The Pony Express was a short-lived but long-remembered piece of American history.
After the Mormons settled Utah in 1847 and the California Gold Rush began in 1849, the U.S.Postal Service somewhat reluctantly set up overland routes to bring mail between those western outposts and “the United States.”
In 1858, the Postmaster General decided to scale back the overland mail service. That was unfortunate timing for the Pikes Peak Region (that’s us), since our Gold Rush began in late 1858.
The vacuum left by the U.S. Postal Service created an opening for private enterprise, so the Pony Express was established in June of 1860. It was a very expensive undertaking, and very dangerous for the young riders who carried the post. By October of 1861, a transcontinental telegraph had been established between New York and San Francisco. At that time, the Pony Express was discontinued.
George West, who founded the Transcript in 1866, had another newspaper prior to the Civil War. The Western Mountaineer operated for only a year–from December of 1859 to December of 1860.
The life of the Mountaineer overlapped with the life of the Pony Express. Since prompt information is essential for a newspaper, West depended on the news carried by the express service. Between mid-June and December 1860, there were 26 issues of the paper, and 14 of them mentioned the Pony Express.
Indian Outrages in California.
Americans Murdered–Fight with 500 Indians–Defeat of Maj. Ormsby and his Death–Retreat of the Troops–Excitement in California
The Pony Express brings sad news–
Several Americans had been murdered on Carson’s river, while asleep, by the Indians… This outrage led to an organization of whites. The volunteers, numbering one hundred and five men, placed themselves under the command of Major Ormsby, and pushed in pursuit of the Indians….
Western Mountaineer – June 28, 1860
The Indian Outrages
Communication with California Suspended
The following additional particulars of the depredations committed by the Indians in California and Utah, is from the Deseret News, of June 11th:
The anxiously looked for Western Pony Express arrived here yesterday morning about ten o’clock, bringing letters from Diamond Springs and stations this side of Ruby Valley, but nothing from Carson or California….
Western Mountaineer – July 5, 1860
From St. Joseph
A letter brought by the Pony Express to the Platte Crossing and thence by the last Express coach, reached us in four days from St. Joseph. Quick Time.
Western Mountaineer – July 12, 1860
In the end, the Pony Express outlived the Western Mountaineer by a few months. The December 20, 1860 Mountaineer included West’s “Valedictory.” He concluded that Golden wasn’t ready to support a newspaper. Fortunately, he returned after the Civil War and tried again, establishing the Colorado Transcript in December of 1866.
Many thanks to Esther Kettering for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of August.
