The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-30
A THOUSAND MILE RACE
MEMORABLE DASH AGAINST TIME BETWEEN SANTA FE AND WEST.
PORT IN DAYS OF PONY EXPRESS.
reached the ears Of the rider = mile


Horse and rider fairly few on the
wings of the wind" ,Feathery fieckl
Of foam streaked the TANKS OF the
painting animal as she bore the courier
to his journeys end. covering the last
mile In one minute and fifty seconds
The little mare. sylph. had won the
wager and there were i've minutes
and a fraction to spare.
At the other n OF the line the
same arrangements had been made to
start a courier from Sacramento. So,
at noon on April 8, 1850. Billy Baker,
mounted on Border Rufiian. Miller's
famous saddle horse. dashed away to-
ward the sierras. covering his twenty
miles n forty-nine minutes. Deep
nov lay In the mountain passes. and
to Salt Lake valley slow time was
made. so that from the valley on II
was necessary to make extra speed to
win the huge wager.
All went well until the crossing Of
Big Platte river at Julcsburg was
dismay the courier found the river
high up In Its banks and a strong cur.
rent running. Fearlessly horse and
rider plunged into the stream. but only
the man reached the opposite bank.
His gallant steed mired In the quick.
sands and perished. Tho courier saw
ed his precious mail pouch. and had
to walk ten miles to the next relay
station.
The first courier to reach Sacra-
mento vas met miles out on the road
by all who could secure a horse or
mule to ride. and a general a en-.
tered with the courier against the
field. which he distanced very easily.
A few old residents have told me Of
witnessing the start Of the first courier
from St Joseph. They saw him on his
horse while his 'daguerretype' was
taken by Mr.. Mitchell. a picture man.
They all knew John Fry intimately
and followed him to, the ferry boat.
Felix x. Aubrey accomplished q
notable feat. in the early days. by rid.
ing a thousand miles from Santa Fe
to westport. now Kansas City, in a
given number of hours. which were
considered few. and he was at once
famous. A steamboat on the river
was named for him. 1t was Aubrey's
ride which induced Russell. Ben Holi.
daE. Majors and Waddell to promote
the pony express. The writer was
acquainted with these gentlemen az
end of the route, and during the sum
mer daily met them while crossing
the plains.
Frequently a belated carrier would
arrive at Elwood too late for the
Terry which stopped running at dark,
put he would secure a skin, and with
his mail pouch cross the river to st.
Joseph.
West Of st. Joseph the following
were some Of the stations used for
changes by the couriers: Thompson,
Willow Springs (three miles west of
Troy. kennekuk. Gotchell, Log Cabin,
seneca, Ash Point. Guittard. Marys-
Vile. Little Blue. Platte Ranch, Kear-
ney City, Plum Greek. Beauvaris,
Julesburg and others.
During all the preliminaries and in
the and management of the
pony express. Ben Holiday was the
leading spirit. He really had charge
or all preliminaries and control Of
an Things pertaining to the organiza-
tlon n operation Of the great
cheme. He was the friend and part
all their great schemes of freighting
across the plains. and in operatinS
overland stage lines.
Jack KeetIey, one OF the ponv or.
press riders. rode continuously for
twenty-four hours. having traversed
300 miles. He didn't consider the
ride much of a feat. Ina as soon as he
slept and had a smack" was ready
to repeat the ride. All the riders Of
the pony express aawere mere boys,
wtry. good horsemen, ambitious. ner
getic and honest. There is no. in
stance on record where one failed to
do the duty assigned him. When an.
preaching a station where a change
OF horses was necessary the courier
would blow a trumpet to notify the
stable man that he needed a fresh
mount"