Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02
HORSEMEN OF PONY EXPRESS
Courage, Daring and Romance Com.
bined in Their Exploits.
THRILLING RIDES ON PLAINS
Splendid Examples of speed and En-
duranee of Men and AnImaIs-
RecoIlections of Famous
Pathfinder.

Tales Of the overland mail and famous
rides and riders are found in a little his
tory Of the pony express. written by Will
lam Litghfoot visscher and Just published
BY Rand. McNany g. Co. of Chicago. The
hunter. freighter. emigrant. telegraph, the
railroad and irrigation. each In turn blased,
opened and improved the westward way,
and now in this land Of prosperity only
memories Of the pioneers are left.
II is good TO recall their deeds, and Mr..
visscher, who was acquainted with many
OF the riders and Indian fighters, has
narrated the part they played in the build
ing OF the great west.
In the fall Of 1859, w. NJ. Gwin, one OF
the United States senators from California,
proceeded from San Francisco to Washing
ton to take up his legislative duties, riding
a horse from the Pacific ocean to the Mis-
souri, river. by way Of Sacramento, Salt
Lake City. South Pass end down the
Platte TO st. J~oseph-the central route"
as Il was called.
y For part OF the distance he had as com
panion b. F. Flicklin. general superin-
tendent of the pioneer frelghting firm Of
Russell. Majors & waddell. Between these
two men. both of whom saw the necessity
for closer communication between Cali
foriiia and the east. grew the idea of what
afte4rward eliminated In the pony express.
The senator made a fight in. congress for
a quick mail route and the reduction of
time In the sending Of news to the Pacific
coast, but the consuming interest In polit-
ical affairs, which were to lead to civil
war, prevented favorable legislation. The
west wanted fresh news from the east,
but the south's interests demanded the
prevention of legislation favorable to the
routes north of Mason and Dixon's line,
and the south was strong in congress.
A Daring Business. Venture,
Notwithstanding that It was found i'm
possible remarks the author, Ito obtain
any subsidy from congress at that time
for the purpose in view, in the winter OF
1890 Senator Gwin and several capitalists
OF New York and Mr.. Russell Of the over
land transportation firm of Russell. Majors
q Waddell met In Washington City and
the result Of tina meeting was the rea
start of one of the most romantic and dar.
ing business ventures this country or any
other country ever knew. That was the
pony express.
by that the time of transmitting news
across the continent was reduced from
t~wenty-one day. to ten days. 1t Is abou
4soO miles by our most direct railway rout,
frum New York to San Francisco and 1
took seven days three hours and forty-fiv,
minutes actual time to cover the distance
OF our fastest express trains during tn,
nrs1 years Of railroad history. In 1856
thsre was not a mile of railroad west o
ths Missouri river. St. Joseph, Mo-, wa
tts western terminus of railway communi
cation and between that city and the younI
city OF the Golden Gate there intervene,
but ono city. Salt Lake. and 1900 milcs o
Wild ~uninhabited country, infested witt
wax1ike- Indians Through this uninvitinI
region led the trails over which it was pro
posed 20 ride the flying ponies.
-In tina spring OF 1850 Boliver Roberts
superintendent Of the western division o
tAa pony express, went to Carson City
Nsv-. to engage riders and station agent
for the route across the great plains. Il
a few days fifty or sixty riders were en-
E~aESd-men noted for their 1.-the, wir
phyEsqneS. bravery and GOODNESS in me
rnents Of great personal danger and endur
ance under the most trying circumstance
of fatigue.
strain ON Man and Horse.
Particularly were these requirement
necessary In those who were to ride owe
the lonely route. II was no easy duty
Horse and human flesh were strained {
the utmost of physical tension. Day q
night. in sunshine or storm, under tn
darkest skies, in the pale moonlight an
with only the stars at times to guide hin
the brave rider must speed on. Rain, hal
snow or sleet-there was no delay-hi
precious burden of letters demanded HI
best efforts under the stern necessities {
the hazardous service; 1t brooked no deter
ton; on he must ride.
Sometimes his pathway led across lev,
,pralries, straight as the flight OF an arrow
1t was oftener a zigzag trail. hugglng II
brink OF awful preciploes and dark. mario
canyons infested with watchful savage
eager for the scalp of the daring man wi
had the temerity to enter their mountai
Businesses
The ponies employed in the service wei
splendid specimens of speed and enduranc
They were fed and housed with the grea
est care. for their mettle must never ia
tho test to which 1t was put. Ten mill
distance at the limit OF the animal' pa
was exacted from him and he came dasI