Fordoholic Nick wrote:Yep just heard on the news some cowboys driving the Postal Stage Coast riding across The West was attacked by Red Indians. They surrounded the stage coach.
Talking about stagecoaches, I can feel a history lesson coming along......
The world's oldest monument dedicated to the memory of the victims of a drink driving accident is right here in Wales. The pillar was erected in 1841 to warn coach drivers of the peril of being drunk in charge, and also to commemorate a mail coach accident that occurred on 19th December 1833 caused by a drunken coach driver. It is located in a place called Halfway in the Brecon Beacons.
Mail Coach Pillar at Halfway, Brecon Beacons. by
Andrew 2.8i, on Flickr
The inscription reads:
"This pillar is called Mail Coach Pillar and erected as a caution to mail coach drivers to keep from intoxication and in memory of the Gloucester & Carmarthen mail coach which was driven by Edward Jenkins on the 19 day of December in the year 1833 who was intoxicated at the time & drove the mail on the wrong side of the road and going at a full speed or gallop met a cart & permitted the leader to turn short round to the right hand & went down over the precipice 12 feet where at the bottom near the river it came against an ash tree when the coach was dashed into several pieces. Colonel Gwynn of Glanbrian Park, Daniel Jones Esq. of Penybont and a person of the name of Edwards were outside & David Lloyd Harries Esq of Llandovery solicitor and a lad of the name of Kernick were inside passengers by the mail at the time and John Compton guard."
The coach driver, Edward Jenkins, appeared before a magistrate in Llandovery and was fined £5 plus costs.
Here endeth the lesson!.....
Andrew.