GS The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



of James M'George and John Goodfellow, the guard and driver 

 of the Dumfries and Edinburgh Mail-coach, will long be remem- 

 bered in the district. The story of the mail-coach disaster near 

 Tweedshaws in the snowstorm of February, 1831, has been fully 

 described in " The Gallovidian."24* Here we purpose giving no 

 more than an epitome of the story detailing the circumstances 

 under which these loyal servants of the Post Office heroically 

 sacrificed their lives through devotion to duty. 



On the morning of Tuesday, 1st February, 1831, they set 

 out from Dumfries for Edinburgh at 7 a.m.,^^ and in spite of a 

 blinding snowstorm manfully fought their way to Moffat, where 

 thev secured the services of two additional horses, and proceeded 

 on their journey, accompanied by Marchbanks, the Moffat road- 

 man, who had volunteered to help in case of accident. 



About a mile and a half from Moffat the coach stuck fast, 

 and they were compelled to leave it. After directing the pas- 

 sengers to return to Moffat they attempted to proceed with the 

 mails on horseback, but in this they were unsuccessful, and the 

 horses were set at liberty, M'George, the guard, stating they must 

 trj- what they could do on foot. Goodfellow and Marchbanks 

 endeavoured to dissuade him, but his resolution was fixed. 

 Goodfellow, seeing this, determined to accompany him, and, 

 after persuading Marchbanks to return, M'George and he set out 

 together. It was their last journey. The following day the 

 mails were discovered hanging on a snow-post about five miles 



M GEORGE S HOHX. 



Found beside him after the disaster. Xow in the. 

 possession of Mr Kirk, Poolhouses, Lockerbie. 



24*. No. 36, Vol. IX. 



2-5. Another account savs 10.30 a.m. 



