It was about the year 1851 that Aubrey…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

It was about the year 1851 that Aubrey gave this wonderful test of human endurance, before which all other attempts of the kind pale into insignificance. He was a short, heavy set man thirty-eight years of age, in the prime of manhood and strength. His business for ten years as a Santa Fe trader had made him per- fectly familiar with the trail and all stopping places. He was a perfect horseman, and al- though there were great riders in those days, none of them cared to dispute the palm with Aubrey. On a wager of $1000 he undertook to ride alone from Santa Fe to Independence in- side of six days. It was forty years ago that he undertook the terrible feat. It was to be the supreme effort of his life, and he sent a half- dozen of the swiftest horses ahead to be station- ed at different points for use on the ride.