From- Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska (1884) -Gage County
EARLY MODES OF TRAVEL.
The first mail route through Gage County was established in 1860 from Nebraska City via Beatrice to Marysville, Kan., and Joseph Saunders was the first mail carrier. It was a semi-weekly mail and was carried on horseback. The streams were not bridged and in high water Mr. Saunders was obliged to swim them. His manner of doing this was to tie the mail-sack on the back of the horse and then take the animal by the tail and be drawn across by him. He brought the first United States mail into Beatrice on the 3d day of October, 1860, and it was one of the most important events in its history. There was great political excitement through the United States at this time, and Mr. Saunders says that as he rode up to the office with the mail, he met an eager expectant crowd waiting for the news.
There were at that time but four offices between Nebraska City and Beatrice, and he was frequently compelled to act as Postmaster in opening and closing the mails at intermediate points along the route. He relates that he experienced much danger in crossing the Otoe Reservation. At one time he was surrounded by eighteen redskins, all drunk, and was obliged to take a drink of whisky with them before he could get away. The only objection he had to the treatment was that the flask contained a huge dead fly that sickened him. At another time, he laid down to take a nap on the prairie to rest himself and his horse, and while sleeping an Indian crept stealthily up to him, and, stooping down close to his ear, gave an unearthly war-whoop, which caused him to make the biggest jump of his life. As soon as he realized his situation, he discovered the rascal leaning back and laughing at his fright and consternation. Mr. Saunders is the oldest Nebraskian within the limits of Gage County, having landed in the State twenty-seven years ago.
Source: http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/gage/gage-p2.html#pioneer
EARLY MODES OF TRAVEL.
The first mail route through Gage County was established in 1860 from Nebraska City via Beatrice to Marysville, Kan., and Joseph Saunders was the first mail carrier. It was a semi-weekly mail and was carried on horseback. The streams were not bridged and in high water Mr. Saunders was obliged to swim them. His manner of doing this was to tie the mail-sack on the back of the horse and then take the animal by the tail and be drawn across by him. He brought the first United States mail into Beatrice on the 3d day of October, 1860, and it was one of the most important events in its history. There was great political excitement through the United States at this time, and Mr. Saunders says that as he rode up to the office with the mail, he met an eager expectant crowd waiting for the news.
There were at that time but four offices between Nebraska City and Beatrice, and he was frequently compelled to act as Postmaster in opening and closing the mails at intermediate points along the route. He relates that he experienced much danger in crossing the Otoe Reservation. At one time he was surrounded by eighteen redskins, all drunk, and was obliged to take a drink of whisky with them before he could get away. The only objection he had to the treatment was that the flask contained a huge dead fly that sickened him. At another time, he laid down to take a nap on the prairie to rest himself and his horse, and while sleeping an Indian crept stealthily up to him, and, stooping down close to his ear, gave an unearthly war-whoop, which caused him to make the biggest jump of his life. As soon as he realized his situation, he discovered the rascal leaning back and laughing at his fright and consternation. Mr. Saunders is the oldest Nebraskian within the limits of Gage County, having landed in the State twenty-seven years ago.
Source: http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/gage/gage-p2.html#pioneer
From- Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska (1884) -Gage County
EARLY MODES OF TRAVEL.
The first mail route through Gage County was established in 1860 from Nebraska City via Beatrice to Marysville, Kan., and Joseph Saunders was the first mail carrier. It was a semi-weekly mail and was carried on horseback. The streams were not bridged and in high water Mr. Saunders was obliged to swim them. His manner of doing this was to tie the mail-sack on the back of the horse and then take the animal by the tail and be drawn across by him. He brought the first United States mail into Beatrice on the 3d day of October, 1860, and it was one of the most important events in its history. There was great political excitement through the United States at this time, and Mr. Saunders says that as he rode up to the office with the mail, he met an eager expectant crowd waiting for the news.
There were at that time but four offices between Nebraska City and Beatrice, and he was frequently compelled to act as Postmaster in opening and closing the mails at intermediate points along the route. He relates that he experienced much danger in crossing the Otoe Reservation. At one time he was surrounded by eighteen redskins, all drunk, and was obliged to take a drink of whisky with them before he could get away. The only objection he had to the treatment was that the flask contained a huge dead fly that sickened him. At another time, he laid down to take a nap on the prairie to rest himself and his horse, and while sleeping an Indian crept stealthily up to him, and, stooping down close to his ear, gave an unearthly war-whoop, which caused him to make the biggest jump of his life. As soon as he realized his situation, he discovered the rascal leaning back and laughing at his fright and consternation. Mr. Saunders is the oldest Nebraskian within the limits of Gage County, having landed in the State twenty-seven years ago.
Source: http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/gage/gage-p2.html#pioneer
EARLY MODES OF TRAVEL.
The first mail route through Gage County was established in 1860 from Nebraska City via Beatrice to Marysville, Kan., and Joseph Saunders was the first mail carrier. It was a semi-weekly mail and was carried on horseback. The streams were not bridged and in high water Mr. Saunders was obliged to swim them. His manner of doing this was to tie the mail-sack on the back of the horse and then take the animal by the tail and be drawn across by him. He brought the first United States mail into Beatrice on the 3d day of October, 1860, and it was one of the most important events in its history. There was great political excitement through the United States at this time, and Mr. Saunders says that as he rode up to the office with the mail, he met an eager expectant crowd waiting for the news.
There were at that time but four offices between Nebraska City and Beatrice, and he was frequently compelled to act as Postmaster in opening and closing the mails at intermediate points along the route. He relates that he experienced much danger in crossing the Otoe Reservation. At one time he was surrounded by eighteen redskins, all drunk, and was obliged to take a drink of whisky with them before he could get away. The only objection he had to the treatment was that the flask contained a huge dead fly that sickened him. At another time, he laid down to take a nap on the prairie to rest himself and his horse, and while sleeping an Indian crept stealthily up to him, and, stooping down close to his ear, gave an unearthly war-whoop, which caused him to make the biggest jump of his life. As soon as he realized his situation, he discovered the rascal leaning back and laughing at his fright and consternation. Mr. Saunders is the oldest Nebraskian within the limits of Gage County, having landed in the State twenty-seven years ago.
Source: http://www.kancoll.org/books/andreas_ne/gage/gage-p2.html#pioneer
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