The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-29
"REMINISCENCES
OF VIRGINIA CITY.
Rivalry Between Wells, Fargo 6
Co. and the Pacific Express.
Jim 0rndOrfi's Original Method to Beat Wells
Fargo's Pony Express Rider-A Lost
Opportunity.

NHSiuld Cily, NV, from NTSt 10 last, was
the scene of many stirring incidents. Fires,
faro games, earthquakes, explosions min
ing accidents, pistol encounters, COL
each, in turn furnished their quota of eX-
element for the restless jewellers on the
Comstock, said Captain j. n. Flint to a
CALL representative. Al the time of
which | speak the Central Pacific COM
pany had commenced running trains over
the mountains and were pushing the con-
struction of their roadbed rapidly across
the desert wastes of Nevada. There was
daily line of stages from Virginia to Reno,
the nearest railroad station.
Almost from the opening of the mining
camp, Wells, Fargo & Co. had enjoyed a
monopoly of the express business, but in
the year 1868, new company, styled the
Pacific" Express, provided with fine out
fit OF wagons and horses. opened an office
on the corner of and Taylor streets ana
prepared t. engage in the carrying trade.
A fierce rivalry at once sprang up between
the two companies which developed, first,
the puck board" and afterward the famous
Pony Express, whose exploits are still
fresh in the memory of old residents of tile
ComstOck. The contest narrowed itself
down TO the question as to
WHICH EXPREss-RIDER
Could make the quickest time from Reno to
Virginia City carrying only small packet
of letters, mailed the day before In San
Francisco. The route OF the rival couriers
was southwark along the Washoe Valley as
far AS Hutfakers, thence up the steep west
ern slope of the Mount Davidson range by
the Geiger grade into Virginia.
With the advantage Of relays of fresh
horses at the foot of the grade and at the
summit. both riders made extraordinary
time, covering the entire distance, twenty
two miles, inside OF an hourl Excitement
ran high. ana day after day the entire pop
ulation turned out to witness the outcome
of each race, & street being SO densely
thronged that the horses. covered with dust
and foam, could scarcely make their way
through the crowd.
Each day. a few minutes before the time
for the arrival Of the mail, Wells Fargo's
men would come out on the street flourish
ing sack of tWenty-dollar pieces and offer
ing TO wager any amount with no takers
that their eXpresS-man would come in first
Sure enough, as long as the races lasted,
their jockey managed invariably to come in
one or two minutes ahead OF the other horse.
The one-sidedness of the affair was rather
aggravating TO the sporting fraternity of
the town, who were willing enough to bet
their money on anything like an even
proposition.
One enterprising sporting man, eager for
a chance to win some money from Wells
Fargo's people, and reasoning from law of
chances that their horse could not always
carry off the laurcs, went to the trouble of
Stationlng
LINE OF SCOUTS
Within communicating distance of each
other all the way from Virginia to an
eminence overlooking Washoe Valley, the
man on the outpost being provided with a
powerful 6eld-glasS so as TO watch and re-
port the progress of the rival messengers as
they scurried over the road with the speed
Of the wind. Day after day. greatly to his
clagTin. the same mODutOuUuS mpssaCa was
signaled from the outpost into Virginia
"Wells-Fargo's horse ahead" so after
weeks disappointment the sport was COM
PEELED 10 draw In his scouts.
One day James w. Orndorff called on the
manager of the Pacific Express Company.
and in a friendly interview informed that
gentleman as delicately as possible that a
good deal OF dissatisfaction was felt amO ng
the leading citizens owing TO the lack of en-
eTgy manifested by his company in allowing
themselves to be beaten by their rival day
after day, and minated that it was abso-
lutely necessary for them to win at least
one race if they wished to obtain any share
OF the public patronage. The agent replied
that he fully realized the situation, and that
no one could be more anxious for the COM
pany to win than himself; whereupon Orn-
dorff offered to assume the responsibility Of
LOWERING wELLs-FARGos RECORD
If the opposition company would make it
an object for him to do so. On being asked
MS Price ne named S5UU L ne agent de-
INJURED, saying that his company had al
ready been to heavy expense, and that lie
did not feel authorized to offer so large a
sum So the prof ct fell through Orn-
dorff, who had driven an ox-team across the
plains when a mere lad, was man TO be-
relied on in any emergency. If he had I'M
dertaken the task of ecipsing Wells Far
COS Pony Express lie would undoubtedly
have accomplished II. His plan possessed
the merit of originality as we'll as feasibility.
His intention was to have the mail car
ried from Reno to Huffakers on the ileetest
race-hOrse ob-anable. At the foot of the
grade man would be in waiting, holding
on TO a pair of greyhounds. TIE letters
having been tied TO their collars. the dogs
after having been thoroughly arOused-were
to be turned loose, to go to their master
waiting for them on the Summit, who, in
turn, was to hand the letters to a mounted
messenger. with instructions to lose no time
in getting into Virginia City.
The sequel showed that the agent made
a mistake in declining Orndorff's PROPOSE
ton, for six weeks later the Pacific people,
owing to a lack of patronage, were COM
PEELED TO close their doors and retire from
business, their powerful but magnaminouS
adversary taking their running and rolling
stock off their hands.