The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-20
THE OLD PONY EMPRESS.
Captain Ainslee's "Reminiscences OF mar
breadth Escapes IN the Elites.

Captain AinsIee's "Reminiscences OF Hair
breadth Escapes IN the fifties.
Although his thin locks and beard were
completely whitened no one would have Sis
pected that the ruddy-cheeked man Of trim
figure. sparkling eyes. quick step and pleas
ant vlyaciOus conversation who has Deeh 40
Seelbachs the past week, was other tnan q
fniddle-aped gentleman Of comfortable cir
cumstances. who bad always lived quiet
life. possibly a farmer IL the city for rev
days.
But few people in this generation have seen
life in as many different phases and retained
physical and mental perfection as TINS gen
tleman has.
lie was Mark 0. AinsIee. whose name ap-
peared on the register as coming from Dem
yer. COL wanderer for years and years.
ever since boyhood. Captain Ainslee places
little faith IN the word home anu 10 use
his own expression, is at home wherever ne
"hangs up his hat lie has no home. and
AS a practical miner and inyeterate traveller
doesn't want any lie has been all over the
Western country from Sitka 20 the CITY OF
Mexico. and knows every loot OF that country
and the resources Of each section.
TO Captain Ainslee and his associates. along
in tho SOS, when the few representatives, set-
tied IN the region whore now stands the city
of Denver craved for communication with
the States belongs the credit of establish
inc that fOrerunner OF civilized means, the
pony express. by which mails and small par
cells were transported through surroundings
where every step touched danger IN that Wild
territory lying between the Miss NH river
Outp0sts and the little settlement al the fOOt
OF Pixies Peak.
Il tell You it want no fun" said the cap
tain as he pushed back the water. and many
a time | thought my time had come sure
enough Why, them NUNS was layln for Us
at every lump. and It seemed as II every bush
along the road was shakin' with one of en-
almost dyiu' fur a chance at your scalp. But
letters was dollar apiece and the success OF
the pony express depended on gettln thr ugh
on time, 81 there was no chance % funk.
Then. after Teller got started. he might as
well 20 ahead as turn back, fur they was as
thick one way as the other
IL tell you one thing that made me shake
once iu while" and the old mans eyes
flashed at tie thought. was the uncertainty
about finding fresh horse. The lnluns was
lust as likely 70 clean out horse station as
ANYTHING else and then. where WAS you,
One time. / remember well. J had a running
fight with a band of the red devils. and Just
about the time [ found my horse was badly
wounded it commenced t. grow dark. That's
all that saved me, bat they thought / got
away. and quit chasin. ! could only get the
poor animal q little ways further and then he
dropped.
II took my knife and cut his throat and
then started out with my saddle and mail
bags Lighting out for the next change
stand. / commenced TO think that may BIO
those red devils had cleaned out the station.
and then the sweat commenced to stick ont
on me III large chunks. Great Scott ! was
a goner. because ] never could hoof It twenty
miles through that country 10 the next stand.
but plodded along. my Lad seeming ike 1t
weighed q ton. and If ever a man lived IN
hope. right there was one Of them. / amt
no church man. and never was one, bat I tell
you there WIS mighty nigh a prayer Of thank
fulness went from me somewhere when /
seen that station ana a pony standing ready
for me. louisville Commercial.