Customer Reviews

Pony Express (A Bison Book)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a well-written, concise story of the short-lived Pony Express (about 18 months) from the Bison Press at the University of Nebraska. The riders were slim, hard-working lads not over 18 years old, and were expected to be expert riders and able to withstand hardships such as hostile Indians, foul weather, long days in the saddle, and often no estabished roads/trails with rest stops (or fast food) along the way. The 1860 route went from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Francisco, and included well-known riders such as Jack Keetley, Warren Upson,and the most famous of all, Buffalo Bill Cody, The reader will find that the Pony Express was finally put out of business by a scandal in Washington (sound familar?), cheaper mail delivery by stagecoach and later trains, and the completion of the transcontinental telegraph in 1861. This is a fascinating book filled with facts and figures, and very interesting real-life characters.