why pay more lor car than it coats to get Just what you want? , , Paying 11000 or car typical of that price field will not give you any more In preatige, in beauty, in performance, in com fort, in riding eaae,ln dependabil ity and in economy than De Soto Six givea for $845 over $150 leas. In fact, all comparisons are In favor of De Soto. Make these contrasts yourself. Drive a De Soto Six. Then try out a car In the $1000 class.' If you . 217 Fatton . . . . SS45 Roadster Eipanol 845 Sedan Coehe . 84S Cup Business . 843 are like the other thousands and thousands of motorists who have made this study of values, you will write a check for consider- 1 ably less tho n you had cxpectod to pay, and will get considerably more than you had expected to' got. You'll lose no time adding your name to the rapidly increas ing list of De Soto owners. , The money you thus save, you can use in running your new De Soto Six. At the average price of gas and oil, De Soto'a saving Sedan .... S88S Cup de Lu)o . 885 Sedan de Lu)o . 955 All price at factory of about $150 will be a gift to you of mileage equivalent to a luxuri ous trip twice across the conti nent, free of charge, In one of the snartest and most restful sixes built today. . 1 De Soto Six Is Chrysler-built fashionable, beautiful car you will be proud to own la any com pany. Then why pay more than De Soto's moderate coat? 'Fhone us for a trial without obligation. m5 and up at the factory - MEAD-FURCH MOTOR CO. 114 South Riverside ' ' - . Phone 1109 In I K x o, Mr. Tlco wan t ra ns ferrcd from Rock Point south, anil drove over the Sisklyous. At that time thin was a toll road, the ntao company paying $700 a year to over tho mountain. OoorRO Chai i now of Yrcka, covered tho aamo f route as did Mr. Tire. in tho summer of 18X0 another' drivrr. Nort KddinuH. was robled . mi the mountainH. a xhort dlntaiuv from whero tho D'Autremont hold-: u took place. Tho Htago driver I was blowing his team on a steep I pads when a uroup of bandit; emerged from tho timber, fired ; some shotH pant the alage and com- i mundnd Kddincs to throw downi the exprean box. carry Ink a laiK j quantity of gold dust from the j minoH. They then commanded tho iliivor nnd pnsHonnetn to get out of the coach, and while they were covered." ono of the bandits robbed them of overythlnn they had, M r. Tlco was put on tho rt u t c covered by Eddlngs, driving Jho Maine team. Immediately after the rohbi'ry. Officials accompanied the driver keeping a sharp lookout fov the holdup men in case of a sec ond attempt, hut thoy did not re appear. ' The local man derives a ureal deal of pleasure In reminiscing over the old days on the stae route days which ho considers tho happiest of his .life. He remem bers, with a smile, that the women j generally wanted to sit In the driver's seat, while most of the men passengers seemed contented ; to sit 'inside. He admits, however, that there was one lovely bit of femininity for whom all the others had to take a back seat when aho decided to go on ono of her frequent trips thorunh the county to visit friends. This was Martha Dodge. She is now Mrs. Kred Tlco of Medford. And when tho 7 2 -year-old mitn. who even now views the world hiily from astride a hay colored horse, decides to .tnkc.hls.u'cxt air plano ride, Martha DodRo Tice is going with him. . Highly dramalc score and tinuml sciven romance as one of tho ' credit belongs to Georgo Mel ford effecta with tho players speaklnu ye;u'H most entertaining produc- j whose inspired direction recalls his at cHiiiiicHc points mniks thU now 'ti"if. Inrlilentnlly. no little of the ' parltor trlumpliR In "Tho Bhelk."'' Qirysler '75" roadster (u-iii rumble When you say Chrysler you say Performance I In tho northern Africa country frifiKltiK the grout Hhitra Doprt. hihI IncltiflliiR Ronoi-Hlly what aro known ns tho Moroccan HtntoH, lil.s otry tellH us that loaco. amity hihI lirothcrly love between nelRhbor Inpr tribes and people Imvo over reeelvetl gcunt welt-onie there. . Much of this flerco flKh'tlnc be tween rvlHl chlefM of leHcrt tribes Is seen In "I.ovo In the Desert," now showing nt Hunt's Crateriun. with Ollvo llunlen, Noah Beery nnl Tluph Trevor In fesuren roles. So marked is the difference between Chrysler performance and all other performance that in appraising other cars the motor-minded almost invariably use Chrysler as the stand ard of comparison. All phases of Chrysler designing and engi neering are carried out with absolute pre cision arftl balance with the inclusion of new ideas, new refinements and new sim plicities, growing out of endless research and a fixed habit of advanced thinking. Furthermore, Chrysler durability and long life have been demonstrated in the hands of hundreds of thousands of owners through millions of miles of economical operation. And all of these things performance, long life and economy of upkeep, together with , Chrysler's individual beauty and style are available in Chrysler "7S" and '"65". at ' prices far lower than those of cars which seek to compete with Chrysler quality. t Chrvilkr "65"1040 u VlUJ ' ' ' Six Bsdy Sty Us ' - ' ' Chrvslir "75" J1535 it $179S EizhtBod) Stylit Allpricaf. ,. b. factory. Chrysler dialer! txttnd cenvmunt timt paymenti CHRYSLER CHRYSL.BR M O.T O R S P R O D U C T 7 Medford M 128 South Riverside ' , Phone 762 I !.! i' ' J ' i. f. i !: " ,., .,...,.,,,,..:,,,.,..-',;-.' ,. ' ':'.' " "A'' ' '" ' ' '" i "" '...-".-. ' - ,...-.. '.:!-, '..V'.oi.'I'V,:-,;-- .were purchased in Jackson county, during April than the combined total - - ' ' : . - . . . ' . t -1 ... . of all other; automobiles selling for $1200 or more. ". i. . i;. . 4 . n. r-.r ' I "' Since September first 1298, in Jackson County; the new Buick has out sold all six i I.-''' i cylinder cars, except Chevrolet. Discriminating Automobile Buyers Buyers who want the most for their money choose Buick because Buick gives more speed more power greater se-sale value greater luxury and more ease of. handling than any other car at or near its price. "We invite you to get behind the wheel and get the facts" Scherer Motor Company . BUICK DEALERS ; ' 38-40 N. Riverside Open Evenings and Sunday Phone 73 When Better Automobiles are Built Buick will Build Them
