Crash of Col. Delancey Kane's "Pelham Coach" During its First Season in 1876

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In 1876 a horse-drawn road coach known as “The Pelham Coach” (also known, informally, as the "Tally Ho!") began running between New York City’s Hotel Brunswick and the “Pelham Manor” of yore. This road coach was not a simple hired coach that ferried passengers from New York City.  Rather, this road coach was driven by Colonel Delancey Kane, one of the so-called “millionaire coachmen,” who engaged in a sport known as “public coaching” or “road coaching” as it sometimes was called. The purpose of the sport was to rush the carriage between designated points on a specified schedule, with quick changes of horses at strategic points along the way, and to maintain that schedule rigorously. 

Colonel Delancey Kane became quite famous for his handling of The Pelham Coach, a bright canary yellow coach that was cheered along its route from the Hotel Brunswick in New York City to Pelham Bridge in the Town of Pelham and, later, along Shore Road into New Rochelle. The iconic image of the Tally Ho! immediately below appeared on song sheets, in etchings and engravings distributed throughout the United States. It shows The Pelham Coach. 

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Colonel Kane changed the terminus of the Tally Ho! a number of times. In various years the coach traveled to the Lorillard cottage (Arcularius Hotel) at Pelham Bridge, the Pelham Bridge Hotel, the Huguenot House in New Rochelle, and a number of other locations in the region in and around Pelham. The Tally Ho! route always, however, either terminated at Pelham Bridge or continued through Pelham along Shore Road past the settlement of Bartow and Bolton Priory on its way to New Rochelle.

The first "Coaching Season" for the Delancey Kane's Tally Ho! was in 1876.  I have written before about the first trip of the Pelham Coach on May 1, 1876 as well as the last trip that ended the season on November 30, 1876.  See:

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

Tue., Jul. 29, 2014:  Wonderful Description of Coaching to Pelham on the Tally-Ho's First Trip of the Season on May 1, 1882.

Fri., Jan. 16, 2009:  The Final Trip of the First Season of Col. Delancey Kane's "New-Rochelle and Pelham Four-in-Hand Coach Line" in 1876.

All was not rosy during that first Coaching Season for the Tally Ho! in 1876.  Research has revealed that early in that first season, the Pelham Coach crashed into a vehicle while traveling through Central Park.  The crash turned into a public relations disaster for Colonel DeLancey Kane as he tried to promote the "Sport of Coaching."

It seems that the Pelham Coach was "thundering through Central Park at a rate of speed prohibited by law" when it "ran into a private conveyance and overturned it."  One of the two occupants of the vehicle that was overturned was injured.

It is impossible, of course, to know today precisely what happened at the time of the accident.  Newspapers in New York and elsewhere, however, seem to have excoriated DeLancey Kane, "the Millionaire Coachman."  According to one account, the New York City newspaper The World reported that after the accident, DeLancey Kane simply tossed his calling card to the driver of the overturned vehicle, an act that the newspaper reported with some disgust.  The story reported by The World was picked up in newspapers as far away as Deer Lodge, Montana (see below). 

Colonel DeLancey Kane and the Pelham Coach survived the public relations problems of that first season of coaching.  Although there were many such seasons to follow, the public seemed to tire of the notion of "Millionaire Coachmen" promoting a "Sport" of coaching.  Newspapers parodied coachmen including DeLancey Kane.  See, e.g., Thu., Jul. 28, 2016:  The Chicago Tribune Lampooned Coaching to Pelham in 1884.  Publicity seekers took to taunting coachmen by following them in mule-drawn vehicles with drivers and passengers dressed to make fun of the coachmen and their passengers.  See, e.g., Wed., Sep. 28, 2005:  Taunting the Tantivy Coach on its Way to Pelham: 1886.  Still, the Pelham Coach continued its historic route from the Brunswick Hotel to Pelham and the surrounding region for many years of coaching!

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"NEW NOR'WESTERS. . . 

-- The New York press is coach mad.  Because the Pelham coach, thundering through Central Park at a rate of speed prohibited by law, ran into a private conveyance and overturned it, injuring one of the two occupants, the World criticises [sic] the latter for their carelessness and the unfashionable appearance of their turnout, and blames the park police for not keeping the road clear.  The courtesy of the coachman, 'Col.' Delancey Kane, in throwing his card to the driver of the overturned vehicle, it regards with evident approbation."

Source:  NEW NOR'WESTERS, The New North-West [Deer Lodge, Montana], Jun. 16, 1876, Vol. 7, No. 51, p. 1, col. 4 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

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Below is a list of articles and blog postings that I previously have posted regarding the subject of "Coaching to Pelham."

Mon., Feb. 12, 2018:  Is This a Rare Photograph of the Famed Pelham Coach?

Tue., Aug. 15, 2017:  1877 Advertisement for Colonel Delancey Kane's Pelham Coach Known as the "Tally Ho".

Bell, Blake A., Col. Delancey Kane and "The Pelham Coach" (Sep. 2003).

Thu., Jul. 28, 2016:  The Chicago Tribune Lampooned Coaching to Pelham in 1884.

Wed., Jul. 30, 2014:  Yet Another Attempt in 1894 to Resurrect the Glory Days of Coaching to Pelham.  

Tue., Jul. 29, 2014:  Wonderful Description of Coaching to Pelham on the Tally-Ho's First Trip of the Season on May 1, 1882.

Wed., Apr. 14, 2010:  Col. Delancey Kane Changes the Timing and Route of The Pelham Coach in 1876.

Tue., Sep. 08, 2009:  1877 Advertisement with Timetable for the Tally Ho Coach to Pelham.

Mon., Mar. 23, 2009:  The Greyhound and the Tantivy-- The Four-in-Hand Coaches that Succeeded Col. Delancey Kane's "Tally-Ho" to Pelham.

Fri., Jan. 16, 2009: The Final Trip of the First Season of Col. Delancey Kane's "New-Rochelle and Pelham Four-in-Hand Coach Line" in 1876.

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

Thu., Mar. 06, 2008:  Auctioning the Tantivy's Horses at the Close of the 1886 Coaching Season.

Wed., Mar. 05, 2008:  Coaching to Pelham: The Tantivy Has an Accident on its Way to Pelham in 1886.  

Thu., Jan. 24, 2008:  An Account of the First Trip of Colonel Delancey Kane's Tally-Ho to Open the 1880 Coaching Season.

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008: Brief "History of Coaching" Published in 1891 Shows Ties of Sport to Pelham, New York

Thursday, August 3, 2006: Images of Colonel Delancey Kane and His "Pelham Coach" Published in 1878.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005: Taunting the Tantivy Coach on its Way to Pelham: 1886.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005: 1882 Engraving Shows Opening of Coaching Season From Hotel Brunswick to Pelham Bridge.

Thu., Jun. 09, 2005:  Coaching to Pelham: Colonel Delancey Astor Kane Did Not Operate the Only Coach to Pelham.

Fri., Feb. 11, 2005:  Col. Delancey Kane's "Pelham Coach", Also Known as The Tally-Ho, Is Located.

Bell, Blake A., Col. Delancey Kane and "The Pelham Coach", The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XII, No. 38, Sept. 26, 2003, p. 1, col. 1.

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Stage Coach Days In Old Pelham

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Due to the influence of Hollywood, many associate stage coaches with the Wild West in 19th century America.  For nearly 125 years, however, stage coaches rumbled through Pelham on the Old Boston Post Road (today's Colonial Avenue), the Boston Turnpike (today's Boston Post Road), and on Shore Road and City Island Road (a portion of which includes today's Orchard Beach Road).  I have written before about the stage coach days in old Pelham.  See, e.g.:

Fri., Mar. 11, 2016:  How Did Pelhamites Travel To and From Nearby New York City in 1857?

Fri., Sep. 05, 2014:  Post Card Image of Bartow and City Island Stage Coach With Driver.

Wed., Aug. 13, 2014:  The Nineteenth Century Stage Coach Presented to Local Boy Scouts by Famed Illustrator Edward Penfield During the 1920s.

Fri., Aug. 08, 2014 1894:  Pelham School Budget Vote:  Stage Coach Authorized To Transport Pelham Students in Days Before Autos and Buses.

Fri., Jul. 25, 2014:  Stage Coach Accident in Pelham in Early 1883. 

Fri., Mar. 21, 2014:  Examples of Very Early Merchant Advertisements in the Town of Pelham. 

Mon., Apr. 12, 2010:  New York Athletic Club Stage Coach Accident Leads to Death of Pelham Manor Man.

Wed., Mar. 03, 2010:  1879 Advertisement for Robert J. Vickery's City Island Stage Line, A Predecessor to the City Island Horse Railroad. 

Mon., Oct. 26, 2009:  Pelham Was a Principal Station on the Stage Coach Route of Dorance, Recide & Co. Which Carried Mail Between New York and Boston.

Thu., Sep. 24, 2009:  Brief Newspaper Account of the January 1, 1883 Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Protective Club (article includes account of an accident involving one of Vickery's stages). 

Tue., Jan. 27, 2009:  Biography of William Vickery, a 19th Century Resident of City Island in the Town of Pelham.

Mon., Mar. 21, 2005:  Pelham Was A Station Stop for the Stage Coach That Carried Mail from New York To Boston in the Early 19th Century.

In 1813, New York City newspapers published announcements of the opening of another new stage coach line:  the New-York & Boston New Line Diligence Stage running from New York City to Boston by way of New Haven, Hartford, and Providence.  

Including the phrase "Diligence Stage" within the name was no accident.  A "Diligence Stage" (known as a "Dilly" for short) was a solidly-built stage coach typically drawn by four (or more) horses.  The Dilly was associated with a successful public stage coach conveyance system in France that was mimicked in other European nations including Germany and Spain.  In Europe, a "Dilly" could be a long, bus-like coach with many rows of seats, pulled by many horses.  It could be something that looked more like a modern bus than Hollywood-influenced images of stage coaches.  

On August 16, 1813, the New-York & Boston New Line Diligence Stage departed at 2:00 a.m. and rumbled quickly through Pelham along the Boston Turnpike (today's Boston Post Road).  The stage made it to Hartford where passengers spent the "night."  Within a short time of arrival, the Dilly departed Hartford at 6:00 a.m. proceeding to Providence and Boston during the day.  

At the same time (2:00 a.m.) each day (except Sundays), a Diligence Stage started toward New York from Hartford.  It stopped at "Mr. Butler's Hotel at New Haven" for breakfast, then rumbled down Boston Post Road through Pelham and on to New York City where it arrived in the evening each day.  

The Boston Turnpike section that ran through Pelham at the time was about a decade old.  Built to shorten the route toward Boston in the area, the Boston Turnpike was a more direct route than the winding route up to the Old Boston Post Road crossing of the Hutchinson River at today's Colonial Avenue and East Sandford Boulevard.  

It seems nearly impossible today to imagine that stage coaches once rumbled up and down a dusty, unpaved Boston Post Road through Pelham several times each day.  Yet, for nearly 125 years, various stage coach lines ran such conveyances through Pelham nearly every day.

An advertisement announcing the opening of the New York & Boston New Line Diligence Stage with an image of a stage coach drawn by four horses appears immediately below.  It is followed by a transcription of its text to facilitate search as well as a citation and link to its source.

1813 Newspaper Advertisement Announcing the

Opending of the New-York & Boston New Line

Diligence Stage that Traveled Through Pelham on

Today's Boston Post Road.  Source:  NEW-YORK

& BOSTON NEW LINE DILIGENCE STAGE

[Advertisement], New-York Evening Post, Sep.

8, 1813, p. 1, col. 4.  NOTE:  Click on Image To

Enlarge.  Text Transcribed Below to Facilitate Search. 

"NEW-YORK & BOSTON NEW LINE DILIGENCE STAGE,

BY the way of New-Haven, Hartford and Providence to Boston, will commence running on Monday the 16th day of August, to start from New-York every morning at 2 o'clock, (Sundays excepted,) and arrives at Hartford the same night to lodge, will leave Hartford at 6 o'clock, A.M. and arrive at Providence and Boston at the usual time.  The New Line Diligence Stage will start from Mr. Bennett's Hotel at Hartford, every morning at 2 o'clock (Sundays excepted) breakfast at Mr. Butler's Hotel at New-Haven, and arrive at New-York the same evening; -- where passengers can be accommodated with Seats to Proceed on in the Regular Southern Stages to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington City.  Stage fare and baggage as usual.  All baggage at the risk of the owner thereof.  For Seats in the New Line Diligence Stage, apply to THOMAS WHITFIELD at the Stage office, No. 1 Courtlandt-Street, corner of Broadway, New-York; -- at Mr. BUTLER'S HOTEL, New-Haven; at Mr. BENNETT'S Hotel, Hartford; at Mr. E. MACOMBER'S and Mr. E. FOSTER'S, Providence; -- at Mr. BOYDEN's Market-Square and Mr. J. TRASK's Bloomfield-Lane, Boston.

The Proprietors of the New Line Dilligence [sic] Stage, respectfully inform the Public that they have spared no expense in providing New Stages, able Horses and careful drivers and every thing necessary for the Comfort and Accommodation of Passengers that may please to favour this Line with their custom.  This Line travels on the best Turnpike Road through the principal Towns between New-York and Boston.

CORNELIUS SEAMAN,
THOMAS B. GATES,
EGBERT SOMMERINDIKE,
CHARLES ELLIOTT.

N.B. Extra Carriages Furnished, and Expresses sent to any part of the United States, by THOMAS WHITFIELD, No. 1, Courtland Street, New-York.

Aug 12"

Source:  NEW-YORK & BOSTON NEW LINE DILIGENCE STAGE [Advertisement], New-York Evening Post, Sep. 8, 1813, p. 1, col. 4.

Postcard Image of "Bartow and City Island Stage Coach Line"

Postmarked Sep. 6, 1910.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Multi-Vehicle Pileup of Horse-Drawn Carriages on City Island Road in 1896

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Turn on the radio and listen to the traffic report on any given day.  Pelhamites often will hear of a multi-car pileup near the New Rochelle tolls on I-95 or a car crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway at Wolfs Lane or even a fender-bender on Boston Post Road near Pelham Parkway.  When the exhaust fumes grow thick and the traffic heading into or out of the city is thicker than molasses on a cold winter day, can we be blamed if we wish for a simpler time when horses and horse-drawn carriages ruled the roads of our region?

The days of horses and horse-drawn carriages may have been simpler, but don't assume that the roads of our region were never crowded nor the scene of multi-vehicle crashes during those "good old days."  For example, on August 31, 1896, there was a multi-vehicle crash of horse-drawn vehicles on City Island Road.

On a warm Monday in 1896, August 31 to be precise, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cook of New York City were driving their carriage on City Island Road heading from Bartow toward City Island.  At the same time Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson of Mount Vernon, New York were driving their smart phaeton, traveling toward Bartow from City Island.  A short distance behind the Johnsons were Mr. Henry Keyser of New York City and his daughter also traveling toward Bartow in their wagon.

As the Cooks drove their carriage toward City Island, a nearby tree branch frightened their horse who took off at full speed with the carriage bouncing along on the rough roadway behind it.  Samuel Cook tried desperately to stop the galloping horse, but his efforts were futile and the horse raced out of control dragging the carriage behind it.  

As Cook's out-of-control carriage reached a small curve in the road near the Little Mothers' Home, the carriage smashed into the phaeton carrying Henry Johnson and his wife.  The crash was so violent that Samuel Cook and his wife were thrown over the dashboard of the carriage onto the road.  Mrs. Cook was knocked unconscious.  Henry Johnson and his wife likewise were thrown from their phaeton.  Both were badly cut on their heads and Mrs. Johnson's face was "severely cut."

The Johnsons' horse broke free from the smashed phaeton and raced up the road toward Bartow.  The Cooks' horse likewise broke free from the smashed carriage and raced down the road a few hundred feet when it ran headlong into the wagon of Henry Keyser and his daughter.  The wagon was overturned.  Henry Keyser's daughter was thrown from the wagon and had her arm crushed and suffered a cut on her face.

A member of the Park Police, Roundsman Reed, rounded up the two runaway horses.  In the meantime, an ambulance (presumably horse-drawn) was summoned from Fordham Hospital.  In the meantime, a physician arrived and dressed the injuries suffered by the Cooks and Miss Keyser.  

It seems that no summonses were issued following the multi-vehicle accident that day.  In fact, it seems that traffic tickets in and around Pelham were unheard of for at least the next few years until the rise of the horseless carriage. . . . . . . 

Undated Image of Horse-Drawn Carriage That May Be

Similar to the One Driven by Samuel Cook with His Wife

at the Time of the Accident on August 31, 1896.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge. 

A Basket Phaeton, Circa 1870.  Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson

Were Riding in a Phaeton at the Time of the August 31, 1896

Accident.  Source:  "Phaeton (Carriage)" in Wikipedia - The

Free Encyclopedia (visited Jul. 24, 2016).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

A Road Wagon, Ca. 1896, that May Be Similar to the

"Wagon" Driven by Mr. Henry Keyser, Traveling with

His Daughter, at the Time of the Accident.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"TWO RUNAWAYS, FIVE HURT.
-----
One Horse, Frightened by a Branch, Wrecks Three Vehicles in the City Island Road.
-----

A horse attached to a carriage containing Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cook, of No. 752 East 163d street, was frightened by a branch of a tree in the City Island road yesterday and ran away.  Mr. Cook's efforts to stop the animal were futile, and at a turn in the drive near the Little Mothers' Home the carriage ran into a phaeton in which Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, of No. 192 Stevens avenue, Mount Vernon.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook were thrown over the dashboard, and Mrs. Cook was unconscious when picked up.  Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were also thrown from their carriage and badly hurt.  Mrs. Johnson's head and face were severely cut.  Mr. Johnson was cut on the head.

Mr. Johnson's horse darted up the road toward Bartow.  Mr. Cook's horse continued down the road, and had gone but a few hundred feet when it ran into a wagon containing Henry Keyser, of No. 7 East 132d street, and his daughter.  The wagon was overturned.  Miss Keyser was cut on the face and her left arm crushed.  

Roundsman Reed, of the Park police, caught both horses, and summoned an ambulance from the Fordham Hospital.  Before it arrived a physician dressed the injuries of Mr. and Mrs. Cook and Miss Keyser, and they were taken to their homes."

Source:  TWO RUNAWAYS, FIVE HURT -- One Horse, Frightened by a Branch, Wrecks Three Vehicles in the City Island Road, N.Y. Herald, Sep. 1, 1896, p. 6, col. 6.  

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