Coburn Station (now Truckee, California) “came into existence when the Central Pacific surveyed the route across the pass in 1863–64” it was named for the owner of a local saloon (Gudde, 328). Clemens had just crossed the Sierra Nevada by way of Donner Pass, which ostensibly reminded him of the bogus holdup perpetrated on him by Denis McCarthy and Steve Gillis (disguised as highwaymen) while he was crossing a lesser “divide” on his way from Gold Hill to Virginia City in November 1866, toward the end of his first lecture tour (Roughing It, chapter 79; L1 , 366–67 n. 4). Clemens was not amused by this practical joke and had departed Virginia City without forgiving his tormentors. Goodman printed this telegram on 24 April, and the next day also published the following item: “Mark Twain arrived here at 5 o’clock yesterday morning in good health and without meeting a single footpad on the way. He will lecture at the Opera House on next Monday and Tuesday nights—sure” (“Arrived,” Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, 25 Apr 68, 3).