Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-08-03
Pony-Rider of the Plains.


Bob GetcheI was one Of the most
daring and reckless riders on old Ben
Holidays pony express line across
the plains in the early days, before
the Central Pacific Railroad took the
place of both stage coaches and
ponies. made the acquaintance Of
Bob IN 1861. I was then city editor
of the Territorial Enterprise, and
Virginia City, the chief town Of the
COmstOck silver mines, was then the
western terminus of Bob's route.
Bob had his '1ay-of' days in the
town, and was much about the Enter
prise office. In those days there was
no telegraph line across the CONT
nent, and we depended on the pony ex-
press for news from the Atlantic
States and also from all points west
Of the MISSOURI River.
Bob was born in Utah, and his ear
" days were passed among the ''cow-
boys on a ranch near Provo and
among beaver trappers in the noun
tains, or in long brotherly visits
among the Goshute Indians, whose
manner of life had many charms for
him.
When Ben Holiday established his
pony express Bob found himself in
demand at a good salary. Nearly all
the pony-riders were recruited from
the ranks of the stock herders or va
querOs, now called Cowboys" and
among these Bob was, as he termed
it, ''Big Injun," having been almost
born on horseback. The position Of
pony-rider just suited Bob. To fly
like the wind through the wilderness,
up hill and down dale, with a fresh
and fiery mustang standing all ready
for him to mount every ten or fifteen
miles, almost filed his cup of happi-
ness.
The position of pOny-rider was one
that was full ofhardships, privatiOns,
and dangers. They rode sixty,
eighty, and even a hundred miles with
scarcely a halt. Most of the Indian
tribes were then more or less hostile,
and all the wilderness region along
the overland stage route was full Of
thieving and murderous bands Of IN
dams, made up of renegades from
half a dozen tribes, and responsible
to none. Small and weak parties of
emigrants were preyed upon, stages
attacked, and pony-riders made to
run thegauntlet. The prOwling band
of reds thought it good fun to take
a shot at every pOny-rider they
CHANGED to encounter at distance
from a station. AS the stations
were ten to twenty miles apart, OPP
pOrtunities for taking q shot at a
pOng-rider son the wing were not
lacking.
Bob lacked the middle finger of his
left hand. I had often thought of
asking him what way he parted with
the member, believing that some adj
venture was connected with it's loss.
But, although only % years of age,
Bob possessed the gravity of an
Indian brave, and was generally ret
icent. However, on Sunday when
we were lounging in the printing
Office and had it all to ourselves,
managed to get his tongue lOOsened,
and he gave me quite a history of his
career and adventures. On asking
him about his MANNED left hand, he
said:
"That? Oh, I got that one evening
about five miles this side of Antelope
station. A halEdOzen Injuns in a
patton of willers took a shot at me
as I passed, jist for the fun of the
thing, IreckOn. The same bullet that
took OFF my finger knocked the POM
mel Of my saddle to splinters, which
hurt me more than the loss of my
finger. You see it was a tiptOp new
Mexican saddle, and was my private
property-cOst me $50. A second
bullet cut one of my bride reins close
to the bit, and the third took of the
rim Of my cap. Besides, when IgOt
safe into the station they found a
bullet logged in the mail pouch. That
pouch and the package of letters
saved the boss, and in saVin' the boss
also saved my bacon"
1T was a pretty close call for you,
Bob" said L
eyes; toIerable. The bullets wills
tied about my head right lively. But
somehow, do you know, I wasn't a
bit skeert. Eff my bride rein hadn't
been cut out Of reach, and 1 could
have turned my mustang and handled
him right, do you know I'd have
charged the whole pack of 'em, and
peppered 'em with my revolver, I was
so mad about my saddle. was just
sure, from the noise they made, that
the blamed fools had fired off every
gun they had. AS it was, I sOrter