The 3d of April, 1960, came, and arrange-…

chunk 415 · paragraph 1432

d with reference to their light weight and their known bravery and courage. Indians would sometimes give chase to the ex- press riders, but their common ponies were by no means matched for the chase after Miller’s thoroughbreds, any of which could run a single mile in 1 :52. The 3d of April, 1960, came, and arrange- ments had been made for the starting of the pony express. Several thousand people congre- gated in front of the Pike’s Peak stables, where the start was to be made, and all being anxious to secure a memento of the flying messenger, the little pony was almost robbed of her tail. Jack Keltley and John Fry were selected as the riders to alternate between St. Joseph and Kennekuk, Kan., which was the first station west. Keltley was to make the start, so mount- ing his pony at a signal given by firing a cannon a mile away he dashed off to the river. There he found the ferry-boat Gen. Guines, with steam up and bell ringing, awaiting his arrival. In a few moments he was landed on the Kansas shore, and was soon speeding away to Kenne- kuk, a distance of forty-five miles, which he made in four hours and fifteen minutes.