Chapter
The Myths and Reality of the Pony Express
32:48 - 40:04 (07:16)
The Pony Express has been immersed in myths and legends from its creation, but the reality is that just about every aspect of the operation was sheer, brutal hard work done by very young men, many of them orphans. The riders had to take an oath not to drink or fight.
Clips
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was taken all over Europe, performing in front of royalty, including Queen Victoria and Kaiser Wilhelm.
32:48 - 34:24 (01:36)
Summary
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was taken all over Europe, performing in front of royalty, including Queen Victoria and Kaiser Wilhelm. The show featured a number of purported Pony Express riders and has had lasting impacts, with Pony Express-themed clubs still existing in Germany today.
ChapterThe Myths and Reality of the Pony Express
EpisodeSelects: How the Pony Express Worked
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The Pony Express is surrounded by a lot of legends and bad information, including that riders had to be orphans and that they had to take an oath not to drink or fight.
34:24 - 36:35 (02:11)
Summary
The Pony Express is surrounded by a lot of legends and bad information, including that riders had to be orphans and that they had to take an oath not to drink or fight. However, while it is an important part of Western history, many of the stories surrounding it are not true.
ChapterThe Myths and Reality of the Pony Express
EpisodeSelects: How the Pony Express Worked
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Mabel Loving, an amateur poet, corresponded with the surviving Pony Express riders to get the true story of their lives.
36:35 - 40:04 (03:29)
Summary
Mabel Loving, an amateur poet, corresponded with the surviving Pony Express riders to get the true story of their lives. Her efforts led to a book published by Rand McNally about their experiences as old West freight legend guys, but the exact course of The Pony Express is not fully known.