The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1923-09-12
FAIR OPENS WITH FINE PROGRAM
REAL PONY EXPRESS RIDER
TELLS OF ROUTE in NEVADA

establishment or a route IN ldaho.
Rush to North
In 1863 Baxter and Jordon dis
covered Jordon Creek and the news
lapidly spread to Virginia City. By
1864 it was the livelicst section In
the west and fast freight and pony
delivery was the order of the day
Jordon was killed by the Indians
in the fall of 1854 and it was Van
who helped carry the body into the
settlement. During the years of sc
and ct he was riding into Jordon
Greek and in the spring of 1867 he
took over a six hores stage from
Sheep Ranch, Idaho, to Silver City
which he continued to drive until
1869.
Back to Nevada
That winter the discovery of gold
and silver at Mountain City, Nevada
brought him back into Nevada "a
he drove from White Pine to Noun
tain City. A blackboard route was
then started from Winnemucca to
Silver City, Idaho. He was held up
three miles from Wagon Town and
the bandits took the treasure boz
which required two men to handle
Van admits that he had a number
of exciting times with Indians and
highway men but this he passes owe
as just a part of the incident in con
nection with the life of the times
The Real Route
That the recent race was not owe
the Overland or pony express routI
is indicated by the following details
by Mr.. Vanblarieom. The origina
ride was from Salt Lake City 10
Austin, Nevada, with relief between
the two stations. From there the
road came to Alpine and then to Sand
Springs and on to Saltwater.
The road was then toward Carson
City by Allen Springs, south of the
present site of the Lahontan dam
then on through to Fort Churchill
and ON up the river to Dayton, Car
son, Genoa, Plaeryille and on to Sac
ramento.
Carried Lincoln Message
Mr.. Vanblaricom was riding pony
express between Silver City, Idaho
and Sheep Camp when the message
came that Lincoln was assassinated
He rode that night 55 miles ana
passed the word along and made the
return trip that night, or 110 miles
in the saddle. The other rider was
drunk and the next day he had to
ride to Boise, 10 miles, which was
covered in Is hours and 40 minutes.
-Four horses we're killed on the trip
Horses and Conditions
In speaking of horseflesh, he
states that every animal had to stand
the silk handkerchief test and they
received the same treatment accord
ed racing stable, as they we're cool
cd off, blanketed and bandaged. Each
rider was given three minutes to
saddle and make his change, and
every rider was card indexed and
his time kept as carefully as on d
railroad.
Each rider was paid 1925 per
month with board and lodgings, to-
baceo, ammunition and washing.
while they wore a white shirt and 2
red or white handkerchief about the
neck.
Another route that was used ex-
tensively was that from Sand Spring
to Jimtown (now Fallon), from
thre to Ragtown and then on to
Stone House; from there to Fort
Churchill, Dayton, Carson and Plac-
erville.
He states that he does not person
ally know any of the old Overland
route riders alive today, but he Is
certain as to the route which did not
lead through the Reno section.
All of his expenses were paid al
the time by the Overland Pony Ey-
press Company.