Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-10-30
A HISTORIC RIDE.
RIVAL EXPRESS COMPANIES RACE
THEIR MESSENGERS.

That Thirty-seveu Years Ago Stirred |
Up the People of the Pacific states. |
A Great Hundred Mile Run.
All over California and perhaps in
every one OF the Pacific states men are
living today who remember the wonder
full feat OF horsemanship known as
bill Lowdens Ride" which was per-
formed thirty years ago. Tehama,
on the Sacramento river, was the start
ing point; Weaverville, in Trinity coun-
ty. the terminal one. The distance was
good 100 miles, most of the last forty
being made in the night over mountain
trails and through heavy timber. The
| distance was accomplished in five hours
and thirteen minutes -uncSaiaplad time
for ride of 100 consecutive miles nm
der existing circumstances We let Mr.
Lowden tell the story of his wild ride.
Elm the latter part Of the year 1851
Adams 81 Go. and Wells, Fargo d Co.,
the rival express companies, with Cram,
Rodgers a. Co. and Rhodes & Whitney,
the connecting companies between
Shasta and Weayerville, commenced
racing their expresses with horseback
messengers. After many hard races
had been run, first one and then the
other winning, in December, 1854, it
seemed to have been arranged by the
chief companies that they would run
the presidents message from San Fran
cisco to Portland ON the arrival of the
! mail steamer and then stop racing.
Great preparations We're made for
! the race, and ali the fast horses along
the road We're pressed into service. AS
/ high as 800 was paid to owners of horses
for the privilege of riding them from
r three to five miles. Everything was in
5 readiness about the 2Sth of December
] Horses were placed about four miles
apart by each company, every horse hav-
ing man 10 care for him, with an extra
; horse to ride himself. AT least that is
o the way | had my stock arranged. Both
4 relays of horses were under saddle from
the 2sth day of December, 1854, until
o the 2d day of January, 1855, on which
date made my part of the race. | rode
for Adams 81 Co.
] "The race was very close one from
San Francisco 10 Tehama. Wells, Fargo
n 81 Co. led to Marysyille. Between Marys-
g vile and Tehama Lusk, Adams 81 Co. s
)! messenger passed Wells. Fargo & Go. 3
rider, and the Mexican who took the
o bags from Lusk reached Tehama first
and crossed to the Tehama side of the
h river just as Wells, Fargo a. Co.'S mes
c senger arrived at the opposite bank and
jumped into the boat.
" Snow my race commenced. | sprang
into the saddle, with saddlebags weigh
ing tifty-four pounds, and rode nineteen
horses to Shasta without touching the
ground but once during that part of the
. race. That was at tho Prairie House,
where Tom Finn, the man in charge of
a my horse, had got into fight with the
!, man who kept Wells, Fargo & Co.'S
horse, and had let my horse Tom Nc
Turks gray get loose. | saw the situa.
ton, and riding my tired horse a little
$ past where the fight was going on,
sprang to the ground, caught the fresh
, horse by the tail as he was running away
n from me and went into the saddle over
his rump. | turned to the horse had
N just left with the express bags, pulled
them over To my fresh horse and went
5 on. | lost about one minute here. All
other changes ] made while the horses
were running, the keeper leading the
% horse was to ride and riding his extra
one. | could make my coming known
10 with a whistle about one-half mile be-
fore reaching the change, giving ample
n time 10 tighten the cinch and start the
fresh horse on the road, and by the time
| overlook him the keeper would have
e my horse III u gallop.
preached Shast4-sixty miles-in twJ
hours and thirty-seven minutes. was
detained there about two minutes to di-
vide the express matter, taking the
Weayeryille portion and Jack Horsely
the through pouch for Portland. | had
nine changes of horses between Shasta
and Weayerville and reached the latter
place in five hours and thirteen minutes
from the time | left Tehama. From
Shasta to Weayeryille. forty miles, the
ride was made after dark, with a light
snow falling, but when | reached the
mountains and had my faithful horses 10
ride Wildcat. Comanche, Greyhound,
Pompey. Jack and the Bill Xix horse
little snow did not make much differ
ence in speed. But ! was myself in bad
condition ut the end of this ride. had
lost my cap and my hair was a solid
= uliiss vi itc. 4 wore no CiOlnlnH except
flannel drawers undersEirt and boots,
unless my belt, with pistol and knife,
!. might be considered clothing. The cold
r first seemed to penetrate me when |
threw the express bags into the office at
Weaverville. had not felt it before.
Il was SO far ahead of Wells, Fargo
. & Co.'S messenger Mt Shasta that they
s stopped the race so far rs that company
was concerned. 1t was well that they
stopped. for Jack Horsely made a
splendid ride TO Yreka. and was half
!, way to that place when Wells. Fargo &,
a Co.'S messenger reached Shasta. My
stock and help for this race cost Adams
g. Go. about :. 200. made other races,
long and short. but considering the
] weight | carried, the weather and the
|, time of day that | made it. have al
! ways believed this to be my best one.
. More may he said in regard to the
narrator's condition on arriving at
Weayersillc. The i've hours strain on
nerve, mind and muscle had produced
complete exhaustion. and it was always
related that when Mr.. Lowdep sprang,
, or rather slid. from his horse he dropped
! to the sidewalk, and had to be assisted
TO bed. But thorough rubbing, an oc-
casional potion of Mountain Balm"
Q Al