Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-09
THESE WERE LIVELY DAYS
Exploits of Pony Bob" Haslam in
Pioneer Times.
RECORD RIDES OF PONY EXPRESS
Notable Example OF Nerve and
strength Developed on Trails
which We're Reset by
PeriIs.

Accounts Of the death in Chicago Of
Robert Haslam, one OF the very few re-
lmaining pony express riders Of the west.
mistakenly locate his exploits in Ne
braska. Pony Bob as his intimates
Failed him. secuted over the mountain
trails OF Nevada and Utah. Through a
section Of both, ID miles in length, he
carried the news Of Ijncoln's election In
iiseo. covering the distance in eight hours
and ten minutes, using thirteen relays OF
horses. He was ambushed hy Indians,
shot with flint head arrows through the
lower jaw. fracturing II on both sides,
and knocking out five teeth.
AS nervy and daring as possible for
man to be" was Robert Haslam. is the
conclusion of Colonel win visscher, his
torlsn Of the pony express, lie was the
hero OF MAN. fights with Indians and
road agents, and the principal actor in
a number Of hairbreadth escapes, sew
eral Of which were related by the hero
to visscher and incorporated in the lat
ter's story.
About eight months after the pony
express was established the Pi-Ute war
commenced in Nevada" said Mr.. Has
lam. Virginia City. then the principal
point Of interest. and hourly expecting
an attack from the hostile Indians, was
only In its infancy. A stone hotel on c
street was In course Of construction and
had reached an elevation OF two stories
This was hastily transformed into a fort
for the protection Of the women and
children. From the city the signal fires
of the Indians could be seen on every
mountain peak. and all available men
and horses were pressed into service to
repel the impending assault OF the saw
ages.
| .e. Out for n Fight.
when / reached Reeds station. on the
Carson river, found no change Of horses
as all those at the station had bean
seized by the whites TO take part In the
approaching battle. ] fed the animal
that rode and started for the next sta
ton. called Buckland's. afterward known
as Fort Churchill, fifteen miles farther
down tho river. II was to have been the
termination of my journey, as had
changed my old route TO this one. In
which had had many narrow escapes.
and been twice wounded by the Indians.
Il had already ridden seyenty-five
miles: but. to my great astcnishment,
the other rider refused TO so on. The
superintendent, w. C. Marley. was at the
station, but all his persuasion could not
prevail on the rider. johnson Richardsons
TO take the road. Turning then TO me
Marley said:S ..-- -
"'Bob. / viii give You 80 4 you make
this ride - Sfs
81 replied. Il win go at once
Within ten minutes, when I had adj
justed my Spencer rifle. which was a
seven-shooter and my Colts revolver.
With two cylinders ready for use in case
OF emergency. | started. From the sta
ton onward II was q lonely and DANGER
Gus ride Of thirty-fiye miles without a
change, 10 the Sink OF tho Carson.
arrived there al right. hoKSfaE and
pushed on to sand Springs. through an
slkali bottom and sand hills. thirty miles
farther, without a drop Of water all
along the route. At sand Springs l
changed horses and continued on to Cold
Springs. a distance OF thirty-seven miles
Another change and ride or thirty
more miles brought me to Smiths Creek.
Here | was relieved by ]. @. Kelley. /
bad ridden 100 piles. stopping only TO
cat and change horses.'
A RECORD Run.
This run is on record as tho fastest
OF the entire route Of 1000 miles.
Continuing, Bob said: After remain