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Show ORGANI ZATION OF THE. ~XPRESS "Doctor, tell me what y0u can of the organization of the pony express" said the ''News n man, "you doubtless. know as much a bout it at this day as any man." nMore than any man living," was the prompt rejoinder, followed by the unfolding of a story 0f intense interest, and of sufficient length to fill a volume of itself. But for the purpose of this a rticle the following narrative by the doctor must suffice: "The Pony Express was put in operation in 1860. Ttle project was conceived and put into execution by William H. Russell, of the fir1n of Russell Waddell & Ma jors, the government freighters and the biggest concern of the kind that ever existed. At times it had no less than 125 trains at work. Rus sell was in close touch with Senator Guinn and came to Salt La ke to consult with Jame·s. Bromley, late of Echo, to whom, wore;than any other man , is due the credit of working out the deta ils of the Pony Express enterpr ise. It was Bromley who f i gured out the time and compute.d the number of men and horses that were necessary and what would be required of them to make the undertaking a success. The prime purpose was, of course, to transmit news--press dispatches--across the continent and enroute as speedily as possible and all things • considered the accomplishment was one of the marvels of the time . • The Pony Express route had its beginning at st. Joe, Missouri, in the East , and it ended in the West where the Pac·ific ocean prevented its fur ther extension. Arrangements had been made with the railroads to carry the dispa tches fr:)m New York, Washington and other eastern points to St. Joe, where they were taken from the iron horse and transferred to the real one-to the one that was man's fa i thf'ul friend and servant t housands of years before the more rapid and powerful one was ever · dreamed of. HOHSE T.A IL:. SOWENIRS "When the train arrived at St. Joe it would be to find one of these ponies saddled, bridled, mounted and ready to make the first lap in the transcontinental relay. Not a moment was lost. The instant the previous pouches that were to be borne away with the speed of the wind could be thrown on the pony's back he would be started off. First of all he would be taken across the Missouri on a ferry boat. The second the western bank was reached the rider would put spurs t o his steed and be off. The excitement, enthusiasm and cheers on some of these occasi0ns were wonderful. The bystanders and passangers would rush like people possessed to where the poor pony was, pull the hair f'rom his tail and distribute it as souvenirs among the cr owd. "The limit for any one pony to carry, in additi.:)n to the • rider, saddle and rna cheers, was sixteen pounds. The macheers consisted of a sort of leather blanket with holes cut in for the horn and tree of the saddle to come through when thrown over. |
