[1] While always called the Pony Express, there were many blooded horses as well as ponies in the service.  The distinction between these types of animals is of course well known to the average reader.  Probably “Pony” Express “sounded better” than any other name for the service, hence the adoption of this name by the firm and the public at large.  This book will use the words horse and pony indiscriminately.

Chapter III

The First Trip and Triumph

On March 26, 1860, there appeared simultaneously in the St. Louis Republic and the New York Herald the following notice: 

To San Francisco in 8 days by the Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express Company.  The first courier of the Pony Express will leave the Missouri River on Tuesday April 3rd at 5 o’clock P. M. and will run regularly weekly hereafter, carrying a letter mail only.  The point of departure on the Missouri River will be in telegraphic connection with the East and will be announced in due time.

Telegraphic messages from all parts of the United States and Canada in connection with the point of departure will be received up to 5 o’clock P. M. of the day of leaving and transmitted over the Placerville and St. Joseph telegraph wire to San Francisco and intermediate points by the connecting express, in 8 days.

The letter mail will be delivered in San Francisco in ten days from the departure of the Express.  The Express passes through Forts Kearney, Laramie, Bridger, Great Salt Lake City, Camp Floyd, Carson City, The Washoe Silver Mines, Placerville, and Sacramento.

Letters for Oregon, Washington Territory, British Columbia, the Pacific Mexican ports, Russian Possessions, Sandwich Islands, China, Japan and India will be mailed in San Francisco.

Special messengers, bearers of letters to connect with the express the 3rd of April, will receive communications for the courier of that day at No. 481 Tenth St., Washington City, up to 2:45 P. M. on Friday, March 30, and in New York at the office of J. B. Simpson, Room No. 8, Continental Bank Building, Nassau Street, up to 6:30 A. M. of March 31.

Full particulars can be obtained on application at the above places and from the agents of the Company.

This sudden announcement of the long desired fast mail route aroused great enthusiasm in the West and especially in St. Joseph, Missouri, Salt Lake City, and the cities of California, where preparations to celebrate the opening of the line were at once begun.  Slowly the time passed, until the afternoon of the eventful day, April 3rd, that was to mark the first step in annihilating distance between the East and West.  A great crowd had assembled on the streets of St. Joseph, Missouri.  Flags were flying and a brass band added to the jubilation.  The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad had arranged to run a special train into the city, bringing the through mail from connecting points in the East.  Everybody was anxious and excited.  At last the shrill whistle of a locomotive was heard, and the train rumbled in — on time.  The pouches were rushed to the post office where the express mail was made ready.