[102]
the latest intelligence from the front a full day in advance of his competitors.
The Charleston Courer was then published by Wm. S. King, a man of rare judgment and journalistic enterprise, and to him Mr. Beach proposed a co-partnership in a pony express that would accomplish what they desired.
Mr. King was delighted with the idea, and accepted the proposition at once.
Without delay the necessary arrangements were perfected and the line went into effect at once.
The first intelligence received in this way was published in Charleston, exclusively, on the 27th of March, 1847.
This news, full twenty-four hours in advance of the United States mail, was printed in thousands of extra copies and distributed gratuitously to an eager crowd.
From that time until the end of the war the express was operated exclusively by these papers to the great pecuniary advantage of their owners.
The route covered by the pony express was from Mobile to Montgomery, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, over which the regular mail was carried by stage in thirty-six hours. This ground was covered by contract with J. C. Riddle in twelve hours. A regular system of relays was established, and the riders carrying not less than three or more than five pounds of mail matter rarely ever failed to overtake the previous day's mail.
The system was an expensive one, as $750 was paid for every successful trip.
Numbers of horses were killed, and one rider lost his life in a manner that has forever remained a mystery.
Leaving Charleston the news was carried to Richmond by the regular route and was sent from that point—then the Southern limit of telegraphic communication—to the Sun in New York by ‘magnetic Telegraph.’
This text is part of:
Table of Contents:
War Diary of
Capt.
Robert
Emory
Park
,
Twelfth Alabama Regiment
.
January
28th
,
1863
—
January
27th
,
1864
.
Fragments of war history relating to the coast defence of
South Carolina
,
1861
-‘
65
, and the hasty preparations for the
Battle of Honey Hill
,
November
30
,
1864
.
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