The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-06-16
RIVAL EXPRESS COMPANIES RACE
THEIR MESSENGERS.

being made in the night over mountain
trails and through heavy timber. The
distance was accomplished in Ave hours
and thirteen minutes unexampled time
tor ride OF 100 consecutive miles nm
der existing circumstances. We let Mr..
Lowden tell the story Of his wild ride.
I'm the latter part Of the year 1851
Adams d Go. and Wells, Fargo q Co,
the rival express companies, with Cram,
Rodgers a Go. and Rhodes 81 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, i'll
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 alon.s
the road were pressed into service. As
high as $100 was paid to owners Of horses
for the privileges of riding them from
three to five miles. Everything was in
readiness about the 2sth OF December
Horses were placed about four miles
apart by each company, every horse har-sa
ing q 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 28th day of December, 1854, until.
the Cd day Of January, 1855, on which
date made my part of the race. rode
for Adams q Co.
"The race was a very close one from
San Francisco to Tehama. Wells, Fargo
q Co. led to Marysville. Between Marys-
vile and Tehama Lusk, Adams 81 Co. n
messenger passed Wells, Fargo q Co. y
rider. and the Meyicsn who tnok no
bags from LHsk reached Tehama first
and crossed to the Tehama side of the
river just as Wells. Fargo q 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 fifty-four 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 fight with the
man who kept Wells. Fargo q Co. s
horse. and had let my horse (Tom Nc
Turks gray get loose. saw the situa-
ton, and riding my tired horse q 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 over
his rump. / turned to the horse had
| just left with the express bags, pulled
them over to my fresh horse and went
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
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
| / overlook him the keeper would have
my horse in gallop.
Ireachea Shasta sixty miles s-ip two
hours and thirty-seven minutes. ! was
detained there about two minutes to di-
| vide the express matter, taking the
| Weayerville portion and Jack Horsely
| the through pouch for Portland. had
| nine changes Of horses between Shasta
and Weave-Yille and reached the latter
place in FIVE hours and thirteen minutes
| from the time / left Tehanaa. From
Shasta to Weaverville, forty miles, the
ride was made after dark, with q light
snow falling, but when / reached the
mountains and had my faithful horses to
| ride Wildcat, Comanche, Greyhound,
Pompey, Jack and the Bill Xix horse
| q little snow did not make much differ
ence In speed. But ] was myself in bad
condition at the end Of this ride. had
lost my cap and my hair was solid
mass Of ice. Iwore no clothing except
hapnel 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 the Office at
iWeaverville. had not felt 1t before.
Il ~ was 90 far ahead Of Wells, Fargo
81 Co.'s messenger at Shasta that they
topped the race so far as that company
was concerned. It was well that they
stopped, for Jack Horsely made q
splendid ride TO- Yreka, and was half
way to that place when Wells, Fargo b
ICo.'s messenger reached Shasta. NY
stock and help Tor this race cost Adams
| b Co. about 200 IInadp other |rsoes,
long and short. but considering the
weight carried, the weather aud the
time of day tit 4 rnade ik I have n
ways b6l5s tbs fb ~ ny hest o1e. |" q
| More t4 % saIa' II regard . the
narrators condition On arriving at
Weaverviue. The ave hOurs strain al
--a -.s~d arh muscle had prodnosd