Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1914-05-20

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were ut regular distances and en-.
dufanee Was . greater requirement
THAI speed. On the GeiRer grade it
vas a mile dash for each animal
and quirt and spur we're used nm
sparinHly to keep ahead. Some idea
OF the burst Of speed may be gain
ed from the knowledge that the 21
miles were covered in an hour or
an hour and 10 minutes, and when
the riders were HURTING up the
grade on the outskirts Of Virginia
City the greatest excitement pre-
vailed. The entire population lined
c street in front Of the Interna-
tional hotel and betting was as
active as at any race track when
the horses got the flag tor the
start. 1t was nothing unusual for
sums ranging from $4,000 to SlO,-
600 to change hands on the result
and the riders we've amply reward
ed for their daring work. The act
ual pay of the riders was $40 for
the trip from Reno, but it is esti-
mated that che successful riders
easily cleared $50 for each journey.
Frequently it happened where the
contest was keen that the winner
would be showered with gold.
At Reno the mail sack was al
ready made by the train messengers
on the Central Pacific. AS the
dusty coaches Ioomed up the ex-
press riders we're in the saddle with
two men holding the heads of the
horses that were keyed up to the
highest pitch and fully as expectant
as their riders. The train mes
sengers swung the sacks of mail
for Virginia CITY to the pony car
riers, the bundle encased in a lea.
Their knapsack was Ought on the
fly, the horses we're released and
away they flew with each rider
struggling to adjust his precious
bundle to his shoulders. The pace
was SO swift that it often happened
that the haversack was not adjust
ed until after the first relay was
met and the first change was made.
After that, it was nothing, it rest
ed with the rider to coax the best
out of his horse. Where kindness
failed whip and spur were used re-
m~orselessly, for there was too much
at stake to induce the riders to in
dulge in thoughts of mercy. The
one dominant idea to get there,
and get there ahead of the rival
rider. who frequently happened
riding neck and neck for a great
part Of the distance. Such was
the strenuous life Of Jack Lynch
for the two weeks that the opposi-
tion lasted. He was q short, red
haired boy weighing in the saddle
100 pounds and as light as a fea-
Their on his feet. AS a change artist
he could teach the boys of the mod
ern wild vests AMI their level
ground and staged performances,
as he was rs agile as q cat and
seldom touched the ground in max.
ing the lightning change. From
saddle to saddle he sprang like an
acrobat and the quickness Of his
movements won the apps oval Of
the miners, who always backed him
to arrive first.
From Virginia City Lynch moved
to Benton, where he engag. I'd ia
business with hie mother who ran
the hot | where the cooking had a
reputation all over the southern
country. He Marie a Mss DALI
on, daughter of the owner Of the
Dalton ranch, near Benton, a red
haired girl who proved a true heIr-
mate but Jack could not stand the
lazy life and drifted into mining
that undermined bis health. Mrs.
Lynch died in 1889 and since then
Jack has been engaged in saloon
business. He nevtr had much
money and never lacked for friends.
His brother Billy, VAS a profession
al Jockey and therefore IL IL infer.