Historic Pelham Blog Archive
January 16, 2009

350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BOOK:  "THOMAS PELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE PELL TREATY OAK" -- $11.95 (PROCEEDS AFTER PRINTING COSTS WILL GO TO BARTOW-PELL MANSION MUSEUM).  CLICK HERE TO BROWSE BEFORE YOU BUY! LEARN MORE.

Yesterday I posted to the Historic Pelham Blog an item describing the first trip of Col. Delancey Kane's "New-Rochelle and Pelham Four-in-Hand Coach Line" in the coach that became his famed "Tally-Ho" to Pelham Bridge on May 1, 1876. See:

Thursday, January 15, 2009: The First Trip of Col. Delancey Kane's "New-Rochelle and Pelham Four-in-Hand Coach Line" on May 1, 1876.

Today's posting transcribes an account of the final trips of the first season of Col. Kane's famed coach. The transcription is followed by a citation to its source.

"THE PELHAM COACH.

-------

LAST TRIP OF THE SEASON TO-DAY -- THE COST OF SEVEN MONTHS OF COACHING -- COL. KANE'S PLANS FOR NEXT SPRING.

The last load of passengers who were regularly 'booked' for the Pelham Coach was carried on Thursday, and notices to the effect that the stage would cease running for the season on the 2d of December had been posted on the bulletin at the Hotel Brunswick for a week. The whole coach was secured for yesterday and to-day by the Coaching Club and Mr. F. Sherman, so that the tardy ones who had neglected to avail themselves earlier in the season of the opportunity to ride with Col. Kane through the Park, and across Westchester County to Pelham, found that it was too late when they applied for places a day or two ago. The trip on Thursday was made with a party consisting of Mr. W. E. Iselin and some friends, Mr. H. G. Satten, Mr. Hugo Fritsch, and Mr. C. Steward.

Yesterday morning the party consisted of Mr. Nicholson Kane, Mr. F. Sherman, Mr. F. Bronson, and Mr. A. T. Rice, of the Coaching Club. The coach left the Hotel Brunswick at 11 o'clock. A keen north-west wind was blowing, and the 'outsiders' were wrapped thickly in blankets to protect them from the cold. A short halt was made at Pelham, which 'outsiders' and 'insiders' improved in restoring the circulation to their chilled bodies, and in discussing an abundant dinner. When the coach arrived at the Hotel Brunswick, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the horses were steaming after their brisk run, the driver and guard were looking very ruddy, and the four 'outsiders' were apparently glad to alight.

To-day Mr. Sherman's party, consisting of Nicholson Kane, Mr. G. Barnwell, Mr. J. K. Lawrence, Mr. H. Fearing, Mr. S. Cowing, Mr. H. Gay, Mr. G. Kane, Mr. G. Steward, Mr. C. Steward, and Mr. Sherman, will occupy the coach on its final trip until next Spring. Col. Kane will drive, and Fownes, the guard, who has tipped his hat so acceptably and profitably during the entire season, will occupy his place and awake the echoes once more with his cheerful horn. The coach was put on the road on May 1, and ran from that time until July 4 to Pelham every day, except Sundays and one day on which it was taken off for repairs, carrying an average of eleven passengers per trip. On July 5 the route was extended as far as New-Rochelle, and from July 5 until Sept. 8, daily trips were made between the Hotel Brunswick and New-Rochelle, the coach carrying an average number of eight passengers. On Sept. 8 the trips to New-Rochelle were discontinued, and since that date passengers have only been carried as far as Pelham and back. The coach was off the line one day since Sept. 8 when it was driven in the parade of the Coaching Club. The average number of passengers per load since Sept. 8, was ten. Col. Kane has scarcely missed a trip during the entire season, and has become so accustomed to 'tipping' his hat repeatedly and to everybody that rode with him, that he frequently greets his friends in coachman fashion even when he is not on duty upon the box.

The expense of running the coach for seven months exceeded the receipts by nearly eight hundred dollars, so that the pleasure of maintaining the establishment has cost Col. Kane about five dollars a day. The expenses and receipts were about as follows:

EXPENSES.

Sixteen horses, seven months, $15 each . . . . . . . $1,680
Five grooms $40 a month each . . . . . . . 1,400
Horse-shoeing . . . . . . . 224
Guard, salary and expenses to and from Pelham . . . . . . 1,000
Wear and tear of coach . . . . . . . 500
New wheels and general rpeairs [sic] . . . . . . 500
Depreciation and repair of harness, &c . . . . . . . 400
Rent of stable . . . . . . . . 800

Total . . . . . . . .$6,254

RECEIPTS.

Hotel Brunswick and Pelham, 2,672 fares, $1.50 each . . . . $4,008
Hotel Brunswick and New Rochelle, 448 fares, $2 each . . . 896
Box seat extras . . . . . . . 156
Packages, about . . . . . . . 100
Coachman's fees, about . . . . . . . 312

Total . . . . . . . . $5,472

Excess of Expenditures . . . . . . . . . $782

Col. Kane expresses no regret at the loss he has sustained. He has had an abundance of outdoor excercise in good company, and has helped to stimulate the love of coaching in this City. Already a line of coaches on the west side of the City, along the Hudson River shore to Yonkers, is talked of as likely to be established next Spring. The road is a beautiful one, and would, it is believed, attract many patrons to a line of coaches driven over that route. The Pelham coach will begin its trips as early next Spring as the condition of the road between New-York and Pelham will permit, and will run between New-Rochelle and the Hotel Brunswick as soon as the demand for extended trips shall warrant Col. Kane in announcing them."

Source: The Pelham Coach, N.Y. Times, Dec. 2, 1876, p. 8.

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:34 AM  Comment

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