A Grand Idea

In 1848, gold was discovered in =California.
Thousands of adventurers rushed west in search of gold,
hoping to strike it rich.
Towns sprang up throughout the West, and soon
=California became a state.
"I wonder if that wagon train has news from home."
"I haven't gotten a letter from my wife in months."

=California settlers waited weeks or months for letters
to come by stagecoach or ship.
The East had telegraph systems that could send messages
in minutes.
But no telegraph lines connected the East to the West.
"No mail today folks.
Come back tomorrow."
=California Senator =WilliamGwin was worried about the slow
main. In =January 1860, he met with =WilliamRussell, who
owned a freight and stagecoach business.
"I fear a civil war between the North and South is coming.
But it will take weeks for the news to reach =California."
"Yes, stagecoaches can take up to =23 days, Senator."
"But we need to get news sooner than that. Maybe."

"We could send mail much faster by horseback."
"Sure. But won't the horses and riders get tired after
so many miles?"
"Riders could change horses at relay stations.
After a day's ride, a new rider takes over."
"A pony express!"
Back at his company headquarters in =Kansas Territory,
=Russell told his business partners, =AlexanderMajors
and =WilliamWaddell, about the plan.
"We'll have the fastest overland mail system connecting
=Missouri and =California."
"But we'll need so many relay stations and horses.
What do you think, =Waddell?"
"It will cost a lot."
The company was already in debt. But they decided to 
build the Pony Express.

It took a lot of work to set up the express routes.
Relay stations were build every 10 or 20 miles.
"Whew! I'm glad these stations don't have to be very big."
"Yeah, but I wouldn't want to live in one."
"Let's get those supplies to the station, boys."
"Yes, sir."
=WilliamFinney, who worked for =Russell, helped set up the
Pony Express.
"I want to buy all of your best horses."

Men Wanted!
The undersigned wishes to hire ten or a dozen men, familiar
with the management of horses, as hostlers, or riders on the
Overland Express Route via =SaltLakeCity. Wages =$50 per month
and found (room and board). I may be found at the =StGeorge Hotel
during Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
    =WilliamWFinney
"Next."
"I hope I get a job."
"Me, too. It would be such an adventure!"
After they were hired, riders had to take an oath.
"I do hereby swear I will, under no circumstances,
use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating
liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight."

On April =3, =1860, the first Pony Express rider left from
=StJoseph, =Missouri. =Russell and many others were there to
hear Mayor =JeffThompson's speech.
"Citizens of =StJoseph, I bid you give three cheers for the
Pony Express - three cheers for the first overland passage of the
=UnitedStates mail!"
The first mail sent from =StJoseph arrived in =Sacramento =10
days later, on April 13.

The Mail Must Go Through

After the first run was successful, the Pony Express ran both
east and west once a week. Family members, businessmen, and newspapers
sent important news by Pony Express.
"How fast can you get my letter to =California?"
"Ten days, ma'am. It costs =5 dollars."
"That's a lot, but I'll pay it. My husband needs to know I'll be
joining him in =California soon."
All mail was placed in a mochila, a pouch that fit over the saddle.
Each of the pockets was locked.
Only the station keepers had keys.

"Good luck, =Charlie. Remember the Pony Express motto?"
"The mail must go through!"
"It's just you and me out here, buddy. Ten miles and I'll exchange
you for a new horse."
=CharlieCliff rode for nearly an hour until he reached the next station.
At the relay station, riders had only two minutes to transfer the mail
to a new horse. After the quick exchange, =Cliff was back in the saddle
until the next station.
"I've got a fresh horse ready for you, =Charlie."

=Cliff rode =70 miles through =Kansas Territory.

"I'm ready to take over!"
"There's a hot meal and a bed waiting for you inside."
"Good. I'm hungry. I've been in the saddle for eight hours."
=Cliff reached his home station at =Seneca the end of the route,
after nightfall.

Each rider had a route of =70 to =100 miles. The Pony Express trail
stretched nearly =2000 miles from =StJoseph, =Missouri, to
=Sacramento, =California. The trail went through plains, across
rivers, over mountains, and through Indian territories.

Seven days later, the mochila reached =RobertsCreek Station in
=Utah Territory. The mochila had been carried by about =13
riders and more than =100 horses. =AmosWright took over next.
"Be careful, =Amos. There have been =Paiute Indian attacks
in the area."
"You can trust me to get the mail through."
In =1860, the =Paiute Indians live in the =Nevada region, part of
=Utah Territory. The Pony Express trail ran right through their land.
=Wright made it to the next station unharmed and passed the mochila to
=WarrenUpson.
"Looks like it might be snowing up in the mountains. Be careful, =Warren."

"Easy, boy. One slip and we're doomed."
=Upson's horse stayed steady.
He finished his route and gave the mochila to the next rider.
Only =10 days after the mochila left =StJoseph, it reached
=Sacramento. The Pony Express made =California settlers feel closet
to home than ever.
"My grandson was born two days ago!"
"My wife is on her way to join me!"

=Californians loved the Pony Express. But in =Utah Territory, the =Paiute
Indians worried about losing more land and food sources. The winter of =1860
had been difficult for them. Many starved for froze to death.
"The white men are forcing us from our land."
"They have chopped down our trees and hunted our wildlife.
We are left to starve!"
Violence often erupted during land conflicts.
Whenever a white man was killed, the =Paiutes were blamed.
Settlers attacked the =Paiutes in revenge.
Then two =Paiute girls were kidnapped.
They were found in the cellar of =Wiliams' Station.
In May 1861, the =Paiute chiefs held a council.
"What happened when you found the girls?"
"Our men had no choice. To rescue the girls, they
had to kill the white kidnappers."
"The white men will soon hear of this and come to fight.
We must prepare for war."

Meanwhile, white volunteers gathered in =Virginia City and rode
to =Pyramid Lake. But there were too many =Paiute warriors for
the volunteers to defeat.
The =Paiutes won the battle, but the white settlers didn't give up.
Smaller battles were fought over the next few weeks.
Pony Express relay stations were easy targets for the =Paiutes.
During the worst fighting, the Pony Express stopped its service
for four weeks.
"Chief =Numaga, I promise that the =US government will not allow
whites to settle on your land."
"If the white man keeps his promise, we will fight no more."

Heroes and Legends

During the =Paiute War, many Pony Express stations were destroyed.
It cost =$75000 to rebuild the stations, but the Pony Express
resumed full service. The dangers faced on the trail and the
benefits of fast mail service made the riders heros to many people.
"There goes the Pony Express! Maybe we'll get more news from back home."
"Those riders must have an exciting job!"
"Did you hear about =RasEgan?"
"Was he the one who."

He's not going to make it.
I'll have to carry the mail by foot.
Though he was hurt from the fall, =RasEgan walked =5 miles to the next station.

Another legendary rider was Pony =Bob =Haslam. During the =Paiute War, he
often rode without any trouble. One day he reached =Bucklands Station at
the end of his eastbound route, ready for a rest. But he was in for a surprise.
"There have been more Indian attacks."
"I'm not riding a war route. No way!"
"=Bob, I'll give you =$50 if you make this ride."
"I'll leave right away."
=Haslam rode =190 miles without rest.
After stopping for several hours' sleep at =Smith's Creek,
he returned west with another mochila.
When he reached =ColdSprings, he found that the station keeper had been killed.
"I hope I can get to the next station in time to warn them!"

"Was there another attack?"
"Yes. You shouldn't stay here alone. Ride with me."
"We heard about =ColdSprings. Stay here with us, =Bob."
"Attack or no attack, I still have a job to do."
"Be careful!"
=Haslam continued west over the =SierraNevada mountain range.
He rode a total of =380 miles in =36 hours, one of the longest
and fastest rides in Pony Express history.

Another story told of a brave rider who crossed the rising =Platte River
near =Julesburg.
The river looks awfully high!
"Help!"
"What do you need, sir?"
"Please! Let me use your horse. I'm with the Pony Express."
The rider got the mail through, and the men rescued the horse.

Winter storms sometimes delayed the mail.
"We have to keep moving, old boy, or we'll freeze to death."
At last!
After being lost in a blizzard for =20 hours, =WilliamFisher let his
horse lead the way and arrived safely at his home station.
People loved to hear stories of the young riders.
One boy named =BillCody was fascinated by the Pony Express.
"It's a pity you're not a few years older, =Billy. I would
give you a job as a Pony Express rider."
"Please, sir! You won't regret it."
No one is sure if =BillyCody was hired as a rider or not.
But later in life, he always claimed to have been one of the
youngest Pony Express riders.

Farewell, Pony!
As stories of the Pony Express spread, its popularity grew.
And when the Civil War began, =California settlers were glad they had
a fast way to get the news.
But the Pony Express was very expensive. =Russell, =Majors,
and =Waddell spent more than they could afford to keep the Pony
Express running.
"Rebuilding after the =Paiute War cost too much."
"With the Pony Express bills on top of our other debts, we're nearly
bankrupt."
"We may have to sell the company."
=Russell, =Majors, and =Waddell had planned to run the Pony
Express only until the telegraph reached across the West.

During the summer of =1861, workers raced to connect the telegraph
lines from =Missouri to =California.
=Overland Telegraph Company
To President =Lincoln, White House
I announce to you that the telgraph to =California
has this day been completed. May it be a bond of
perpetuity between the states of the =Atlantic
and those of the =Pacific.

After =18 months of service, the Pony Express came to an end.
"Sir, it is true? Is the Pony Express gone?"
"It's true. You'll have to get your messages at the telegraph office from now on."
=California =Pacific
=1861
A fast and faithful friend has the Pony been to our far off state.
Summer and winter, storm and shine, day and night, he has traveled
like a weaver's shuttle back and forth til now his work is done.
Goodbye Pony!
The =SacramentoBee
October =25, =1861
Our little friend, the Pony, is to run no more.
Farewell and forever, thou staunch wilderness overcoming,
swift footed messenger!

But the Pony Express was not to be forgotten. =BillyCody had become
famous as =BuffaloBill, traveling the world with his popular Wild West
Show. During the show, a Pony Express ride was reenacted. The Wild
West Show kept stories of the Pony Express alive for years to come.
The riders of the Pony Express braved snowstorms, heat and battles to
get the mail through. They are remembered as true heroes of the =American West.