The Tucson citizen., 1902-02-10
TWO FAMOUS RIDERS
STRIKING EEATS OF ENDURANCE IN
THE PIONEER DAYS OF THE WEST.

AuDF&yS Nb~ NhC
Physical Achievement Ever Accom-
plIshcd In This C"untry--FrOntiers-
man Jim MOOre's Hard Ride.
The greatest physical achievement
ever accomplished in this country was
the ride OF L. X. Aubrey from the
plaza OF Santa Ft. y. NJ, to the Pub
lie square Mt Independence. Mo, dis.
tance OF nearly 500 miles, through a
country inhabited by warlike Indians,
n large part of which was then Il san
dy desert. 1t was about the year
1851 that Aubrey gave his wonderful
test of human endurance. before which
all other attempts Of the kind pale
intG insiEnticance. He was short,
heavy set man, 80 years of age. In the
prime of manhood and strength. His
business for ten years as Santa Fe
trader had made him perfectly IA
mlliar with the trail and all the stop
ping places. He was a perfect horse
man, and, although there were great
riders in those days none OF them
cared to dispute the palm with Au-
brcy.
ON wager of $1,000 he undertook
TO ride alone from Santa Fe TO lnde-
pcudence inside of six days. 1t was
without thought of fear that he un-
lcrtook the terrible feat. 1t was TO be
the supreme effort of his life. and he
seut half a dozen of the swftest horses
ahead, to be stationed at different
points for use in the ride. He left
Santa Fe in q sweeping gallop, and
that was the pace kept up during near
" every hour of the time until he fell
fainting from his foam covered horse
In the square at Independence. No
man could keep up with the rider. and
lie would have killed every horse in
the west rather than have failed In the
undertaking. 1t took him just days
and 10 hours to perform the feat. and
it cost the lives of several OF his best
horses.
After being carried into room In the
old hotel at Independence Aubrey lay
Tor 4S hours in a dead stupor before he
have recovered from the shock had 1t
not been for his wonderful constitu-
tion. The feat was unanimously re-
garded by western men as the greatest
exhibition OF strength and endurance
ever known on the plains.
The ride of Jim Moore, a noted from
Tiersman of the pioneer days. Is also
worthy OF mention. Moore was a man
of almost perfect physique. In fact, by
military standards he was model.
lie weighed lG0 pounds. stood 5 feet 10
inches, straight as an arrow, with good
neck well set on his shoulders, small
waist, but good loins. and had the limbs
OF thoroughbred. Nc liner looking
man physically ever rode a broncho
than Jim Moore. He could run like an
Indian, was as active as a panther, the
best natured man in the world, but as
courageous as lion.
In the early sixties Moore was a pony
express rider His route was from
Midway station. half way between
Fort Kearney and Cottonwood Springs.
30 Julesburg. a distance Of 140 miles.
Moore rode the round trip of $50 miles
once n week. The stations were from
40 to II miles apart, and fresh horse
Of Spanish blood was obtained at each
station. There was little delay In these
changes of horses. as the rider gave the
"coyote yelP' half a mile away. and.
day or night, the station men had the
pony ready. SO that the rider had only
10 dlsmount from one horse and 1nount
ahe other. and with dig of the spurs
ne was on a run again. This ride OF
f40 miles usually was made in II hours
On each route there were two express
viders, one going each way. AS easy as
1t may seem to some for a man to be-
stride fresh horse after horse for 14O
miles. there were few men able to
stand up to 1t.
Upon the occasion OF which l am to
speak Moore's route partner had been
Riling. and Moore was anticipating and
dreading that he might have to double
the route. In this anticipation be real
tied that there is time limit to endur.
nnce. and therefore be gave the brou-
chos little more Of the steel than
usual and made the trip to Julesburg
In II hours. Arriving at Julesburg he
had his fears confirmed. His partner
was In bed. He had hoped that he
might have few hours for rest, but
before he had time to dlsmount and
stretch his cramped and tired muscles
the coyote yell' OF the east going rid
er was beard.
He drank some cold coffee. filled his
pocket with cold meat and was In the
saddle again for anothe 40 miie ride
In order to be able to lvA the route out
he sent them for all there was In them,
with the result that he arrived at Mid
way. after having ridden 2S0 miles. In
- hours from the time be had left
there. Ben Holiday gave him a gold
watch and a certificate OF his remark
able performance. Many of the old
frontiersmen now living knew Moore,
knew Of his 280 mile ride In 90 hours
and have seen the watch and certlf.
Ente.-Spirlt OF the Times.