The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-09-20


1853 the Lander cutoff was adopted
TO shorten the distance. mat year
he rode pony express from sand
Springs TO Unionyille, via Saltwater
and met the other riders who came
down the Humboldt. Each rider car
ried fifteen pounds Of mail and five
pounds of Wells Fargo express. Inc
regular run was cut out IN 1904
when he went to Idaho where the
boom section of Wagontown and
Ruby City had started. he lett
Unionville with fifteen head OF picked
ponies for the establishment of a
route in Idaho.
Rush to North
In 1853 Baxter and Jordan dis
covered Jordan Greek and the news
rapidly spread to Virginia City. BY
1854 it was the liveliest section IN
the west and fast feight and pony
delivery was the order Of te day.
Jordan was killed by the Indians
in the fall of 1864 and it was Van
who helped carry the body into the
settlement. During the years of 80
and '67 he was riding into Jordan
Creek and in the spring of 1867 he
took over a six horse 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 as
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 box
which required two men TO handle.
Van admits that he had number
Of exciting times with Indians and
highway men but this he passes over
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 over
the Overland or pony express route
is indicated by the following details
by Mr.. Vanblaricom. The original
ride was from Salt Lake City to
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 Lahonton dam
then on through TO Fort Churchill
and on up the river to Dayton, Car
son, Genoa, Placerville and on to
Sacramento.
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 SIS miles anc
passed the word along and made the
return trip that night, OF ITO miles
in the saddle. The other rider wal
drunk and the next day he had t,
ride to Boise, 10 miles, which wa
covered in Is hours and 40 minutes
-Four horses were killed on the trip
Horses and Conditions
In speaking of horsefesh, h,
states that every animal had t.
stand the silk handkerchief test ane
they received the same Treatment
accorded in racing stable, as the,
were cooled off, blanketed and band
aged. Each rider was given tire,
minutes to saddle and make hi
change, and every rider was care
indexed and his time kept as care
fully as on a railroad.
Each rider was paid $125 PEI
month with board and lodgings, to
bacco, ammunition and washing
while they wore a white shirt and 6
red or white handkerchief about the
neck.
Another route that was used ex.
tensively was that from Sand Spring,
to Jimtown (now Fallon), from
there to Ragtown and then on tc
Stone House; from there to For,
Churchill DAYTON Carson and n1a