Ghost Riders of the Pony Express By: Cathy LarsenDianne Smith

WANTED Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. Wages $25 a week...

STATIONS PURPOSE HORSES ROUTE MOCHILA TIMELINE RIDERS INTERESTING FACTS TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATIONS PURPOSE HORSES ROUTE MOCHILA TIMELINE RIDERS INTERESTING FACTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Works Cited

RIDERS Most riders were around 20 years of age –Youngest rider was 11 –Oldest rider was mid-40s Many riders were orphans Riders usually weighed around 120 lbs. Riders Pay = $25 per week New riders took over every miles –Riders changed horses about 3 times 183 men are known to have ridden for the Pony Express Click here and return to the Table of Contents

ROUTE Trail length – almost 2,000 miles –St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California –Through the present day states of Kansas, Nebraska, northeast corner of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California Only two were states in 1861 – Missouri and California The other states were territories Took 10 days to go from St. Joseph, MO, to Sacramento, CA Click here and return to the Table of Contents

HORSES 600 horses purchased to stock the pony express route Thoroughbreds, mustangs, pintos, and Morgans were often used Horses traveled an average of 10 miles per hour Horses were exchanged every miles. Click here and return to the Table of Contents

STATIONS Approximately 165 stations Home stations were miles apart –Home stations were used as a rest place for riders before they made the return trip to where they came from Relay (or swing) stations were miles apart –Used for riders to just change horses Click here and return to the Table of Contents

MOCHILA (mo-chee’-ya) About the size of a saddle blanket A single rectangular piece of leather with a hole for the saddle horn and 4 pockets (cantinas) to hold the mail Three pockets were locked with keys only at the end of the route, the divisional headquarters in SLC, Utah, and at the Army posts along the way. Could carry lbs. of mail The rider would sit on the mochila during the ride Click here and return to the Table of Contents

PURPOSE Telegraph lines only reached from the Atlantic coast to St. Joseph, Missouri. The 2000 mile mail route from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California took 20 days by stagecoach (in good weather) –The fastest pony express delivery was 7 days and 17 hours The Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company hoped to gain a million dollar government mail contract Click here and return to the Table of Contents

TIMELINE January 27, 1860April 3,1860October 24, 1861 Horses bought Riders chosen Route planned First Rider, Johnny Fry, leaves on the Pony Express going west Telegraph completed Official end of the Pony Express Click here and return to the Table of Contents First Rider, James Randall, leaves on the Pony Express going east

INTERESTING FACTS One mochila lost and one rider killed Cost of mail: –$5.00 per ½ ounce at the beginning –$1.00 per ½ ounce at the end Longest drive was made by Pony Bob Haslam who rode 370 miles “Buffalo Bill” Cody was one of the famous riders of the Pony Express. Click here and return to the Table of Contents

Works Cited Background found at: – Graphics found at: –Mochilla - –Galloping horse – –Station - –Money - Map background found at: – Content found at: – – Pony Express Rider Advertisement found at: – Click here and return to the Table of Contents