Today In History

GUARANTEED BY THREE MEN IN ST. JOSEPH, MO. April 3, 1860 St. Joseph, Missouri Three entrepreneurs, William Russell, Alexander Majors, and William Waddell have put up $200,000 to create The Pony Express mail service designed to get half-ounce letters from their headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California in only 10 days and for only $5. This trio purchased 500 first class horses, mostly thoroughbreds, mustangs, and pintos. There are 190 relay stations set up along the 2,000 mile journey. Light-weight men who are excellent riders have been recruited to operate the nation's first mail shuttle system. Late this afternoon Johnny Fry, the first westbound rider departed St. Joseph, carrying a special light-weight edition of the St. Joseph Daily Gazette. This special edition was subtitled Pony Express Edition Riders will ride 75 – 100 miles per day, changing their horses every ten to fifteen miles. Pays not bad, reported to be $ 100. per month. The schedule is set for once weekly in the spring and twice weekly in the summer- fall. Mail is scheduled to be delivered within 10 – 15 days.