The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-07-29
a esREATm0RsEBACKRTDE
KEozT min HsovzEleu Earned an
MJmsagama Fame.

? n
every one of the Pacific states, men
are living to day who remember the
wonderful feat Of horseuansbip known
Is 'rBiI Lowden's ride" which was
performed thirty seven years ago last
month.
Tebama, on the Sacramento river,
was the starting point; WeaverVllle,
in Trinity county, 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-uneXampled time
for a ride of 100 consecutive miles
under existing circumstances. We
LET Mr.. Lowden tell the story Of his
wild ride,says the Bonneville Herald:
ssIn the latter part of the gear 1851
Adams & Co. and Wells, Fargo d Co.,
the rival express companies, with
Cram, Rodgers d Co. aud Rhodes &
Whitney, the connecting companies
between Shasta and Weaverville, com
meDced racing their expresses with !
horseback messengers.
After many hard races had been
run, first one and then the other win
ming, in December, 1854, it seemed
to have been arranged by the chief
companies that they would run the
presidents message from San Francisco
10 Portland on the arrival of the mail
steamer, and then stop racing.
Great preparations were made Tor
the race, and all the fast horses along
the road were pressed into service.
AS high as 800 was paid to owners
of horses for the privilege Of riding
them from three to FIVE miles. Every
thing was In readiness about Dec. %.
Horses were placed about four
miles apart by each company, every
horse having a man to care for bIm, |
with an extra horse to ride himself, /
At least this was the way ! had my
stock arranged. Both relays ofhOTsos
we're under saddle from December %,
1854, until January 2, 1855, on which
date ] made my part Of the race. l
rode for Adams & Co.
The race WAS a very close one from
San Francisco to Tehama. Wells,
Fargo g. Co. led to MarysviIe. Be.
tween Marysyille aud Tehama, Lusk,
Adams d Co.'s messenger passed
Wells, Fargo d Co.'s rider, and the
Mexican who took the bag from Lusk
reached Tshama first and crossed to
the Tehama side of the river just as
Wells, Fargo d Co.'s messenger
arrived at the opposite bank and
Jumped into the boat.
Nov my race commenced. l
spraDg into The saddle, with saddle
bags weighing fifIy,four pounds, and
rode nineteen horses to Shasta with
out 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,
bad got into a fight with the man
who kept Wells, Fargo g. Co.'s horse,
aud let my horse (Iom McTark's
gray get loose.
saw the situation, and, riding my
tired horse a little past where the fight
was going on, sprang 10 the ground,
caught the fresh horse by the tail as
be was running away from me, and
went into the saddle over his rnmp, !
turned to the horse l had just left
with my express bags, pulled them
over to my fresh horse, and went on.
lost about one minute here. All
other changes were made while the
horses were running, the keeper lead
ing the horse was to ride aud riding
hls extra one. could make my
coming known with a whistle about
one half minute before reaching the
change, giving ample time to tighten
the cinch and start the fresh horse on
the road, and by the time | overlook
him the keeper would have my horse
in a gaIloP.
! reached Shasta--sixty miles-in
two hoHEs and thirty-seven minutes.
was detained there two minutes to
divide the express matter, | taking the
WeaverviIle portion and Jack HorseIy
the through pouch for Portland. !
had nine changes of horses between
Shasta aud WeayerVilIe aud 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 light snow falling, but
when l reached the mountains, and
had my faithful horses to ride-WIld
Cat, COmanehe, Greyhound, Pompey,
Jack and the Bill XIX borse-a little
snow did notamake much difference IN
speed. But / was myself in bad con
dILiou 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, under
shirt aud boots, unlsss my belt, with
pistol and knife, might be considered
clothing. The cold fret seemed to
penetrate me when threw the express
bags into the Office at Weayerville.
4 had not felt il before.
| / was SO fsr ahead of Wells, Fargo
d Company's messenger at Shasta that
they stopped the race, 80 far a. the
compsny was concerned. Il is well
that they stopped, for Jack Horsely
made splendid ride to Yreka, aud
WAS half way TO that place when
Wells, Fargo q Co. messenger reached
Shasta. Ny stock and help for this
race cost Adams a. Co. about $1,000
made other races, long and short,
but, considering the weight ! carried,
the weather and the time Of day that
made it, | have aiways believed this
10 be my best one
More may be said ID regard TO the
nnrFaioi's condition en- arriving al
Weayeryiile. The 1--WE hours strain
on nerve, mind and muscle had pro
dnced complete exhaustion, and it wal
always related that when Mr. Lowdef
spraDg, Or rather slid, from bis horse
be dropped to The sidewalk end hat
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