, 1923-09-02
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LAST OFPONY EXPRESS RIDERS
MOLD SAINT JOE--A SKETCH
Continued From p.ss ono.

Continued From PaSo one.
press Rider" I explained. looking
straight at the Oldest In the group.
the only one not in uniforms man
of slender build and wiry. with the
sparkle of middle age in his eyes.
That's me. I guess" he respond
ed, What can I do for your"
well. Mr.. Cliff, I've come a long
way to get the straight of the Pony
Express story from one OF the boys
that really knows it. I haven't much
time before my train leaves. and
-"
~oh. I'll be glad to ten you all
I know about it-but that amt
much. Here Jim." he called to n
fireman at the doorway. come and
take my cards, SOS not to break
up the game"
Then we went outside and sat
down on a bench. Stimulated by
my eager questioning. he soon be-
gan to revive the stirring days of
dred and twenty pound youth Of IS.
he used to leap on his horse,
grab up tho mall bags. sallop to the
river. ferry over II, then go dash
ing along the timbered trail u of
bottoms of the Missouri and across
the Kickapoo reservation, on and
on to Seneca, Kansas. the first
home station about sixty miles
west OF Saint Joe, changing horses
six times to make the long run.
There he would ''chase put" George
Towne, or some other rider, who,
grabbing up the precious mail bags
would go dashing away w the
rolling prniries on into Nebraska.
another like stretch to the Big
Sandy station.
The waiting taxi-drfver broke In
to these stirring "reminiscences with
the remark: Say, Mister. It amt
none of my business. but II you
ketch your train. you'll have to be
movin'."
I ieaped to my feet. and after
taking a snapshot" Of the genial
old rider and thanking him, made
a hurried trip to the station. promis-
ing myself another visit TO get more
of the rich stories he held in mem
CRY.
The opportunity for that visit
came fortunately this June just
at the time when Saint Joseph was
being set astir with the plan 10
run the Pony Express again. In
deed. I reached there IN the open
ing night of the play. Lady Bird
created by Mrs. --. n resi-
dent of the city. and performed by
a local company. II certainly rad
lated some Of the spirit Of old Saint
Joe.
The next morning I vas up
bright and early to catch Charley
Cliff" before he got out fishing,
This time I found him at home,
and l found toe that three years
a taken a little of the sparkle
u of his yes. and some of the
springiness out of his step. But II
all seemed to come back. in flashes
at least. as he swung with me in
a taxi over the city. re -living the old
days. pointing out the various his
toric spots and telling me of the
first run and other incidents con
nected with the Pony Express.
1.-THE play I saw last night named
Richardson as the man that made
the frst ride put of Saint Joe with
the Pony mall" I suggested.
THAT amt right" he replied
with Just q little snap in his tone,
TT was John Frey who made that
first run. I ought TO know. / was
right here. We lived Just across
the street from the stable where
they kept the horses at first.
"John used to ride in all the
Q IN these parts. He had a
race mare he called Little Nell
She could beat most anything O
goin' round here. But he didn't use
her on that first run. He rode an
other mare called syiph, I believe
She was a little sorrel animal with
four stocking feet
"Richardson was q kind Of a
sanor. Does it stand TO a thai
they would have him ride wher
they could get n race horse ridol
to start the biggest race that wal
over run in this country? They
are spreading a yarn. too. about
stsrtin' with n black horse at thi,
end. and a white n at the other