Last updated: January 5, 2024
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Weekly Trinity Journal Interview with a Pony Express Rider
Photo/University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA
What was it like for a Pony Express rider? Read this interview taken in September 1861 with a rider on the route between the Goose Creek Mountains and the Carson Sink.
Weekly Trinity Journal (Weaverville) Sept. 21, 1861
A TALK WITH A PONY EXPRESS RIDER.—We had a few moments’ conversation, the other day, with one of those daring, hardy fellows who are employed as riders on the Pony Express route, from Goose Creek mountains into the sink of the Carson – a distance of one hundred and four miles – about the longest route on the road. He describes his life there in the following manner, which may be taken as a fair sample of the rest. Each rider is in possession of and has the absolute control over the horses on his beat, and all the trapping thereto. He has them kept in the best of order by the men at the stations (generally two in number). He said he could tell within a few minutes of the time when the pony would be at the end of the route, so that no delay might take place in the changing of riders, although as a general thing the rider on an approaching pony blows a horn when about three quarters of a mile distant, so that all may be in readiness for him at his arrival. Each rider is provided with a couple buckskin suit of clothes with the hair on, and forming the outside of the same, so that in the even t of a storm, the rain or snow will not penetrate or make the clothes heavy and thus re-tard the horse; but it runs off down the hair, which is more or less oily. The pockets for the conveyance of the letters, etc., are four in number, and are placed immediately under the horn of the saddle next to the horse. Four eight-inch six shooting Colts are so arranged as to be half cocked, so that with the impression of the hammers, each is ready for its deadly work. These, and a knife of some eighteen inches in length, with mercury in a tube formed in the back of the same, so that when used the mercury rushes to the point of the blade, and no doubt would deal a terrible blow, constitute the rider’s means of defense.
About one hundred miles is the distance traveled by each rider. He is allowed only eleven hours to do it in, and as much sooner as possible; therefore each rider has four hundred miles to ride every week in the short space of forty-four hours!
The horses used are of Spanish breed, and kept in good order; the riders and men at the stations receive their pay (which is good) at the end of every month, and are furnished with provisions by the Company at very reasonable rates. – Grass Valley National.