35-xx-xx ep16Buffalo Bill Cody

Frontier fighters, air fighters, exciting adventures in the lives of those famous pioneers who blazed trails in the Old West. Prior to 1860, it took 34 days for Butterfield's Overland stage to get mail from St. Joseph, Missouri, over the plains and mountains to the Pacific coast.

But now the National Crisis had arisen. Great news concerning North and South was coming out of the capital every day, and such news must travel fast from one coast blind to the other. postmaster general joseph Holt to mr. Majors of the firm of Russell Majors in waddell the time for the Butterfield Oberlin stage is approximately 34 days

I think we can cut such time to 24 days mr. Majors you're still thinking in terms of faster stage coaches I'm thinking in terms of horses and men riders carrying mail pouches using horses in relays at stages or stations so many miles apart Only express. Mr. Postmaster General, that's a great idea.

Now, Mr. Majors, how much better can we do than 34 days from St. Joseph to Sacramento? Mm, 15 days, sir. Ten days for the regular schedule and the contract is yours. We can do it, sir.

Good. But I expect the service to be kept on schedule 24 hours a day, irrespective of weather or hazards of any kind. You, my words, sir. When you hire your men, Mr. Mages, you'd better warn them.

Uncle Sam expects the mail to go through. Little did the postmaster general realize that the men hired by Russell Majors in Waddell thrived on taking chances. Just before the Pony Express service was opened, they're walked into Mr. Major's office in St. Joseph, Missouri, an amazing boy of 14.