The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-04

The packets inside the mail pouches
were covered with oiled silk, to protect
them further from the weather, were
sealed, and not opened between st. Jo-
seph and San Francisco. The whole coun-
try was wrought up by stories of the
unparalleled speed of the express
through Fort Kearney Fort Laramie.
Salt Lake City. the route lay. over sand.
over snow. a stretch Of 1000 variegated
miles.
LOng Trips by Express Riders.
Each rider made an average of thirty
three and one-third miles in day. rid
ing at n gallop. changing horses In two
minutes at each station, and dashing
away again. Sometimes emergencies came
up. and then express rider made two
and three and even as high ms ten. reg
ulnr runs. For example, one summer day
In 1850 an important government dispatch
for the Pacific coast was brought in to
Midway station in Western Nebraska.
1t was necessary to forge ahead with II
TO Julesburg by special messenger. Jim"
Moore, one of the riders mounted the
pony and galloped of, riding the $40 miles
without rest. except to change his mount
at the ten-mile stations. At Juiesburg
he found another important dispatch for
Washington. The messenger who should
have carried the east-bound message had
been killed the day before Moore gave
messenger for the West, took the pa
per for Washington, and started back
over the route to Midway station. He
had stopped only seven minutes, snatch
ing bite to eat as he galloped. He
reached Midway station again In fourteen
hours and forty-six minutes after start
ing from there, making u total distance
OF 2s7 miles covered in that time
Among the PONY express riders was
Buffalo Bili. He presented himself for en-
ployment. and at first was refused because
no was so small and young. His mother
begged a place for him. for he was the
main support of the family. Col Majors
put him on as a messenger, carrying dis
patches between the freight wagons ON
the plains, and he soon made a reputa-
tion as Little Bin Cody" Next year he
graduated to express messenger" with
the title of Pony Express Bill" one
pay day his mother was waiting for him
and the paymaster called out: Come
Billy make, your mark and get your
money" He could not write his name. and
his mothers eyes filled with tears at this
public mention OF II. "Oh, Billy. ! wish
you would try TO learn writing" she said
From that time on Buffalo Bill' set 10
work In earnest and soon all tho white
wagon canvsses were covered with viii
lam Cody" billy. the messenger and
80 on, all his titles spelled out at all
stages OF his new art Among The many
stories which Col. Majors used 10 tel OF
Buffalo BIN" on tho pony express" Is
one OF how he eludsd two road agents sue
cessfuIly. II became known that large
amount Of money was To be sent through
BY pony express" and at all stages OF
tho route bandits were in walt On the
division lust before Cody's they killed the
rider without getting the money. Buffalo
Bil" naturally thought that they would
make another effort. At the next relay
station he took little longer time than
usual. unfoded his saddle blanket and put
the packages containing the money In the
folds securely, He then strapped the sad
die bags minus the treasure, on his pony
and started out on his fiyins trip As he
Ealloped along he iixed on lonely spot
Ia the road as the place where he would
most likely be attacked. Two men stepped
out