Wichita eagle., 1889-10-30
THE PONY MAIL EXPRESS.
ITS HISTORY FROM A MAN WHO
HELPED TO ESTABLISH 1T.
Carrying a Mail Pouch on Ponies from
the Missouri to the Pacific in Nine Days.
Few EecapdR.

Daring Riders W no Changed Horses In
Few Seconds.
There is a quiet, middle aged gentleman,
whose life work constitutes an important
part of the growth and development OF the
great state of Colorado. His name is John
Scudder, and he was one of the first 10 advo-
cate the organization of the celebrated pony
express, and after its establishment through
the efforts of William II. Russell, assisted in
its management and operation. In converse
ton with reporter he related the history OF
that famous enterprise. After lighting
cigar and seating himself in a comfortable
easy chair he said:
1.-THE firm of Majors, Russell & Waddell
were at that time the weafthfest and most
extensive freight contractors in the Union.
Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of
their business, will tell YOU that in 1857,
when first knew Mr. Russell they were I'M
der contract with the national government
to carry every pound of freight, north, south
and west of the Missouri river and east Of the
Rocky mountains, including every govern
ment post in that territory. At that time
they had over 1890 wagons on the road at
one time, each costing from $50 to 800, and
asseach wagon required six yoke of oxen to
pull it, YOU may form some conception of
the amount Of capital invested.
THE PLAN CONCEIVED.
1T was in the fall of 1852 and during the
ensuing winter, /, together with some of Mr..
Russells men. gathered at the headquarters
in Salt Lake City, which were under the
charge Of A. B. Miller, a man of consider
able ability, and known throughout the west
as sporting character. The eastern news
papers which found their way into camp
were full Of the overland mail agitation, and
becoming interested in the discussion we be-
gan to figure on the time and distance. did
most of the calculating, and the more l fig
ured the greater became our interest. We
satisfied ourselves fully that the time could
be greatly shortened, and the result was that
the boys wrote to Mr.. Russell, informing him
that they would undertake to carry mail from
st. Joseph, Mo-, to San Francisco in twelve
DAYS. Now in addition to his wonderful en-
terprise. Mr. Russell was kindly man, and
ever ready to listen to suggestions from those
under him. We were not surprised, there
fore, when he replied promptly to our letAr,
and requested that we acquaint him fully
with the particulars of our plan. We i'm
mediately drafted out a rough map of the
country, showing the proposed route, to-
gether with the stations and their distances
apart, and this we forwarded to MIN without
delay. We, at the same time, wrote him an
other letter, explaining our plan of covering
the route by relays Of horses, carrying mail
pouch, and strongly urged its entire prac-
ticability. Quite number of communica-
tions passed between Mr.. Russell and his
agent at Salt Lake, and the upshot of it was
that the former agreed to test the matter by
strfnging out lot of horses and riders be-
tween the Missouri river and the Pacific
coast. The first notice they received of Mr..
Russell's acceptance, however, was the re-
ceipt of an order to buy 200 good horses
at Salt Lake At the same time Ben Flick
land who was then division master be-
tween Denver and Salt Lake, but after
wards famous as blockade runner, left New
York for San Francisco to buy horses there.
The horses were good, strong ones, but not
heavy, and the prices paid for them ranged
as high as $500 each. Associated with US,
also, in the work of preparation for the great
trial were a man named Bromley and the
notorious Slade. who was afterwards hanged
in Montana, and who was employed as di-
vision master between Denver and Fort
Kearney Another Of those interested in
MIR. Russells manager at st. Joseph.
DISTRIBUTING THE HORSES.
"After the purchase of the horses the work
of distributing began, and l assisted Miller
and Bromley in scattering them along the
line between Salt Lake and Platte Bridge.
This done, the line was given practical test
by being run over once or twice, and Mr..
Russell was so far satisfied that be caused it
TO be announced in The New York Herald
and Washington Star, the latter Of which he
owned, that be would start the first horses
from San Francisco and st. Joseph at the
same hour on the 9th day of April, and that
ne would agree TO carry letters or written
correspondence between those points In ten
DAYS This created greet excitement in the
east and it became evident that Mr.. Russell
possessed more thorough knowledge of the
great west than was had III the departments
at Washington. The stage line representa-
tives who were working up this overland
mail scheme laughed at his plans, and his
partners even went co Washington TO remon-
strate against what they considered piece
of extravagant folly. So strong was his faith
in his plan and so firm was he in his deter
mination to carry it ont that he assumed pay
ment of all bills contracted, and thus the en-
terprise became his own
THE FIRST START
"When the momentous 9th day of April ar
rived a magnificent black horse, carrying a
mail pouch and rider, left ST. Joseph on the
ferry boat bound west, in the presence of
10000 cheering spectators At the same hour
a splendid white horse left San Francisco on
the steamer for Sacramento. Over plains
and mountains they sped, past station after
station. day and night. without hating longer
than TO transfer the pouch from horse to
horse, and in eight DAYS and four hours the
letters that left St Joseph were in Sacra-
meuto Mr. Rus>elfs scheme was an assured
success, AID the pony express became for q
time one of the most potent factors in civil
cation. Ii brought the far west into closer
communication and sympathy with the east,
and advanced the development of the west,
in my opinion, fully fifty years. The stage
companies contract scheme fell through, and
one year later Mr. Russell was awarded the
contract for carrying the overland mails
In closing | viii state that the stations
were from nine 10 fifteen miles apart. &C.
corCiing 30 the nature OF the country, and
each rider covered from two to three sta
tions, changing horses at each. They were
hardy, fearless set OF men, and capable of
enduring great exsrtion- The saddle bride
and pouch were strongly and oornpacsly
made, and weighed together thirteen pounds
Each rider carried small horn, By means of
which he announced his approach from 4
distance. in order TO warn the stabs attend
ants. and In this way the horses wer>. ALWAYS
in readiness on his arrival and no time was
l,S+ st Iouis Ranuniic