What did the Pony Express riders carry in their mochila or pouch?
What did the Pony Express riders carry in their mochila or pouch?
The saddles and mochilas were standardized so they would work from one horse to another. When full of mail and telegrams, the mochila weighed about 20 pounds. The rider would also carry a canteen of water, a gun and a small Bible that included the solemn Pony Express loyalty oath.
How much money did the Pony Express lose?
Though hailed in the press for its efficiency and adventurous spirit, the Pony Express eventually folded in October 1861, having lost as much as $200,000.
What name was used for the locking pockets on the mochila?
The mochila was a leather piece with slits that fit over a pony express saddle. It had four locking pockets called “cantinas” that held the mail.
How far apart were the Pony Express stations?
between 5 to 20 miles
The Pony Express Used Over 190 Stations Pony stations were generally located between 5 to 20 miles apart. The terrain and its effect on horse travel determined the number and the distance between stations. Stations that already existed for the stagecoach line were also used for “The Pony”.
Were there any female Pony Express riders?
Women aren’t often mention in connection with the Pony Express. There’s no record of a woman ever taking part as a rider, but that doesn’t mean women didn’t play an important role. “A woman on Plum Creek in Nebraska Territory started a store across from a Pony Express station.
Why did Pony Express end?
Why did it end? The Pony Express was forced to close after the opening of the transcontinental telegraph. Telegraphs could be sent much faster and with less expense. In the end, the business venture that was the Pony Express lost a lot of money and became outdated fairly quickly.
Who was the fastest rider on the Pony Express?
Pony Bob” Haslam
…the service’s most-storied riders was “Pony Bob” Haslam, holder of the record for the longest and fastest run in the history of the Pony Express.
What was the fastest Pony Express run?
seven days and seventeen hours
The fastest delivery time recorded for the Pony Express was seven days and seventeen hours, conveying Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address. Russell, Majors, and Waddell lost $30 on every letter they carried.
Did the Pony Express riders carry guns?
In addition to the mailbag, the Pony Express riders carried two things: a Bible, and a gun.
How many riders died during the Pony Express?
7. How many Pony Express riders died on the job? There is historical documentation that four Pony riders were killed by Indians;one was hanged for murder after he got drunk and killed a man;one died in an unrelated accident;and two froze to death.
Who was the youngest Pony Express rider?
Charlie Miller
One of the youngest who claimed to be a Pony Express rider was 11-year old Charlie Miller. One of the oldest was 45-year old Major Howard Egan, who also worked as a station keeper.
How did the Pony Express deliver mail?
In 1860, the Pony Express developed a fast mail delivery system using a special saddle mail bag cover called a mochila that made the Pony Express unique. The cover, which had four hard leather boxes to carry the mail, was transferred quickly and efficiently, usually in less than two minutes.
What is a Pony Express mochila bag?
Pony Express “mochila” closeup. Each of the riders signed the bag as it moved through the states. A mochila (Spanish, pronounced [mo-chee-lah], for “knapsack”, “pack”, “pouch”) is a removable lightweight leather cover put over a horse’s saddle. In the 19th century, it was used as a mail bag by the Pony Express.
Why were saddle bags not used on the Pony Express?
Saddle bag mail pouches were never in use on the Pony Express system because of their unwieldiness. The normal large saddle bags could not be attached to a saddle efficiently and would cause much delay when switching from an exhausted horse to a fresh horse at a Pony Express station.
What kind of horses did they ride on the Pony Express?
Horses. The various types of horse ridden by riders of the Pony Express included Morgans and thoroughbreds which were often used on the eastern end of the trail. Mustangs were often used on the western (more rugged) end of the mail route.
