History Sunday: The Pony Express Rides Again

Even though it lasted just 19 months, the Pony Express played an important role in the western expansion of the United States. The Pony Express was the most direct and practical means of east-west communications prior to the telegraph.

With the threat of the Civil War there was a need for faster communication with the growing number of people living in the West. Three men understood this need (William H. Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors) and created the Pony Express.

From April 3, 1860, to Oct. 21, 1861, it stood as a transportation marvel for moving mail and information from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA. For $5, a letter could be mailed in Missouri and a relay system of men riding horses would travel eight states, cross over 1,966 miles and deliver at the destination in just 10 days.

The first westbound trip was made in 9 days and 23 hours and the eastbound journey in 11 days and 12 hours. The pony riders covered 250 miles in a 24-hour day.

The Pony Express grew to 157 stations that were spaced five to 20 miles apart, used 80 riders and between 400 and 500 horses. The express route was extremely hazardous, but only one mail delivery was ever lost.

Job openings for the Pony Express asked for "young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. Wages $25 per week."

Mail was transported in a mochila, pronounced 'mo-chee-lah.' There is one on display at the Lake Tahoe Historical Museum located at 3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe.

Riders of the Pony Express made quick exchanges to new fresh horses, usually within a few minutes at each remount station on their route across the United States. The mochila was removed from the exhausted horse and swiftly placed over the saddle of the new fresh waiting horse that the relay station had for him. Each rider covered about 100 miles at a stretch.

The stations along the Pony Express Trail included several are locations. Van Sickle's Station at the bottom of Kingsbury Grade, Friday's Station, the big white house next to MontBleu, and Yank's Station at the base of Echo Summit in Meyers.

There were also stations located at Carson City, Genoa, Strawberry, Phillips, Hope Valley, Woodford's.

The completion of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for the Pony Express and it was never a financial success and the founders ended up in bankruptcy.

The romantic drama surrounding the Pony Express has made it a part of the legend of the American West. It lives on in an annual re-enactment that is taking place June 15 - 25, 2015.

On Monday, June 15, a rider left St. Joseph, headed for the same destination, and long the same trail, as riders were 155 years ago. They expect to be in Sacramento on June 25 at 11:30 a.m. As of Sunday, June 21 at 9 a.m., the rider was in Sandy, Utah.

The ride can be tracked on their website www.ponyexpresstracker.com ro by following them on twitter.

This year's ride is carrying actual mail. Over the past few months, people could pay to have a commemorative letter carried in the mochila.

As they get closer to South Lake Tahoe there are many places one can go to watch them pass through. After traveling over night the Pony will arrive in Carson City at some time around 7:30 a.m. on the morning of June 24. The Pony will make the exchange at 3rd and Curry, head to Fugi Park where the exchange will take place about 8:30 a.m.

They leave Carson City and head to Genoa where the exchange is going to take place at about 9:30 a.m. on June 24. They head up Kingsbury Grade and into Stateline.The mail will be passed off at the corner of Stateline Ave and Highway 50, in front of McP's at approximately 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24.

All times are approximate and as the pony and its rider get closer, times may change. Local ham radio operators are providing support along the route and reporting the progress.

Next year, the re-enactment of the Pony Express will travel the opposite direction, leaving Sacramento, going through Hope Valley and back to St. Joseph. It only travels through South Lake Tahoe on odd-numbered years.