Golden pieces. That’s how Cindy Daffron sees the treasures that find their way to her Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri.
She can be sitting in her director’s office in the former Pike’s Peak Stables that launched the Pony Express on April 3, 1860, and the voice on the phone can say something as hair-on-your-arm-raising as, “Do you know a William Pridham?”
Of course she knew William Pridham— he was one of the 80 skinny teenagers who raced the mail across the West on their fast ponies. Pridham rode throughout most of the Pony Express history, which lasted just 18 months and 23 days, but remains an iconic example of America’s “can do” spirit. He went on to work for Wells Fargo for 50 years, rising to assistant superintendent in Los Angeles.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of True West.
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This story is from the September 2020 edition of True West.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Where Did the Loot Go? - This is one of those find the money stories. And it's one that has attracted treasure hunters for more than 150 years.
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist? Up to a dozen members of the Reno Gang stopped a Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis train at a watering station in southern Indiana. The outlaws had prior intelligence about its main load: express car safes held about $97,000 in government bonds and notes. In the process of the job, one of the crew was killed and two others hurt. The gang made a clean getaway with the loot.
Hero of Horsepower - Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
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