Grafter's Fort and the Black Pearl of Galela Bay

The catch-scallet queen Philip Carney master position two degrees 25 minutes north one 28 degrees 13 minutes east wind light sky fair remarks left anchorage Kuyu Bay Halmahara after unscheduled voyage to island of Batanta reason for voyage Grafters fort in the black pearl of Galalabay shortly before the Civil War a daring plan was conceived to speed the mail between East and West it was the

famous Pony Express. On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express riders set out from St. Joseph, Missouri with a pocket of lightweight mail. Along the express route, other riders and fresh horses waited at relay stations in order that the mail could be carried without a break. Tenand one-half days after the first rider left St. Joseph, a Pony Express rider galloped into

to Placerville, California, the mail had crossed the country in record time. For a short time, the Pony Express continued its colorful operation as the riders fought against hardship and danger to bring the East and West closer together.

But while the service was fast, it was also expensive, too expensive to be continued. In 1861, the Pony Express was discontinued, but not before it had become a part of the American legend. Today the Pony Express is remembered at both ends of the route.

In St. Joseph, Missouri is the Pony Express monument which recalled the courage of the writers. At the other end of the old route is the Pony Express Museum and Sacramento which at one time was a relay station of the Express. The Pony Express Monument and Museum remind us of the rich heritage that as Americans we

share and stand ready to defend. It was the tenth morning after we left the island of Bali that we pushed into Malacca Passage and swung close to the hundred mile chain of islands that fringes the west coast of Palma Hera. By noon we trimmed our sail and started the channel on past Morratai. It was then that my chief mate Gallagher noted the receipt