Ever heard of Charles Phelps?  Friend Carla and some of her buddies used to bicycle up to the cemetery when they were kids, circle his grave, and ask him to speak.  He never obliged, which I think had more to do with his state of being than his lack of sociality.  While there they did take time to read his headstone and learn a bit about Charley.  At least as much as you can get off a grave marker.

Well fast-forward a few decades to last week when Carla convinced the Monday Card Club to take a field trip to the cemetery to meet Charley.  We like getting out, even if it is just to the cemetery, seems like we are getting more and more people we know there.  His headstone is in the section furthest east and more to the south.  Max and Theda Pilgrim are his neighbors.  We found the marble marker easily, but reading the headstone was a whole different matter.  Rebecca who has the best eyes in the group was able to get the gist of the message.  Charley was an Overland Stagecoach Company driver and was from New York.  The stage was traveling through Portneuf Canyon when they were jumped by highwaymen.  Charley was wounded and died the next day.  He was 43 years old.  You could also pick out words like hero, duty and friends on the headstone.  

I wanted to know more.  I went home and googled ‘Charles Phelps Malad’ and a history popped up.  It included newspaper articles about the robbery and the complete text from the headstone which included the following:

“He fell, as all true heroes fall,

While answering to his duty’s call.

This stone is erected by his friends and companions, who loved and respected him, and sincerely mourn his death.”

One hundred and fifty-one years ago friends sincerely mourned Charley’s death and we are still talking about this hero who did his duty.  According to the newspaper reports, the wounded Charley kept the horses moving and outran the highwaymen thus protecting his passengers and the “treasure” which were on the stage.  So, here’s to Charley and all the local heroes who do their duty so we can enjoy the Good Life!  I’m kind of like Carla, I’d like to have a conversation with Charles Phelps!