Existing comment:
The Riders:
The name of the first rider galloping out of St. Joseph, Missouri, on April 3, 1860, has been lost to history. Fewer than 100 men rode for the Pony Express in its 18 months of existence. Later, many men claimed to have been Pony Express riders, with tall tales of reckless adventure growing taller with each telling.
Among those mentioned as famous riders was Buffalo Bill (William Cody), whose Wild West shows toured the US and Europe for 30 years. Cody was such an accomplished showman and genius at self-promotion that even today it is difficult to separate the reality of his life from the romance he created in his shows. His claims of a life as a Pony Express rider made for great theater, but little accuracy. |