The Story of the Pony Express | Page 6

work
out a schedule, and to ascertain with remarkable accuracy the number
of relay and supply stations, their best location, and also the number of
horses and men needed. At Carson City, Nevada, Bolivar Roberts, local
superintendent of the Western Division, hired upwards of sixty riders,
cool-headed nervy men, hardened by years of life in the open. Horses
were purchased throughout the West. They were the best that money
could buy and ranged from tough California cayuses or 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 were the pick of
the frontier; no more expressive description of their qualities can be
given. They 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 190 stations, about 420 horses,
400 station men and assistants and eighty riders. These are approximate
figures, as they varied slightly from time to time.
Perfecting these plans and assembling this array of splendid equipment
had been no easy task, yet so well had the organizers understood their
business, and so persistently, yet quietly, had they worked, that they
accomplished their purpose and made ready within two months after
the project had been launched. The public was scarcely aware of what
was going on until conspicuous advertisements announced the Pony
Express. It was planned to open the line early in April.

[1] While always called the Pony Express, there were many blooded
horses as well as ponies in the service. The distinction between these
types of animals is of course well known to the average reader.
Probably "Pony" Express "sounded better" than any other name for the
service, hence the adoption of this name by the firm and the public at
large. This book will use the words horse and pony indiscriminately.

Chapter III

The First Trip and Triumph

On March 26, 1860, there appeared simultaneously in the St. Louis
Republic and the New York Herald the following notice:
To San Francisco in 8 days by the Central Overland California and
Pike's Peak Express Company. The first courier of the Pony Express
will leave the Missouri River on Tuesday April 3rd at 5 o'clock P. M.
and will run regularly weekly hereafter, carrying a letter mail only. The
point of departure on the Missouri River will be in telegraphic
connection with the East and will be announced in due time.
Telegraphic messages from all parts of the United States and Canada in
connection with the point of departure will be received up to 5 o'clock
P. M. of the day of leaving and transmitted over the Placerville and St.
Joseph telegraph wire to San Francisco and intermediate points by the
connecting express, in 8 days.
The letter mail will be delivered in San Francisco in ten days from the
departure of the Express. The Express passes through Forts Kearney,
Laramie, Bridger, Great Salt Lake City, Camp Floyd, Carson City, The
Washoe Silver Mines, Placerville, and Sacramento.
Letters for Oregon, Washington Territory, British Columbia, the
Pacific Mexican ports, Russian Possessions, Sandwich Islands, China,
Japan and India will be mailed in San Francisco.
Special messengers, bearers of letters to connect with the express the
3rd of April, will receive communications for the courier of that day at
No. 481 Tenth St., Washington City, up to 2:45 P. M. on Friday, March

30, and in New York at the office of J. B. Simpson, Room No. 8,
Continental Bank Building, Nassau Street, up to 6:30 A. M. of March
31.
Full particulars can be obtained on application at the above places and
from the agents of the Company.
This sudden announcement of the long desired fast mail route aroused
great enthusiasm in the West and especially in St. Joseph, Missouri,
Salt Lake City, and the cities of California, where preparations to
celebrate the opening of the line were at once begun. Slowly the time
passed, until the afternoon of the eventful day, April 3rd, that was to
mark the first step in annihilating distance between the East and West.
A great crowd had assembled on the streets of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Flags were flying and a brass band added to the jubilation. The
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad had arranged to run a special train
into the city, bringing the through mail from connecting points in the
East. Everybody was anxious and excited. At last the shrill whistle of a
locomotive was heard, and the train rumbled in - on time. The pouches
were rushed to the post office where the express mail was made ready.
The people now surge about the old "Pike's Peak Livery Stables," just
South of Pattee Park. All are hushed