Requiem for a dead horse: Alas, Old Harry

It's unlikely that Old Harry ever set hoof on Chariton's streets, but this noble steed's death in Des Moines during 1883 was top news in The (Chariton) Democrat-Leader of Wednesday, March 7, as Iowans looked back to the day when transportation across much of the state was by stagecoach. Thanks to the miracles of modern databases, I was able to track the story to its origin --- The Des Moines Register of Tuesday, March 6.

Even the headline was lifted verbatim from The Register: "A Noted Horse Dead: Death of 'Old Harry,' the Last of the Stage Horses in Central Iowa." Here's the text:

"Another old settler is gone. Yesterday morning occurred the death of "Old Harry," the time honored old butter colored stage and war horse, of late years in the service of A.T. Johnson & Co.'s bus line. "Old Harry" was familiarly known over the city and in portions of the State. He was a stage horse before the war, between Newton and Grinnell, afterwards from Newton to Des Moines, and in 1867 between Council Bluffs and Sioux City. He was purchased by Mr. Johnson in 1868, and has since figured principally in the bus and baggage line service of this city.

"Old Harry" was probably the last of the pioneer stage horses in Central Iowa. He died of ripe old age, but evinced his characteristic grit by living through this severest of winters. Doubtless if he could have spoken, he would have acknowledged that this January eclipsed the weather of 1856-57. Two years ago "Old Harry" played "possum" in his stall, and was given up for dead, when he returned to life and tarried until yesterday. He was gentle and noble, and widely respected, and his demise creates a void in this community that time and another horse as good alone can fill."

The Democrat-Leader did neglect to include a bit of doggerel that had concluded The Register piece, however. Here it is:

For thirty-two years, dear, 

Burdened old fellow,

He has drawn our old citizens,

Ragged "Old Yellow."