The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-10
THE rtuoU> poxr EXPRESS.
Fast, Hard and Dangerous Riding With
Letter. for the Cold DiEgers.

Letter. for the Gold DiEgers.
The regular work Of the daring and ro-
mantle overland pony express riders has
never been exceeded. even by the recent
specially trained for lOng-distance riding
of the German and Austrian army OH
GERS. says an exchange. When 1t IS con-
sidered that those pony express riders
travelled over a Wild country "l'houe
bridges or even roads deserving Ihe
name, crossed two great mountain chdlhS'
vast alkaU deserts aud had TO heht IN
dams and wolves along much OF their
journeys, and that the average time haoe
was $50 miles a day, 1t will be seen that
even the governments which pay atten-
ton To such matters have no such courier
system TO call upon. But this system
was organized for the accommodation OF
the gold ruiners Of California Who were
able and willing TO pay, ana IN IdCt ulu
pay, s. for each half ounce Oh man proushe
to them from the old folks at nome by
the daring little pony express rioers'
Each rider was limited 20 htteen pouhdS
Of mail, which was divided INTO loul
packages Of equal weight ana carrlea III
saddle pockets, tWo ia fDClt ana Two oe-
hind the rider. 50 IL VIII De seen llaI
each rider carried mali for when me
course. 10 the United states postage.
The route 81 the pony express began at
ST. Joseph, Mo. and extended due west
to Fort Kearney. Neb., thence up the
platte river To Juleshurg, Col, across
the Platte and 10 Forts Laramie ana
Bridges. Wyo., and on TO Sait Lake,
Utah. The descent into the plans OF
Nevada was made by the route through
Ruby valley and thence along the hum
bOldt river. The Sierra NeFaoas were
crossed by way Of Canon CITY, racer
vile, then known as Hangtown, ana lhe
Sacramento valley, reached by the fodu
the miners had made down by POISON 10
Sacramento. and thence along the valley
and over the foothills into San IRAN
cisco, where the i0Dg journey ended
There were always eighty riders In the
| saddle-forty going east and forty west.
| Change stations weye close together, espe-
| cially over the mountainous sections, as
| the ponies were kept at top speed from
station 70 station, no matter what kIud
| of country they had 10 travel. Many OF
! the brave iigntweights VINO rode IN the
| ponv exDress service lost their lives IN
| Indian fights. for the gentle red man
| seemed 10 esteem e a peculiarly hlsh
! honor o dangle an express riders scalp
I at his belt
! The wonder was that the service was
! kent up at all; that so many OF the
riders escaped the Indians and the dan
| gers Of food. storm, snow. heat and cold.
| Their chief advantage in encounters WIN
! tba Indians was that the pony express
riders were always better mounted, on
| better fed horses. than the Indians, anu
| could take care Of themselves In a chase.
| They were a wary and experienced LOT
/ and difficult 10 ambuscade, 50 that While
| an occasional scalp was lost there were
not many ~ the letters longed for when
| never came over that dangerous route.
the pony express went out Of existence
J g,bon the overland railroad and telegraph
seryice was completed IN 1853. Few OF the
ola riders are stiIl living, and the promoter
Of the scheme. Wnlam ii. Russell ahe
his chief assistant. y. +. FicHlin' are
both dead.