Pony Express

Hello, this is Nelson Olsson. Let's talk about the days when the male carrier had one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth. First a word from Clint Gruber and Pacific Power. Welcome once again to Stories of Pacific Power Land, a presentation of Pacific Power and Light, the company that has been serving the electric needs of the region's homes, farms, and industries through more than half a century of progress and growth.

Now, here's Nelson with an exciting story of the men who helped build the West. When history is made these days, it is usually attended by batteries of cameras and microphones, and the news is flashed instantly to all corners of the world.

A little over a century ago, history was made in much more quiet fashion. This episode in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1860, for example. All right, now here it comes, Johnny. Get ready to mount up.

you find stations every fifteen miles along the way and they'll have a fresh horse ready to go and if the change over takes more than two minutes i want to hear about it you get the idea yeah don't worry i got it i'll see you next trip uh... good day gentlemen now here's the special mail from new york in washington

in addition to other items is packet contains a letter from president Buchanan to the governor of california which must be delivered back Hang the speeches! Let's have the mail! I got 80 miles to ride today. Come on, horse! Let's go!

So began the dramatic saga of Western America's Pony Express. This famed organization, founded to provide past or post-it service from coast to coast, began to set records for speed, heroism, and endurance right off the bat. Johnny Fry's first run is a case in point.