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RIDERS OF THE PONY EXPRESS

By Virginia M. Hall Editor Emeritus CSNA LM 26-02

The Pony Express was the first rapid transit across the continent from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. It was a system by means of which messages were carried swiftly on horseback across the plains, deserts and mountains of the far west. It brought the Atlantic Coast and the Pacific slope ten days nearer to each other. It had a brief existence of just under nineteen months and was supplanted by the transcontinental telegraph.

The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish something worth while.

While always called the "Pony Express" there were many blooded horses as well as ponies in the service. Probably "Pony" Express sounded better than anything else, hence the adoption of this name by the firm and the public at large.

At Carson City, Nevada, Bolivar Roberts, local superintendent of the Western Division, hired upwards of eighty riders, cool-headed nervy men, hardened by years of life in the open. Horses were purchased throughout the West. They were the best money could buy and ranged from tough California mustangs to thoroughbred stock from Iowa. They were bought at an average figure of $200,00 each, a high price in those days. The men, picked from the frontier were hired at salaries varying from $50.00 to $150.00 per month, the riders receiving the highest pay of any below executive rank. When fully equipped, the line comprised of 190 stations, about 420 horses, 400 station men and assistants, and eighty riders. Of the riders in the service, half were always riding in either direction, East and West. The average run was seventy-five miles.

Every rider, including station-keepers, etc., were given a Bible when they were hired. Few such copies are now known to exist, The firm had a payroll of over five thousand men strung out between the Missouri River and California, and every new employee was required to take the following oath: "I _____, do hereby swear, before the great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors & Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God," The new employee was then given a Bible imprinted in gold letters: "Presented by Russell, Majors & Waddell.

The riders were young men, seldom exceeding one hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. That the only one rider was ever taken by the savages was due to the fact that the pony-men rode magnificent horses which outclassed the Indian ponies in speed and endurance. Every one of the Pony Express horses were kept supplied with grain which had to be hauled from either the Missouri River or the Salt Lake Valley. This gave the horses further superiority over the poorly bred and grass-fed Indian ponies.

At first a Spencer carbine was carried strapped to the rider's back, besides a sheath knife at his side. In the saddle holsters he carried a pair of Colt revolvers. After a time their carbines were left off and only side arms taken along. The carrying of larger guns meant extra weight, and it was made a rule of the Company that a rider should never fight unless compelled to do so. He was to depend wholly upon speed for safety.

Letters wrapped in oil silk to protect them from moisture, either stormy weather, fording streams, or perspiring animals. While a mail of twenty pounds might be carried, the average weight did not exceed fifteen pounds. The post charges were at first five dollars for each half-ounce letter, but this rate was afterward reduced by the Post Office Department to one dollar for each half-ounce.

At the outset, it was planned to run each horse twenty-five miles with an average of three horses to the rider, but it was soon found that a horse could rarely continue at a maximum speed for so great a distance. It soon became the practice to change mounts every ten or twelve miles or as nearly to that as possible. The exact distance was governed largely by the nature of the country.

One of the station-keeper's most important duties was to have a fresh horse saddled and bridled a half hour before the Express was due. Only two minutes was allowed for changing mounts. Dashing up to the station, no time was wasted. The courier would already have loosened his "mochila" which he tossed ahead for the keeper to adjust on the fresh horse before dismounting.

The saddle-bag used by the pony rider for carrying mail was called a "mochila". It had openings in the center so it would fit snugly over the horn and tree of the saddle and yet be removable without delay. The mochila had four pockets called cantinas in each of its corners-one in the front and one behind the rider's legs. The cantinas held the mail. All were kept carefully locked and three were opened en route only at military posts-Forts Kearney, Laramie, Bridger, Churchill and at Salt Lake City. The fourth pocket was for local or way mail stations. Each station keeper had a key and could open it when necessary. It held a time-card on which a record of the arrival and departure at the various stations where it was opened, was kept. Only one mochila was used on a trip; it was transferred by the rider from one horse to another until the destination was reached.

The first trip of the Pony Express westbound from St. Joseph to Sacramento was made in nine days and twenty-three hours. East-bound, the run was covered in exactly ten days. The rider reached the west bank of the Missouri River, his horse flecked with foam, with just enough time left to cross on the waiting ferry and ride through St. Joseph on the opposite shore ON TIME. The average time of these two performances was barely half that required by the Butterfield stage over the southern route. The Pony Express had clipped ten full days from the schedule of its predecessor.

The first Pony Express from St, Joseph brought a message of congratulations from President Buchanan to Governor Downey of California. It also brought one or two official government communications, some New York, Chicago and St. Louis newspapers, a few bank drafts, and some business letters addressed to banks and commercial houses in San Francisco---about eighty-five pieces of mail in all. Eastbound, the first rider carried seventy letters.

The best record made by the Pony Express was in getting President Lincoln's inauguration speech across the continent in March, 1861. This address, outlining the attitude of the new Chief Executive toward the pending Civil War, was anticipated with the deepest anxiety by the people on the Pacific Coast. The document was carried through from St. Joseph to Sacramento-1,966 miles---in just seven days and seventeen hours.

When Edward Creighton completed the Pacific telegraph on October 24, 1861, and began sending messages by wire from coast to coast, the California Pony Express formally went out of existence. For over three months, since July 1, it had been paralleled by the daily overland stage; yet the great efficiency of the semi-weekly pony line in offering quick letter service won and retained its popularity to the very end of its career.

At the very beginning, it cost about one hundred thousand dollars to equip the Pony Express line---in those days a very considerable outlay of capital for a private corporation. Besides the purchase of more than four hundred high grade horses, it cost large sums of money to build and equip stations at intervals of every ten or twelve miles. The wages of eighty riders and about 400 station men, not to mention a score of Division Superintendents was a large item.

The following notice of discontinuance of the Pony Express appeared as an advertisement in the Sacramento Union paper on page 2, column 5, October 21, 1861.

THE PONY EXPRESS WILL BE DISCONTINUED FROM THIS DATE Sacramento, Oct. 25th, 1861 WELLS FARGO & CO., AGENTS

Through approximately eighteen months of variable weather, Indian disturbances, and almost insurmountable difficulties, the Express had faithfully discharged its responsibilities in such a manner as to win unanimous praise. During that time 308 runs were made, covering a total distance of 616,000 miles. On those runs 34,753 letters were carried, with the loss of only one mochila. Of the total, 23,356 letters originated in California and 11,397 in the East. Estimated receipts were $91,404.00 of which the West supplied about two-thirds or $60,844.00.

From the very start it was evident that the people of California prized the Pony Express more highly than did their countrymen in the East.

The last survivor, Billy Campbell, died in Stockton, in 1934.

EDITOR FOLLOWUP

The official U S Pony Express commemorative medal was released July 5, two weeks before the 9 day centennial rerun . The Philadelphia Mint prepared the medals. They were delivered to the National Pony Express Centennial Association only and were sold by that group to offset expenses of the centennial re-run which used 1000 horses and riders over the 1,966 mile route. The Association also erected monuments and markers to preserve the location of the original route.

The medal is between a half dollar and a dollar in size. The sculptured heads of William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell, founders and operators, appear on one side of the medal. The Hansen Pony Express Horse and Rider appears on the other side. Original design was the work of Julian A. Links, of San Francisco. Final design and sculpture work was done by Frank Gasparro of the Philadelphia Mints art staff. The initial order was 20,000 and more were requested. The retail price was $1.75.

A silver medal in the same size and design was struck. This special medal was limited to 5000. The supply was quickly exhausted. Checks were returned and form letters notified the disappointed collectors. Sold originally for $6.00 these medals quickly rose in price.

A bronze medal, 2 ¼ inches in diameter, weighing just under four ounces was authorized by a special Act of Congress. These high relief medals were made for presentation to the almost 1000 riders who participated in the July 19-28 re-enactment of the Pony Express. None of these were sold, but about 30 were designated for appropriate libraries and museums in the eight Pony Express states (Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada & California) and Washington D. C.

Other medals commemorating the Pony Express have been issued. In 1975, the rider is depicted on one of the official California Medallions for the celebration of the American Revolution Bicentennial

In 1982, The Sacramento Valley Coin Club celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a medal portraying the famous statue.