Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-07
PONY EXPRESSES BOLD RIDERS.
Old Records Made In Carrying the
Pacific Mail.

Old Records Made In Carrying the
Pacific Mail.
The men were talking of the cross
continent record made by the Austria
liam mail. The old Indian fighter twis
ted his mustache thoughtfully.
There's something very fine about 6
race like that" he said. "T never gel
used to our fast trains. They are
awesome things. I take off my hat tt
them. But when you want exciting
stories Of Pacific mail you must gel
hold Of some one who knew the pony
express. There was a mail service fol
you
Don't know much about It? Well
I suppose not. 1t didn't last very long
and down East here you forget every.
thing except your family pedigrees.
1.-THE Indian troubles never seemed
real to New Workers. They couldn't
believe in an Indian massacre later
than the French and Indian war. They
heard about the Indian fighting out
west: but they didn't take it serious.
ly. We did. Good Lord, it was serious
enough"
The old man lapsed into silence and
sat staring into the past. with deer
furrow between his brows.
But about that pony express" some
one asked.
"Oh, yes; the pony express. You
men aren't so young; but I dare say
you were too young to know anything
about those days, save what you read
II wasn't very old myself in 1859; but
I remember. I was in the midst OF
things. That makes a difference. I've
picked up pony messengers where they
fell with wounds all over them and
their scalps missing.
"I've seen messenger stations after
the Indians had visited them and gone
on. One doesn't forget that sort OF
things. I knew Aubrey. There was q
man for you!"
There was another long silence. Nc
one liked to ask questions. The old
fighter objects to being prodded. He
will tell his story in his own way, II
he tells 1t at all. If he doesn't care tc
talk, no amount Of questioning will
stir him to reminiscence. So the other
men waited, and finally the major went
on.
1.-THE overland stage had carried the
mail and express. Everybody knows
good deal about the Overland's his
tory. 1t ran from st. Joe to Sacra-
mento and covered the 1000 miles in q
days.
Taking everything into considera.
ton, that was pretty fast travelling
At first the stage ran twice month
Later it ran daily.
1--WE made the trip and 7 got more
| for my money than I did when I came
on from San Francisco last winter or
the fast mail. The stations were from
five to ten miles apart, according tc
the ground, and we drove like Jehu
day and night.
THE driver didn't even leave his
seat at the stations. Horses were
ready, the change was made like
lightning and on we went. There were
whippers or outriders. heavily armed
who helped guard the coach and lashet
the horses to top speed.
1T took steady nerves to enjoy tha
travelling. There was danger at ever!
turn-hostile Indians, desperate roat
agents, bad roads, swollen streams
billiards. i've seen all that was lef
of a stage and it's load after the In
dians had swooped down on it. To thi!
day the very sight of an Injun make!
me see red. The road agents robbed
the coach, and perhaps the driver ant
guard were killed in the mixup, bu
they usually left the passengers un
harmed.
"The stage drivers had enough t.
try their nerves; but the pony messen
gers had even a harder proposition
Tbora WAS need of faster mail and ex