End of the Pony Express
But Indian resistance and financial woes, serious as they were, did not bury the Pony Express. Technology did. About two months after the first mochila left St. Joseph, Congress authorized…
Pony Express Map
"W. R. Hoonell of Kansas City constructed probably the best 'Map of the Pony Express Route,' and also wrote a short account which is published in The Kansas Historical Quarterly, v. V,…
Relative Speed of the Mail to California
"News was received every ten days by pony. That coming by the Butterfield route was double the time; what came by steamship was from three to four weeks old when it arrived.…
Fastest Pony Express Time
"Perhaps the greatest feat of the Pony Express service was the delivery of President Lincoln's inaugural address in record-breaking time. In order to surpass all previous performances, each horse along the line was…
Choice of St. Joseph Terminal
"The next issue of the St. Joseph Weekly West announced the location of the eastern terminal at that place, rather than Leavenworth, a decision which appears to have been forced upon Russell because…
Pony Express Mustangs
"In Frank A. Root and William E. Connelley, The Overland Stage to California, p. 100, the authors state that Russell bought some 200 ponies at Salt Lake City, and large numbers…
Chorpenning’s Pony Express
"He [George Chorpenning] projected and put into operation the first 'Pony Express' that ever crossed the country, and in December, 1858, delivered President Buchanan's annual message through to California in seventeen days…
Travel Times
"The stage-coach traveled about a hundred to a hundred and twenty-five miles a day (twentyfour hours), the pony-rider about two hundred and fifty."
Slade’s Colt
"Mark Twain was familiar with all the gun models of that day and stated that Slade used Navy revolvers, as did Mrs. Slade."
Fear of Jack Slade
"In 1859 Slade was employed by the Overland stage lines to bring peace and quiet to the stagecoach divisions stretching along the south border of present-day Wyoming. This he did…
First Premier of All Western Gunmen
"While [Slade] was a controversial figure in the early West, nobody can discount his contribution to the development of our country—in the transportation of passengers and supplies by the Overland…
Pony Express and Chorpenning’s Assets
"Numerous efforts were now began to be made to secure Mr. Chorpenning's interest and position in the work, but failing in this by direct purchase, influences were brought upon the Post Office Department,…
Pony Express Using Chorpenning’s Stations
"Russell, Majors and Waddell's pony express company became the immediate beneficiary of Chorpenning's demise. On the same day that Chorpenning' s service was terminated, William Russell signed a contract with the post office…
Julesburg
"In its palmiest days, during overland staging and freighting, old Julesburg had, all told, not to exceed a dozen buildings, including station, telegraph office, store, blacksmith shop, warehouse, stable, and…
Ranches, Stations, and Posts along the Platte
"Prior to 1859 scattered references are found to fly-by-night trading establishments along the Platte and the North Platte, usually in portable tents or tipis operated by squaw men. Robidoux's several…