WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:09.519 Hey, says dad, Mom. Come on your story, hours on 2 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:16.039 presenting your story, hour building for a better tomorrow. 3 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.239 Hi there everyone, This is Aunt Carroll. 4 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:21.000 And I'm Uncle Dane. We welcome each one of you 5 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:23.760 to our program. I think we have a very interesting 6 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:25.519 story to share with all of you today. 7 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.440 I couldn't agree more, Uncle Dan, because today's story is 8 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.079 a continuation of the one we started last time. 9 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:34.359 About the California gold Rush and the Pony Express, Right, 10 00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:34.960 Aunt Carroll. 11 00:00:35.159 --> 00:00:38.000 Yes, And in our previous story, William Russell, the senior 12 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.719 partner of Russell Major's and Waddell, had just promised California 13 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:44.560 Senator that his company would take on the challenge of 14 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.280 providing lightning fast mail delivery to California. 15 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:50.119 It was an amazing bold idea, as we learned in 16 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:53.159 our last story. At that time, mail delivery between Eastern 17 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.719 America and the West took many days, weeks, or even months. 18 00:00:56.840 --> 00:00:59.880 But now William Russell planned on using the fastest riders 19 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:02.799 on the swiftest horses to carry mail via the Central 20 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:05.439 overland route, which was much shorter than the one used 21 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:07.719 for mail delivery by the Butterfield stage. 22 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:10.000 Line, but a more difficult route. If I remember right, 23 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:11.640 Aunt Carroll, actually Uncle Dan. 24 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:14.280 In today's story, I think we'll discover that the entire 25 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:17.200 venture was very difficult and very exciting. 26 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:19.280 I can't wait to get started. What do you call 27 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:20.120 this episode? 28 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:41.359 I call it thundering hoofies. When William Russell returned from 29 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:44.599 Washington to share Senator Gwynn's bold plan with his business 30 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:48.599 partners Alexander Majors and William Waddell, his eyes were bright 31 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:51.000 with the possibilities and the challenge. 32 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:56.079 Just thing, mail service to and from California and ten days, 33 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:57.359 ten days. 34 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:01.359 I know we can do it. Whoa now, yeah, just 35 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:02.480 a second there, William. 36 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:05.159 As keeper of this company's books, I can tell you 37 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:09.879 we're already over extended, way over extended, and now you're 38 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:14.199 proposing that we build more was stations, hire more men, 39 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:15.840 and buy hundreds of horses. 40 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:18.360 Bill Waddell always the worry Roy. 41 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:21.840 Maybe so, but I'm the one who pays the bills. 42 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:25.560 Well, rest easy, my friend. Senator Gwynn has all but 43 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.719 promised us a generous grant from the government to cover 44 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:31.479 our expenses once we've proven ourselves. 45 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:31.879 That is. 46 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:35.360 Look at the huge grant they extended to the Butterfield 47 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.840 line to deliver mail. Their delivery takes twice the time 48 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:39.719 that we're planning. 49 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:40.400 Am I right? 50 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:41.879 Alexander helped me out here. 51 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:45.000 Well, you're right that the Butterfield line was mightily favored 52 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:45.960 by Washington. 53 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.319 But go ahead tell them all your butts. He needs 54 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:49.879 to hear them. 55 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.400 Let me put it this way. 56 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:55.240 While you're off in Washington making deals, William, I'm faced 57 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:58.240 with the logistics of keeping supplies running to the government 58 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:00.840 outposts across the Western Exactly. 59 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:04.639 We already have the network. It's just a matter of 60 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:08.520 adding to it. We're the biggest trading company west of 61 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:09.400 the Mississippi. 62 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.360 But I know the land, I know the problems. I 63 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:15.280 know what we're facing with this idea. Have you given 64 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:16.479 your absolute word? 65 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.919 Will do it? My solemn promise, and there's no backing out. 66 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:21.639 We can't back out Bill out. 67 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.719 If Williams given his word, man's word is his bond. 68 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:27.400 We'll just have to I know, I know, a company 69 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.080 will just have to carry through. 70 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.479 I suppose you already have a name picked out for 71 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:32.599 this crazy scheme. 72 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:38.560 How about the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company. 73 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:40.919 Will William, I'd have to say that if shaky finances 74 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:41.879 don't kill the idea. 75 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.199 The name will. We could just use the initials the 76 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:47.080 COC and PPEC. 77 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:49.919 How about just calling it the Pony Express. 78 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:55.120 A grand idea, capital It'll work. You'll see the Pony 79 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.080 Express will be a resounding success. 80 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.719 Once the decision had been made, the company of Russell, 81 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:08.039 Majors and Waddell lost no time in organizing the venture. 82 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:11.400 Although they already owned seventy five thousand oxen and six 83 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:14.960 thousand wagons for hauling supplies, they would now need horses. 84 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.920 Mister Finnie, your job will be to select horses for 85 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:22.079 the western end of the line. Yes, sir, I've already 86 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:25.680 instructed my agents on this end, handpicked only the best. 87 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:29.800 They need not be thoroughbreds. We need the toughest, most rugged, 88 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:32.079 long distance horses available. 89 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:32.600 I understand, sir. 90 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:35.360 We will need sure footed mounts with spunk and spirit 91 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:37.759 to go over the mountain trails, through the snow and 92 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:41.240 across the salt flats the half wild mustangs of the 93 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:42.319 West and to the train. 94 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:48.120 Not only the horses would need determination and spirit, the 95 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:50.800 riders would need to be a tough minded breed as well. 96 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:55.120 Soon notices began to appear in western newspapers. 97 00:04:55.240 --> 00:05:03.800 Wanted young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen, must be 98 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:11.560 expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred wages 99 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:14.680 twenty five dollars per week. 100 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:18.959 WHOA wait, where do I sign up? Twenty five dollars 101 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.399 a week. 102 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:24.959 In actual fact, not all of the riders hired were 103 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.600 of jockey stature under eighteen, or for that matter, orphans. 104 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.800 But they were cool headed, brave, and range hardened, and 105 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.279 they would meet every ounce of grit they possessed for 106 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:39.199 the task before them. In just over two months, five 107 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:42.759 hundred horses were purchased, eighty riders hired, and a series 108 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.680 of new stations built between those already existing on the 109 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.600 company's line, for a total of nearly one hundred ninety stops. 110 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.079 When the big day arrived Tuesday, April third, eighteen sixty, 111 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.319 crowds gathered to celebrate on both ends of the Pony 112 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.319 Express line, one of which was in Saint Joseph, Missouri. 113 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:09.680 Fairly are my first tory of riding Saft Tennis Ryder, 114 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:11.240 Johnny Prime. 115 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:14.600 Loan. 116 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.879 I wonder where the train is. It's bringing the mail 117 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:21.199 from Amable. 118 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:23.600 All the days to be late. Why is it gentle do. 119 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:26.879 Maybe we'll find out what's happening. 120 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:30.160 Maybe so the train is all it's why. 121 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.360 We've just received a telegraph message that it is traveling 122 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:39.040 at a record speed to bring the mail from the 123 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:47.079 east nearly sixty miles an hour before it rides, let's 124 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:51.000 hear from Alexander Majors, who has worked so hard to 125 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:52.600 make this day possible. 126 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:02.920 After several speeches have been delivered by various dignitaries, the 127 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:06.120 mail train arrived and Johnny Fry rode his pony right 128 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:09.480 inside the lobby of the famous Petee House hotel, where 129 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:12.480 the field office of Russell Major's and Waddell was located. 130 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:22.120 Make way for the Pony Express. 131 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.319 Here is the male Mochila Johnny Fry, the very first 132 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:28.120 of the Pony Express mail from East to West. 133 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:32.879 Cannon to signal the ferry boat. 134 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:40.839 J P to the Pony Express. 135 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.160 Johnny Fry galloped out of Petee House and down to 136 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:50.480 the landing a mile away, where the ferry took him 137 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.560 and his steed across the Missouri River. From there he 138 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:58.120 headed west, his horse's hoofbeats thundering across the plains. The Mochila, 139 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:00.439 which carried mail in four pockets on each of its 140 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.600 corners had been especially designed from leather to fit over 141 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:06.839 a saddle. The rider sat on it his legs, fitting 142 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:09.480 between the front and back mail pockets on each side. 143 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.759 Special opening at the front fits securely over the saddle horn. 144 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.800 The entire mochila could be transferred in seconds to a 145 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.600 fresh horse when the riders came to their relay stations. 146 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:21.839 These were placed every ten or fifteen miles along the trail. 147 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:28.360 On the other side of the continent. In San Francisco, California, 148 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:31.800 a celebration similar to that in Saint Joseph, Missouri, cheered 149 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:34.840 for James Randall on a cotton colored pony. He clip 150 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:37.360 clopped onto a steamer named the Antelope, which would take 151 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:41.279 them upstream to Sacramento. This was only a ceremonial send off. 152 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:44.080 The first real rider from the west was Billy Hamilton, 153 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:47.200 who received the mail from James Randall and Sacramento and 154 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:49.559 charged off into the black, rainy night. 155 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:52.559 Yeah give me a boy. 156 00:08:56.440 --> 00:09:00.279 Five horses and fifty seven miles later, Hamilton handed off 157 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.720 the mochila to Warren Upson. Warren was soon heading straight 158 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.240 into the teeth of a driving snowstorm in the Sierra 159 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:07.240 Nevada mountains. 160 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:08.960 Come on more, you. 161 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:09.519 Can do it here. 162 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:14.240 I guess you think these drifts have to be ten 163 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:17.240 feet deep. And if we slip off the path into the. 164 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:21.559 Canyon, Come on, boy, the mail must go through. 165 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.039 Yeah, come on. 166 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.639 Over the next few days, riders from the east rode 167 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:32.559 at break neck speed across the prairie toward the west, 168 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.759 and riders from the west crossed mountains and thundered across 169 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:42.360 the Great American Desert towards the east. Horses were exchanged 170 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:45.480 at relay stations very quickly, in a matter of seconds 171 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:48.639 in some cases, and new riders grabbed the mochila from 172 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.639 those who tired and dusty had ridden their section of 173 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.360 the trail over there. 174 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:58.960 Hold steady, you were wild one aites. Ok, you take 175 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.039 the reins here, but wait to my no, and you 176 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.159 be careful. Listen here still halfway to three of us 177 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:06.200 to see him this morning. Don't you worry none. I've 178 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.200 been riding wild brons for years. Well then you must 179 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.000 have been riding on your mama's knee. 180 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:12.000 How old are you? 181 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.399 Anyway? 182 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.960 Old enough? Look there he comes. He's a fly like 183 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.960 the wings. It's like I'm gonna be in a minute. 184 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:21.360 Oh boy, this is gonna be so much fun. Hold 185 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:30.120 there here she is, all safe and sound. Mail bow 186 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:31.759 for San Francisco. 187 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.279 Got it. 188 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:36.759 Mochila's cost my saddle. Now ah, I'll be on the way. 189 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:41.240 Get me up. Come on, well, liesel. 190 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:49.000 See you Okay, your nose is bleeding. 191 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.399 It was a terring rough ride, I gotta tell you, 192 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.200 But little blood don't hurt nothing. 193 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:57.960 I'll get your shoe it soon enough. Be sure of that. 194 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:04.120 Even the most experienced riders needed a couple of weeks 195 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:06.720 to toughen up, as they said for the grueling Pony 196 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.840 Express relays. But on that first run across the country, 197 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:13.720 the excitement of the adventure overcame all pain. After only 198 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:17.519 ten days, on April thirteenth, eighteen sixty, Billy Hamilton was 199 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:20.480 once again in the saddle, thundering westward, this time back 200 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:24.000 towards Sacramento with the first male Mochila from the east. 201 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.840 As he neared down, he could see horses and riders 202 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.919 lining the road awaiting his arrival. 203 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:35.000 He look, look there, it's Justice Bac But I'll wager 204 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:37.440 that's him. 205 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:39.320 Oh it's him, all right. 206 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:46.840 Just look at that cloud of dust. Here he comes. 207 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.200 Come on, everybody. 208 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:51.240 We're ridding with him clear into town. Let's go. 209 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.919 Where they come. 210 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:04.399 It's Billy heady times. 211 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:21.320 On the. 212 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.919 After handing off the eight letters that had been sent 213 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.720 to recipients in Sacramento, Billy Hamilton and his pony clambered 214 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:32.200 onto the Antelope steamer for the trip back down the 215 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:34.960 river to San Francisco, where eager crowds awaited. 216 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.559 Oh Jonas, that bonfire feels mighty good. 217 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.360 What time is it anyway? 218 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:47.039 Just after midnight? Ellie, here come closer to the fire. 219 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:49.559 What a nice this is? 220 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:53.480 Bonfires all over town, people all over the place. 221 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:56.480 It's history in the making, that's what. Yep. 222 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.799 Nothing is great has happened since we got to California. 223 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:03.639 It's not just the letters he's bringing. It's like, well, 224 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.840 like home is closer. 225 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.000 Now, you know? 226 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:08.799 Do I ever with the Pony Express? 227 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.240 Seems like New England's just a few days a week. 228 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:28.679 I say this, Faver, just a war make way for 229 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:37.639 Billy Hamilton for the Pony Express. 230 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:42.159 Billy, watch out, what are you doing. 231 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.879 I'm tying my. 232 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.240 Bonnet to the neck of the pony, the first pony 233 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:50.080 to come with our mail from the East Coast the 234 00:13:50.200 --> 00:14:02.600 United States of amerthon wooy, Aunt Carol, talk about excitement. 235 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:05.120 Why listening to this story is the next best thing 236 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:06.159 to actually being there. 237 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.440 We do get many letters from you, boys and girls, 238 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.919 your parents and teachers, which tell us that our stories 239 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.000 make history come alive. 240 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.799 If you haven't taken a look through our catalog yet, 241 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:17.799 why not visit our website at your storyour dot org. 242 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.759 That's your storyour dot org. N take a look, or. 243 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:23.360 Call us and we'll be glad to send you our 244 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:26.159 catalog free of charge. Our number is one eight hundred 245 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:29.159 nine eight seven seven eight seventy nine. That's one eight 246 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:32.440 hundred nine eight seven seventy eight seventy nine. 247 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:36.279 But right now, let's get back to our story. Thundering hoofbeats. 248 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:45.279 In the twenty first century, when men have already walked 249 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:48.080 on the moon and built space stations, it's hard for 250 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:50.919 us to imagine just what the Pony Express meant to 251 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.519 Americans in eighteen sixty, especially to those living in California. 252 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.240 Upon the arrival of that first Pony Express rider, the 253 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:02.000 San Francisco Herald described the populous as being electrified by 254 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:05.960 the success of the daring adventure. Newspapers in both San 255 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:10.519 Francisco and Sacramento encourage their readers to support the venture enthusiastically. 256 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.799 Listen to this Manda. The Daily b is certainly on 257 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.799 the bandwagon for the Pony Express. 258 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.679 Oh yeah, non, does it say? 259 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:23.360 Well? Of course, it is an experiment, it says, which 260 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.279 will not be kept up many months at a loss, 261 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:30.600 without a hope of remuneration in the not distant future. 262 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:34.399 And if we would keep it going, we must do 263 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:39.240 at least our share in its support. Let Sacramento tonight 264 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.519 give the Pony forty to fifty letters and show its spirit. 265 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:47.799 Oh dear Jason, does this mean the Pony Express might 266 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.240 not survive financially? 267 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:52.759 Now, if the government grant comes through, it might, but 268 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.240 it certainly won't on just a few letters back and forth. 269 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:01.240 They limit the wait for each mail Mochila pounds, and 270 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.120 that's not much mail, even when the letters are written 271 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.480 on the thinnest of tissue paper. I fear for the 272 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:11.320 survival of the Pony Express unless some source of fun 273 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:15.320 thing comes through. Really, Oh well, think about it. Russell, 274 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:18.919 Majors and Waddell paid up to two hundred dollars a horse, 275 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:22.240 and I'm told they bought hundreds of them. And then 276 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:25.799 they have to pay the riders and the station masters. 277 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.200 Why it wouldn't surprise me if they sunk one hundred 278 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:32.679 thousand dollars or more into the venture already. 279 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.120 But it can't fail. 280 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:36.399 We need the Pony Express. 281 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:45.960 From the very beginning, the Pony Express was financially challenged. 282 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.759 At first, the cost of sending a half ounce letter 283 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:51.799 was five dollars in gold, which would be about one 284 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:55.320 hundred dollars in today's money. So obviously many folks didn't 285 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:59.120 have the resources to send even a single letter. Many newspapers, 286 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:02.120 eager for fact news from the East, couldn't even afford 287 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.079 to pay for messages to be sent because of the 288 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:07.839 high cost. But praise for the adventure carried it along, 289 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.119 and as the month slipped by, the stories of danger 290 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:15.359 faced by the riders, the floods, blizzards, indians, stampeding buffalo 291 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:19.359 and more were the topic of everyone's conversation. The tales 292 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:22.200 of courage and daring were not forgotten for many years 293 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:26.160 decades later. For example, at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago, 294 00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:28.559 as a family was just checking in for the night. 295 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:32.839 That will be Room one O five, mister Smith, and 296 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.160 here's your key, thank you. 297 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:36.559 Just a moment and I'll get some help to take 298 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.559 your bags upstairs. 299 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:39.799 Thank you very much, mister Haslan. 300 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:44.240 Yes, sir, oh oh, I see if we have new 301 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:46.599 guests here, let me take your bags for you. 302 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:51.359 Thank you, Haslan, was it, yes, sir? That name seems 303 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:55.680 familiar to me, Haslan. Yeah, here's my card, so much obliged. 304 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:58.279 My sons and I are traveling to Saint Louis and 305 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.799 then to points west for a little vacation. 306 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:04.119 I see, and these two fine looking boys are your sons. 307 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.559 I take it. 308 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:08.599 Oh, yes, indeed, David, Hello and Andrew. 309 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:09.240 Hi. 310 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:14.519 Well, welcome to the Auditorium hotel, gentlemen, and now we 311 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.880 best get your baggage upstairs so you can settle it in. 312 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.240 Wait, wait, wait a minute, your card? 313 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:23.480 Yes, well, well, Hasling. 314 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:25.319 Now I know who you are. 315 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:29.279 Look, boys, you see this pony and the rider on 316 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.359 mister Haslin's card. 317 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.960 Yes, I see it, mister Haslin. 318 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.319 Here is none other than pony Bob. 319 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.079 Pony Bob. 320 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:43.319 Really, am I correct, mister Haslin. Pony Bob Haslin. 321 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:46.079 Sir, I guess you've found me out. 322 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:51.000 Pony Bob. Wow, if we come down to the lobby later, 323 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:53.799 will you tell us about the Pony Express and your 324 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:54.920 famous ride. 325 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:58.319 No, now, boys, I'm sure mister Haslin doesn't have time. 326 00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:01.920 Now, I'll tell you what you boys come on down about, 327 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.799 oh say, eight o'clock to night. I'm on break then, 328 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.160 and I'll be glad to tell you a few tales. 329 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:09.599 Oh boy, we'll be here. 330 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:17.240 Okay, boys, what is it you want to know? 331 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.279 I want to know about the Piout War and how 332 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:22.920 you rode all those miles. Yeah, me too. 333 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:27.240 All right then, well, I was only twenty years old 334 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:30.559 when I started working for the Pony Express. Oh it 335 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.799 was an exciting time. Let me tell you. Lots of adventure, 336 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:38.400 but mostly just hard riding. Now, the Indians didn't give 337 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:42.279 us so much trouble really well, sometimes, yes, of course, 338 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:46.000 but mostly they didn't bother us. Besides, our horses were 339 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:48.519 so good and so fast we could outrun em unless 340 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:54.000 they ambushed us. Anyways, one day, after the Pony Express 341 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:57.519 had been in operation for only five weeks, one of 342 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:01.759 the station keepers at Williams Station arride back home to 343 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:06.200 find an awful scene. 344 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:16.799 Whoa no, oh, no, the station has burned to the ground. 345 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:28.960 Daniel, Daniel Oscar, Where are they anybody? 346 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:36.440 No, no, Daniel murdered Oscar Oscar. There's other bodies here too. 347 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:40.720 The Indians have done this. It's the Paiutes. They've murdered 348 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:43.000 and burned my brothers. I've got to warn the other stations, 349 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.799 the Indians on the warpath. 350 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:53.759 Well, James Williams road west with the news. And when 351 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:56.319 I arrived in Virginia City on my run east from 352 00:20:56.319 --> 00:21:00.440 Friday Station, I could see Indian smoke signals from all 353 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.880 the hills around town. 354 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:04.960 Wow, had they attacked Virginia City? 355 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.920 Nope, but the town had put all their women and 356 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:11.960 children in a stone hotel downtown to keep safe. Anyways, 357 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:15.640 I rode on to Read Station, only to discover that 358 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:18.440 all the fresh horses had been taken by the townsfolk 359 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:22.039 for the upcoming battle. So I fed my horse and 360 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:24.720 we rode on to Buckland Station, which was supposed to 361 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:27.759 be the end of my ride. But the relay rider 362 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:31.279 there was so scared Indians that he wouldn't take the mochila. 363 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:35.279 Well, I don't exactly blame him. 364 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:38.039 Maybe not, but we'd all pledge before we became riders 365 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:42.240 that we would not get drunk, or use bad language, gamble, 366 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:45.759 or do anything that wasn't befitting a gentleman. And we'd 367 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:49.319 also taken an oath to bravely take the mail through 368 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:52.960 no matter what. We could quit after we'd made a 369 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:58.279 run if we wanted, but not before. So what happened, Well, 370 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:01.400 mister Marley, the station deeper there, told me he'd give 371 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:04.039 me fifty dollars if i'd take the mail of East. 372 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:07.519 And really there wasn't anything else to do. So I 373 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:10.599 grabbed a rifle and a revolver and rode out to 374 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:14.000 the sink of Carson Station and then across the Alkali 375 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:17.559 Bottoms to Sand Springs, where I changed horses, and then 376 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:20.640 on for thirty more miles to Cold Springs, where I 377 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:24.799 changed horses again, and finally to Smith's Creek, where I 378 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:28.000 just about fell off my horse from exhaustion. 379 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.519 Oh, study, study there. 380 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:37.079 Why you're not the usual rider. 381 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:41.759 Haines, I'm pony Bar and I've ridden all the way 382 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:45.359 from Friday Station in Sierras. 383 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:50.119 Friday Station, my word, man, that's why that's one hundred 384 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.440 and ninety miles away. 385 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:56.119 I know it's a long story, believe me, a very 386 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.559 long story. Jay. 387 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:03.279 You ready, h already, Hey, I recognize you, your pony 388 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.440 Bob hassling, ain't you. 389 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:06.000 It's him all right? 390 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:09.160 This, here's J Kelly. He's the relay rider from here. 391 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:13.119 You have no my dear, how glad I am to 392 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.640 see you J Kelly. 393 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:21.359 Well, boys, I think I was asleep even before I 394 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:24.200 hit the bed at Smith's Creek, and I slept like 395 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:27.640 I was a dead man for nine hours straight. And 396 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:31.039 wouldn't you know, after I woke up, the rider from 397 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:34.000 the east had arrived and I was the only one 398 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:36.400 on hand to take that mail pouch to the west. 399 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:41.119 So I started back down the trail. When I arrived 400 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.279 in Cold Springs. 401 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:52.440