The Pony Express

The Pony Express

Picture from www.poneyexpress.org/history

This is a song I found called Blame it on the Pony Express by, Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon.1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WANTEDYoung, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18.Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily.Orphans preferred. Wages $25 a week~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Picture from www.cornspark.com/chronicles/ponyexpress.htmOn April 3, 1860, a lone rider left on horseback from the gates of one of the nations most historic landmarks, the Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri. Carrying saddlebags filled with our nations hopes and dreams, the riders traveled 2000 miles west to Sacramento, California. These brave young souls raced against nature's cruel elements and rugged terrain in an attempt to unite a country separated by distance.

Picture from www.ponyexpress.org/historyThe Pony Express was founded by William H. Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors. Plans for the Pony Express were spurred by the threat of the Civil War and the need for faster communication with the West.

Picture from www.ponyexpress.org/history4The Pony Express was used to provide the fastest mail delivery between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California.

Picture from www.ponyexpress.org/history

Eventually, the Pony Express had more than 100 stations, 80 riders, and between 400 and 500 horses. The express route was extremely hazardous, but only one mail delivery was ever lost. The service lasted only 19 months until October 24, 1861, when the completion of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for its existence. Although California relied upon news from the Pony Express during the early days of the Civil War, the horse line was never a financial success, leading its founders to bankruptcy. However, the romantic drama surrounding the Pony Express has made it a part of the legend of the American West.Picture from www.absoluteastronomy.com/topic/pony_express

Riders of the Pony Express, Billy Fisher, William Campbell, Frank E. Weber, Buffalo Bill, Richard Egan, Johnny Fry, Billy Richardson, Charlie & Gus Cliff.7

The Pony Express Only last eighteen months , with $200,000 in debt and telegraphy wires hung for instant communication, the Pony Express was no longer needed.Picture from http://cdrh.unl.edu/diggingin

Our little friend, the Pony, is to run no more. Farewell and forever, thou staunch, wilderness-overcoming, swift-footed messenger. Thou were the pioneer of a continent in the rapid transmission of intelligence between its people, and have dragged in your train the lightning itself. Rest upon your honors, be satisfied with them, your destiny has been fulfilled.

Picture from www.svchistory.comThis is the final farewell message from the Sacramento Daily Bee to the Pony Express.9

During the 1950s, a portion of the neglected Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph was saved from total extinction and became the Pony Express Museum. M. Karl Goetz and the Goetz Pony Express Foundation, along with aid and support from the Chamber of Commerce, the citizens of St. Joseph, and the St. Joseph Museum, Inc. helped to save this historic structure. After stabilization and renovation of the remaining portion, new exhibits were installed and the stables opened to the public.

Picture from www.stjomo.com/ponyexpressmuseum10Works CitedDigging In. University of Nebraska Lincoln. UNL center for Digital research in the Humanities, n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.History. Pony Express Museum. Pony Express National Museum, 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.Lochlainn, Eamonn. Pony Express Begun 150 Years Ago Today. Ashbrook. N.p., 4 Apr. 2010.Web. 9 Apr. 2011.Pony Express. Absolute Astronomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.Pony Express. Wikipedia. N.p., 8 Apr. 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2011.Pony Express Rider, 1861. Eyewitness to History. Ibis Communication, Inc., 2008. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.

The Daily Bee. Santa Clarita Valley History In Pictures. The Daily Bee, n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.The Pony Express. The city of St. Joseph, Missouri. City of St. Joseph, n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.The Pony Express. The Gold Rush Chronicles. CornSpark, 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2011.When the Pony Express was in vogue. The virtual museum of the city of San Francisco. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.Williams, Lindsey. Run, Pony, Run-Pony Express. Stand Beside Her. N.p, 2009. Web. 9 Apr. 2011.You Got MailExpressmen and the Pony Express. Sweethearts of the West. N.p., 30 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Apr.2011.

Blame It On The Pony ExpressJohnny Johnson & The Bandwagoncd3, track 17Genre184617.55eng - MusicMatch_TrackArtist