The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-10
Another Record Ride.


NJ. D. Wemple of Oatville writes the
Eagle:
We enjoy reading the Pikers' Lament.
Scandals on the Peerless Princess. DIR.
Shuts Bear Story They are al O Il. but
tell those record horseback riders TO get
out of the road IL they can't run, and give
something a chance that can run Inclos-
ed find clipping from an old scrap book
which have had for many years. 1t is
dim and worn with age but guess you can
make out most of it,
The article referred to by Mr. Wemple
is from the st. Joseph (Mo) News. 1t
follows: - 20 -
I'm 1889 st.eJoseph was the terminus of
railroad communications Beyond the sta &c
coach, the saddle horse and the OK trains
were the only means az commerce and
communication with the Rocky mountains
and the Pacific slope. In the winter of
1860 there was a Wall street lobby at
Washington trying to get $5,o60 oeo for car
rying the mails overland one year be-
tween New York and San Francisco. The
proposition was extremely cheeky. and
William II. Russell backed by Secretary
of War Floyd, resolved to give the lobby
q cold shower bath He therefore offered
TO bet 500, 900 that he could put on a mail
line from Sacramento to St. Joseph that
should make the distance-l950 miles in
ten days. The bet was taken and the Sth
of April fixed upon as the day of starting.
Mr. Russell called upon his partner and
general manager of the business upon the
plains. Mr.. A. Il. Miller, now citizen Of
Denver, and stated what he had done.
and asked him if he could perform the
feat Miller replied: Yes sir. will do it,
and do it by pony express To accom-
plish this Mr.. Miller purchased three hun
bred of the fleetest horses he could find in
the west and employed l25 men. Eighty
of these men were TO be post riders. These
he selected with reference TO their light
weight and their known daring courage.
1t was necessary that some portions Of
the route should DE run at the rate Of
twenty miles an hour. The horses were
stationed from ten to twenty miles apart
and each rider would be required to ride
sixty miles. For the change of animals
and the shifting OF the mails two minutes
were allowed. Where there were no stage
stations at proper points tents sufficient
to hold one man and two horses We're pro-
vided Indians would sometimes give
chase, but their eayuse ponies made but
poor show in their stern chase after Mil
ler's thoroughbreds many Of which could
make a single mile in q minute and fifty
seconds.
Ali arrangements being completed a sig
nal gun on the steamer at Sacramento
proclaimed the meridian OF April :. 1856
the hour for starting-when Border Ruff
fan. Mr.. Miler's private saddle horse.
with Billy Baker in the saddle, bounded
away toward the foot hills Of the Sierra
Nevadas and made his ride ef twenty
miles in forty-nine minutes. The SHOWS
were deep in the mountains and oae rider
was lost for several hours in q suow
storm: and after the Salt Lake valley
was reached asitional speed became nee
essary to reach St. Joseph on time. From
here on all vert wei until the Platte was
10 be crossed at Julesburg. The river was
up and running rapidly but the rider
plunged his horse into the food, only.
however. TO miro IN the qgicksand ard
drown. The courier succeeded IN reach
ing the shore with his mailbag IL hand.
and Travelled ten miles or foo; 20 reach
the next relay. Johnny Fly. q popular
rider OF his day. was to make the finish
lie had sixty miles 10 zoe WIKI ~ NJ -
70 do it When the last courier arrived at
the sixty mile post out from ST Joseph
he was one hour behind time \ heavy
rain had set in and the roads were slip
per- Two hundred thousard deliars
might tnrn upon q single minute RI
had just three hours and thirty minutes
II Witch 10 win. This was the eHisa q
the longest roe. ~ the largest stakes
ever run il An@rica. When the time FOR
his arrival wss nearly % al least I've
thousand people stood 0pcn ;he river
bank with eyes tatned toward the WOOD
frora which the horse ard - rssie- should
emerge into the oVea country r. ms REM
~ Eiwoai-c-e r,Lle from the isTssh- TX.
ticE. vsuz the thousands q watches The
fisna vas nearly ", Bot Eszrly ssTs1
minutes remained. HaEEi shout soes
up from the azserasles raaitstpts- tie
cones. he comes The nobse lstie tFare.
syirh the dauEhter - I4ttse A-thar-
SE-ss Ike an a--oE fre=r she be< snd
makes the run q the las, snss~ IA ora Tni-s-
Ete and afly sSccnts-lsadins upoH RE
ferry boat with five minutes aad frae-
ten 10 spare