The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-29
"A HISTORIC RIDE.
RIVAL EXPRESS COMPANIES RACE
THEIR MESSENGERS.

Bill Lowden Tells the Story Of an Event
That Thirty-seven xfars.Ago Stirred
Up the People OF the Pacific States.
A Great Hundred Mile Run.
ALI over California and perhaps in
every one Of the Pacific states men are
living today who remember the wonder
full feat of Workmanship known as
"Bill Lowden's Ride" which was per-
formed thirty-seven years ago. Tehama,
on the Sacramento river, was the start
ing point; Weaverville, in Trinity coun-
ty, the terminal one. The distance was
a 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-unexample time
for ride Of 100 consecutive miles un-
der existing circumstances. We let Mr..
Lowden tell the story of his wild ride.
SIN the latter part Of the year 1851
Adams g Co. and Wells, Fargo g. Co.,
the rival express companies, with Cram,
Rodgers & Co. and Rhodes g. Whitney,
the connecting companies between
Shasta and Weaverville, 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 were made for
the race, and all the fast horses along
the road were pressed into service. As
high as 500 was paid to owners of horses
for the privilege of riding them from
three to five miles. Everything was in
readiness about the 28th of December.
Horses were placed about four miles
apart by each company, every horse hav.
ing n man to care for him, with an extra
horse to ride himself. At least that is
the way had my stock arranged. Both
relays of horses were under saddle from
the 29th day Of December, 1854, until
the I'd day of January, 1865, on which
date l made my part of the race. rode
for Adams & Co.
THE race was a very close one from
San Francisco to Tehama. Wells, Fargo
g. Co. led to Marysville. Between Marys
vile and Tehama Lusls, Adams & Co. 4
messenger passed Wells, Fargo 81 Col
rider, and the Mexican who took the
bags from Lusk reached Tehama first
and crossed to the Tehama side of the
river just as Wells, Fargo g. Co.'s mes
senger arrived at the opposite bank and
jumped into the boat.
"Now my race commenced. sprang
into the saddle, with saddlebags weigh
ing fiftyfour pounds, and rode nineteen
horses to Shasta without touching the
ground but once during that part of the
race. That was at the Prairie House
where Tom Finn, the man in charge Of
my horse, had got into a fight with the
man who kept Wells, Fargo g. Col
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
from me and went into the saddle oven
his rump. turned to the horse had
just left with the express bags, pulled
them over to my fresh horse and went
on. l lost about one minute here. Ali
other changes made while the horses
were running, the keeper leading the
horse I was to ride and riding his extra
one. could make my coming known
with whistle about one-half mile be.
fore reaching the change, giving ample
time to tighten the cinch and start the
fresh horse on the road, and by the time
l overlook him the keeper would have
my horse in gallop.
"Ireached Shasta-sixty miles-in two
hours and thirty-seven minutes. was
detained there about two minutes to di.
vide the express matter, taking the
Weaveryille portion and Jack uorsely
the through pouch for Portland. l 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 Weaverville, forty miles, the
ride was made after dark, with q light
snow falling, but when l reached the
mountains and had my faithful horses To
ride-Wildcat, Comanche, Greyhound,
Pompey, Jack and the Bill Xix herse-
little snow did not make much differ.
ence in speed. But l was myself in bad
condition at the end of this ride. had
lost my cap and my hair was a solid
mass of ice. wore no. clothing except
flannel drawers, undershirt and boots
unless my belt, with pistol and knife
might be considered clothing. The cold
first seemed to penetrate me when
threw the express bags into tho Office al
Weayeryille. / had not felt it before.
II was SO far ahead of Wells, Fargo
81 Co.'S messenger at Shasta that they
stopped the race SO far as 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 &
Co.'S messenger reached Shasta. My
stock and help for this race cost Adams
81 Co. about $4,000. 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 be said in regard to the
narrator's condition on arriving at
Weaverville. The five hours strain on
nerve, mind and muscle had produced
complete exhaustion, aud 1t was always
related that when Mr.. Lowden sprang,
or rather slid, from his horse he dropped
to the sidewalk, and had to DO assisted
to bed. But thorough rubbing, an oe.
casional potion of "Mountain Balm"
and good sleep soon revived the hero
Of the greatest race ever made in north