Pony Express Info by Ryan O'Connor, updated 5/10/98

The Pony Express allowed communications between California and the government during the Civil War. Did you know that only one person died because he was a rider on the Express? But first some background.

The Pony Express was created by William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell by gaining a contract from J.M. Hockaday, but this only allowed them to deliver mail to Salt Lake City. George Chorpenning took the mail the rest of the way. The Post Master General was dissatisfied with Chorpenning's service with stage coaches so he gave the entire contract to Russell, Waddell, and Majors. Now the entire Pony Express, from St Joseph, Missouri to Sacremento, California, was under their control.
The entire trail is about 1,966 miles with a rest station every 10 to 15 miles because that was the length a horse could run at top speed. The riders only stopped for two minutes in order to transport their mail to a new horse and then move on. In the entire 18 months, in which the Pony Express was in existence, only one rider died and that was due to Native American disturbances.
--Ryan O'Connor, Noble and Greenough Class of 2000
--history teacher: Tim Kelley

Graphic relating to the Pony Express

• The Pony Express Route
• A Cartoon Pony Express Rider
• Picture of "Wild Bill" Cody a.k.a. "Buffalo Bill"

Related sites to the Pony Express

1. 19th Century Mail: Pony Express and Telegraph
2. The Pony Express in St. Joseph Missouri
3. Biography of Pony Express

Sources: Overland Mail by Bloss;The Pony Express by Chapman; Saddles and Spurs by Settle