The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-11-26


and at every third station the thin,
wiry and hardy post-riders held them
selves in readiness TO press forward
with the mails. These were filled
with important business letters, and
press dispatches from Eastern cities
and San Francisco. printed upon tissue
paper, and thus specially adapted by
their weight for this mode of trans
portation.
When Russell's wager was at stake,
on the first run, the journey from st.
Joseph to San Francisco was accom-
plished in nine days and seventeen
hours, and his bet was won seven
hours less than he estimated. After
| that the schedule time for the trip was
fixed at ten days. In this manner
they supplied the place of the electric
telegraph and the lightning express
train of the gigantic railway enter
prise that subsequently superseded it.
The men were faithful, daring fellows.
and their service was full of novelty
and adventure. The facility and en-
ergy with which they journeyed was
marvel The news of Abraham Lin
coins election was carried through
from St Joseph to Denver, Col, Cos
miles, in two days and twenty-one
hours, the last ten miles having been
covered in thirty-one minutes. The
last route on that occasion was
traversed by Robert III. Haslam, better
known as 'Pony Bob" who carried
the news 116 miles in eight hours and
ten minutes to the first telegraph sta
ton on the Pacific Coast, he having
crossed both SUBMITS of the Sierra
Nevadas, from Carson City, New, to
Placerville, Cal.
On another occasion it is recorded.
one of these riders journeyed single
stretch of 800 miles, the other men
who should have relieved him being
either disabled or indisposed, and
reached the terminal station on SEIZED
ule time.
The distance between relay riders
| stations varied from 60 to 100 miles,
| and often more. The weight to be
carried by each was fixed at ten pounds
or under, and the charge for transpor-
tation was s. in gold for each quarter
of an ounce. The entire distance be-
tween New York City and San Fran
cisco occupied but fourteen days. The
riders received Sl2O to 1925 per month
for their arduOus services.
The pony-eXpress enterprise contin.
ued for two years, at the end OF which
time through telegraph service be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
was established.
Few men remember those days OF
excitement and interest. The dangers
surrounding the riders can not be told.
Not only were they remarkable for
lightness of weight and energy. but
their service required continued vigil
lance, bravery and ability. Among
their number were skillful guides,
scouts and couriers, accustomed to
a entures and hardships on the plains
men of strong wills and wonderful
powers of endurance. The horses were |
mostly half-breed California mustangs,
Is alert and energetic as their riders, |
and their part in the service-sure-
footed and feet-was invaluable. |
Only two minutes were allowed at sta
tions for changing mails and horses.
Every body was on the qai Uire.
Among the most noted and daring
riders of the pony express was
Hon. William F. Cody. better known |
as Buffalo Bill" whose reputation is
now established in at least two CONT |
nents. While engaged in the express
service his route lay between Bed |
Buttes and Three Crossings, distance |
of seventy-six miles. Once. upon |
reaching Three Crossings. he found |
that the rider on the next division, |
who had a route of eighty-siX miles,
had been killed during the night be- |
fore, and he was called on to make the |
extra trip until another rider could be
employed. This was a request the
compliance with which would involve I
the most taxing labors, and an endur-
ance few persons are capable of; new
ertheless young Cody was promptly |
on hand for the additional journey.
and reached Rocky Ridge, the limit OF
the second route, on time. This round
trip of 324 miles, was made without
stop, except for meals and to change
horses, and every station on the route
was entered on time. This is one of
the longest and best ridden pony-ex-
press journeys ever made.
Pony Bob also had a series of stir
ring adventures while performing his
great equestrian feat, which he thus
describes:
about two months after the pony
express commenced operations the Pr
ute war began in Nevada, and as nc
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