The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-05-23
HEROIsM OF THE PLAINS.

i AhttN W d1 di NAtAtSt 8tfONu SdbiNith
about the Pony Express Station at Me-
Pherson's. The western;bound rider had
arrived with II bullet in his leg, and re-
! ported Tint the Pawnees were off their
| reservation, and were advancing Oh the
settlement They had met him between
the last station and McPherson, and had
given him chase. Mcpherson could
boast Of but twenty-five souls at that time
before the railroad was finished, and there
| were but forty men in all capable Of de-
| Tending THE post. What was to be done
liaa to be done quickly. Fort Grattan
was eigEty miles north-west, and a rider
was dispatched III haste. Fort Kearney
was seventy miles southeast, and who
would summon aid from there TWAS
dangerous undertaking. The route lay
through the hostile country, and the
messenger would be almost sure to meet
Indians. The pony-riders as general
thing. We're fearless men, but this pro-
position was fraught with so much dan
ger, That they were 10th to undertake it.
'Ef Slate was only here?' cried an old
man, 'there'd be iio hesitation while vim
min and children were in DANGER
III 80 "and bright-eyed, fearless
looking fellow stepped forth.
Good 7 said the old man pressing his
hand, Old Jim johnson sez so Old jim
Johnson! You hear me! There's more
sense I'M Essex's babeza, then the hull lot
nv you. Pick your hoss, boy. andridc for
yourlife! See, there's Nellie lookil' at
sou. For ber sake, Willie efno ones else.
Thirty.five helpless wimmin and chill
drep, think Of i'll! Ride your best, and
when you get to the station you may get
relief! Post 'em there, and when You get
to tile Fort tell the. commandant TO send
on cavalry as quick as possible. Fetch
the seiers, and We will send the reds TO
California;! Nellie Johnson's youth as
soon Us you ger back, Good.by, boy, and
God speed you = zz.s w.. "A
There was spring, q rush of hoofs, aud
the ride 70 Kearney had begun. Right
calamity. did the horse spring away at the
riders bidding, aud the blue eyes Of sweet
Nellie Johnson were kept upon them ua-
iii horse aud rider faded away from them
upon the horizon. s..s-....
Love was one incentive for the pony
riders mission, and lhedesire 10 save tile
people Of Mcpherson from bloody death
the other Did man ever risk life in
better cause? Onward swept The little
horse with her flying heels throwing
cloud of dust, that hovered in the air for
hundred yards behind her. To the left Of
them glided tile still waters of the Platte,
and on the right outstretched lay the
boundless green Of the prairie. The rider
sat as firmas rock, his daulItess face
looking straight ahead, and wearing an air
which seemed TO say, twas all for the
sake Of Nellie Johnson.
rou may talk ofthe Mamelukes, the
Tartar horsemen, the savage Bedouins,
aud all the wild Iiders, but what are they
to compare with our American pony
riders -Inen who were fearless, and who
braved every danger, who ran the risk .f
life III every mile they dashed over; who
were expected 10 do fifty miles attop speed
in daylight or darkness, hot or cold, rain
or shine. But the railroad has doneaway
with pony-rider, and We hear Of no more
such exploits rs that OF the renowned
Jimmy Moere.
Onward swep. the brave little horse,
and at last the station came in view. A
minute more, and horse ald rider were at
the door. No relay was there 70 meet
them. Not sign oflife was TO he seen.
but the hoof trucks on the ground In every
direction showed that the relief had fled.
Giving the horse drink, the rider
mounted, ard again was OH the way to
Kearney. Further Oh they came To u
large object iIi tile center az the trail 1t
was the weslern-bound stage, with horses
gone, tile driver between tile fore-wheels
with bullet III bis head, the passengers
lying about the road, aud the conductor
IN the boot aud wounded unto death
One horrid lnok, a pause, aud faster fled
the horse. Mile after mile Is LEFT behind,
station after station Is passed, and no relief!
viii they ever get 10 krarney
On the prairie 10 the right Of them ap-
pear host Of mounted men. They are
pets OF the Peace Commission on their
annual narauding tour Turning with
triumphant yell, they speed TO head the
rider oil. Narrower grows the distance
between them. and the gallant horse re-
doubled hisexertiUns. Ia tile van Of the
savages rides a tall chief, mounted upon u
powerful horse. his plnmes streaming iu
tile willd, as lie urges onward The noble
animal he testrides. Young Essex can
escape II be turns back But. no, no The
sweet face of Nellie JohnsOn--thg shrink
Ing forms Of deieneeless. little ones come
before his view, and dashiug the pespira-
tion from his brow, the pursued dashed
onward BIZ: few miles more aud