Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-11-18
"SPEED DEMONS OF OTHER
DAYS.


With the coming Of the motor car
and its brother Of the empyrean. tho
enchantment OF distance has disap-
peared. and with it much Of tho ro-
nance that used to invest the long
II ails traversed by men in the days
when the horse was their farthcst
dream of motion and endurance.
About the only reaction a cross
country traveller would get in these
days, in announcing motor trip
six or eight days. would be. perhaps.
the perfunctory inquiry, How did
you find tn roads?' Cushions and
gasoline make little appeal to the
imagination, but what heart will not
yield a responsive thrill. even In this
era of rapid mechanical motion. to
the feats of speed and endurance
achieved by the hardy horsemen of
other days, venturing forth on long
lonely rides. whether at the call OF
duty or in the mere lust of sport and
adventure?
Amazing, even in comparison with
the performances of the modern
knights OF the wheel, were some Of
the famous deeds achieved by the men
whose limits Of speed and distance
were marked by the spirit and en-
durance of horse and rider. It seems
hardly credible that by the use of the
horse alone n record Of little over
eight days from Missouri river points
to San Francisco in the transmission
of the mails could ever have been
attained-yet 1t was done by the
Pony Express more than a half cen.
tury ago. The remarkable mail serv-
ice across the plains was instituted
by two of the great overland freight
ers. William III. Russell and Alexan-
der Majors. about a year before the
beginning of the War Between the
States Up to that time 1t took six
weeks to two months for letters to
go from Missouri river points to me
coast.
The Pony Express was a system of
relay stations for cross country riders
Established at points about 15 miles
apart. The neetest and hardest OF
horses were bought for the service
and the riders were chosen from the
young horsemen OF the plains-hardy
young fellows. capable OF roughing It
under all conditions. light of weight
and daintless of spirit. Each rider
was supposed to ride three animals
in succession, traversing three sta
ges" in emergencies. The rider left
the starting point as promptly on time
az a railroad train. going off at q
full gallop; which he maintained
until he reached his first stage, where
he must only occupy few seconds in
changing from one horse to another.
which he always found standing sad
died, bridled and fed awaiting him.
a speed of 20 miles an hour often
was thus attained and kept up clear
across the continent. The news OF
the firing on Fort Sumter was carried
TO Sacramento by the Pony Express
in eight days and IA hours. and later
under the stimulus OF big bonus to
the riders this record was cut down
a full day by the riders carrying the
news OF the battle OF Antietam.
One of the most famous OF the
speed demons OF the Old Santa
Fe Trail was f. Y. Aubrey. whose ride
from Santa Fe to Independence. Mo-.
in 1854. achieved a record for speed
| and endurance that was never sur
passed in his day. Aubrey was an en-
terprising New Yorker who went
West in the latter part OF 1S45 and
broke into the freighting game. He
SPORT II was the custom OF the ca
sy going traders Of that time to make
but one trip year over the trail. but
Aubrey started in breaking records
after he had embarked in the business
and soon had his trains making two
trips n year. He amassed fortune
| and spent large sums in expediting
the service. A daring. hardy horse
| man himself. his record ride was the
result OF n bet made with some OF
his competitors in Santa re. He
wagcred $4,000 that he could ride
| from one end OF the trail" to the
| other-that is. from Santa Fe to In
| dependence. Mo, on horseback in six
| days. He made the trip In five and
a half days, n distance Of over 500
miles. carrying as provisions only q
canteen of water and dried buffalo
| meat. or course. he changed mounts
| repeatedly on the road. buying fresh
rorses as he went along. Later. on a
wager of $4,000, he reduced this
| record to four and a half days. To
| accomplish this he had himself strapA
ped to his horses. taking his sleep
In the saddle.