The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-10-11

thrilling story of the Battle OF Beecher's island
fought In eastern Colorado In September 1868
that name is familiar. For Tom Ranahan was
one OF the party Of 90 scouts, commanded BY
COL George A. ttSandy) Forsyth Of the regu-
lar army, who wrote their names high In the
history OF the West by their desperate defense
OF the little Island In the Arickaree river against
the hosts OF Cheyenne warriors led by Chief
Roman Nose, who was killed there Ranahan
was still living In Idaho a few years ago-one
OF the three last survivors Of the FORSYTH
Scouts and one of the few real surviving Pony
Express riders
One OF the best short accounts of the Pony
Express dealing with It's organization, operation
and Its historic Importance, Is the chapter de-
voted to 1t In the book "The Overland Mail,
1S40-1809" by DR.. lie Roy Hafen, Colorado state
historian, which was published by the Arthur H.
Clark company OF Cleveland In 1926
In 1t Doctor Hafen points out that 1.-THE PONY
Express was not end In itself, but a means to
an end. There had been previous suggestions
for the establishment OF fast overland express
and an attempt was made In congress In 1855
to provide such service but these first efforts
did not succeed. With the establishment Of the
overland stage lines rivalry had arisen between
the Butterned 1.-THE Southern) and Central
sixth congress In December, 1850, everything
pointed In the direction of a general revision
OF the overland service. Partsans OF the Central
route were active but they met with consider
able opposition. 1t was with the Idea OF demon
strating the practicabIlity OF the Central route
for year-round travel and to secure an enlarged
mail contract that the Pony Express scheme was
conceived
During the winter of $4,000, while William
III. Russell was In Washington, .he discussed the
overland mail question with Senator Gwin OF
California. The senator commended that 1t was
necessary to demonstrate the feasibility OF the
Central route before he would be able to ger
from congress the desired contract. He appealed
to Russell to launch a swift overland express
and agreed to obtain from congress a subsidy
TO reimburse the firm for the undertaking, The
plan appealed to Russell and he agreed to put
through the enterprise"
Put 1t through he did and on April 8. 1860
the historic Pony Express went into operation
with riders starting simultaneously from the
Eastern and Western feminist Joseph. Mo.
and San Francisco. Calf. 1t continued until the
through telegraph line was In operation Then.
says Hafen when the telegraph line was COM
pleted on October "a. 1861. the Pony Express
came TO close. The pony was fast but he
couiu not compete win the lightning"
Unfortunately for its founders Ii was far from
being q financial success 1t cost Russell and
his partners 100000 to operate 1t during Its
brief existence and their receipts were only $780,
600 leaving them with a net loss OF 100000.
But from the standpoint OF the nation the Pony
Express was emlnently successful 1t demon
straed the practicabiuty OF the Central route and
marked the path for the first trans-continental
railroad. BY shortening the distance between tho
Atlantic and Pacific coasts 1t helped unite the
Pacific coast and the Rocky mountain region
to the Union during the first omlnous year Of
the Civil war 1t showed the conquest Of the West
In one OF Its most spectacular phases and 1t Is
an act In the great western drama that will al
ways be recalled and re-enacted as one OF our
precious herltages."
cby Western Newspaper unlon