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arrival of the steamer from England, two Ex- presses (one on behalf of the associated Press of Philadelphia, New York, and Boston — the other got up, in opposition, by some Mercantile gentlemen in the United States) left this city, travelling at a rate of speed that is, we believe, unprecedented in this country. The parties en- gaged here to convey the rival expresses over- land to Digby, were Mr. Hyde and Mr. Barnaby. Hyde's Express arrived at Digby Neck at 28 minutes before 12 o'clock, accomplishing the distance of 146 miles in 8½ hours — having met with several accidents and interruptions. At Windsor a delay of 20 minutes occurred; and after starting, Mr. Hamilton, the courier from that place, when crossing the bridge broke his stirrup, and was thrown from his horse with such force, that he lay insensible for some time; he however remounted, and, though lamed, with one stirrup performed his route with astonishing dispatch. A distance of 18 miles, from Kent- ville, was performed by Mr. Thad. Harris, in 53 minutes. The steamer Conqueror, chartered to convey Hyde's Express to St. John, was wait- ing in readiness when the express arrived. Barnaby's Express arrived 2½ minutes before Hyde's, but the steamer Commodore, engaged by his party, had not made her appearance at the latest accounts. |
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This Halifax newspaper item reports the second run of the Nova Scotia Pony Express 8 March 1849 |
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No Halifax newspaper reported the first run of the Pony Express.
The First Pony Express Run: departed Halifax about 5pm Wednesday, February 21st, 1849 arrived Saint John: about 8pm Thursday, February 22nd, 1849 travelling time, Halifax to Saint John: about 27 hours Weekly Chronicle, Saint John, February 23, 1849 |
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ICS comment (written 10 March 2002): It appears that nobody in the newspaper business in Nova Scotia early in 1849 was much interested in the Halifax Express (which we call the Nova Scotia Pony Express). It is clear that the newspapers in Saint John, and even in Fredericton, were much more interested than were the Halifax newspapers. Nobody has found any mention in any Nova Scotia record, earlier than 26 February 1849 — the item reproduced below — and it is only a reprint of an item in a Saint John newspaper! And this item appeared in the Novascotian (edited and printed in Halifax) five days after the Halifax Express had made its first run from Halifax. That first run is not mentioned in any known Nova Scotia record (and numerous people have been researching this history for a hundred years). Here's a bit of advice for future historical researchers — for information about the Nova Scotia Pony Express, you will do much better looking at sources in New Brunswick, and in Boston and New York, than here in Nova Scotia. |
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The St. John N. B. Observer learns
that it is intended to run an Express from Halifax to St. John, by the way of Annapolis, on the arrival of every English Mail, to be telegraphed to New York, on account of the Associated Press of that city. |
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